2009 World Series of Poker Events 29-35

Van Alstyne and Guillen Make Their Second Final Table Count

Jun 26, 2009

Two players overcame previous runner-up finishes and captured their first career gold bracelet.

James Van Alstyne and Angel Guillen proved their deep runs in earlier events were not flukes and made it back to the final table. It takes mental focus and endurance to make one World Series final table, but to make two in one year is a task many people will only dream of achieving.

Event 29: $10,000 World Championship Heads Up No-Limit Hold'em

The final two competitors, Leo Wolpert and John Duthie, played a best-of-three series to determine the winner of the $10,000 World Championship Heads Up No-Limit Hold’em tournament. The first two matches were split, so a third match would be necessary in order to determine the winner.

On the final hand, Wolpert limped on the button and Duthie checked. The flop came 10-5-3 with two clubs. Duthie checked and Wolpert bet 120,000. Duthie raised all-in and Wolpert made the call. Duthie flipped over 10-2 for a pair of tens, but was trailing Wolpert who had 5-3 for two pair. The turn and river blanked for Duthie and Wolpert won $625,682 and his first gold bracelet. Duthie received $386,636 for finishing second.

Event 30: $2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha

J.C. Tran won his first gold bracelet in 2008. Just one year later, he would capture his second gold bracelet when he defeated Jeff Kimber heads-up in the $2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha event. On the last hand, Kimber raised to 120,000 on the button and Tran called.

The flop came 9-7-7 rainbow and Tran checked. Kimber bet 75,000 and Tran called. An eight of spades hit on the turn and Tran bet out 100,000. Kimber quickly went all-in and Tran instantly called. Kimber held 6-5-4-3 for a straight, but Tran held K-Q-8-8 for a full house. The river was a three of spades and Tran won $235,685 for his victory. Kimber would have to settle for second and $145,656 in prize money.

Event 31: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E.

James Van Alstyne finished second earlier in this year’s World Series in the $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. event. However, he would not be denied his first bracelet a second time in the $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. tournament. On the final hand, the game was seven card stud. Van Alstyne completed, Tad Jurgens raised and Van Alstyne called. On fourth street, Jurgens bet and Van Alstyne called.

On fifth street, Jurgens moved all-in and Van Alstyne called. Jurgens was ahead with a pair of deuces, but Van Alstyne made a pair of tens on sixth street, and that would be enough to capture the bracelet. Van Alstyne won $247,033 and Jurgens pocketed $152,654 for his second-place finish.

Event 32: $2,000 No-Limit Hold'em

Yet another player proving he has what it takes to overcome a second-place finish as Angel Guillen won the $2,000 No-Limit Hold’em event after finishing second in the $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em tournament a week earlier. On the final hand, Mika Paasonen raised on the button and Guillen called. The flop came K-4-3 with two clubs and Guillen bet 250,000.

Paasonen moved all-in and Guillen insta-called. Paasonen showed K-10 for top pair, but Guillen had him crushed with pocket threes for bottom set. The turn and river were no help to Paasonen and Guillen captured his first career bracelet. He took home $530,548 while Paasonen won $326,203 for finishing in second.

Event 33: $10,000 World Championship Limit Hold'em

Pat Pezzin came into heads-up play with a huge chip lead. However, Greg Mueller would slowly chop away at Pezzin’s chip stack and eventually take the chip lead. On the final hand, Mueller raised from the button and Pezzin called.

The flop came K-2-2 with two hearts. Pezzin bet, Mueller raised and Pezzin called and was all-in. Mueller showed 5-5 and was way ahead of Pezzin’s 10-8. The turn and river blanked for Pezzin and Mueller won the gold bracelet and $460,836. Pezzin took home $285,196 for his efforts.

Event 34: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em

Eric Baldwin navigated a field of more than 2,000 players to win the $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em event. Roland de Wolfe just missed out on his second bracelet of 2009. He came in fifth place. On the last hand, Baldwin raised to 165,000, Jonas Klausen moved all-in and Baldwin called. Klausen showed A-Q suited, but was slightly behind Baldwin’s pocket 10s. The board was no help to Klausen and Baldwin walked away with $521,932 and his first bracelet. Klausen won $322,271 for finishing runner-up.

Event 35: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha

Richard Austin eliminated two players on the last hand to win the $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha tournament. Austin called on the button, Sorel Mizzi called from the small blind and Cliff Josephy raised to 150,000 in the big blind. Austin called and Mizzi re-raised to 750,000. Josephy called and was all-in and Austin called as well.

The flop came K-9-3 with two clubs. Mizzi moved all-in for his last 680,000 and Austin called. Josephy showed trip kings, Mizzi showed pocket aces and Austin showed a flush draw. The turn was a blank, but Austin hit his flush on the river to eliminate Mizzi and Josephy. Austin won $409,484 and his first gold bracelet. Mizzi would have to settle for second place and $253,048. Josephy would take third and $166,771.

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