Event #49 ($50,000 World Championship H.O.R.S.E.) cost each of the 95 players fifty grand to play, took five days to complete, and the final table took twenty hours, but it is finally done; it’s in the books. The most important thing that happened in this event was that Gus Hansen was eliminated teasingly close to the final table (he was the bubble boy). It’s also probably pretty important that David Bach survived a record breaking 492 hand final table to win his first World Series of Poker bracelet; beating back a field of players who are recognized as the best of the best. Maybe it’s more important that David won. I’ll leave that question to history.
Jorg Peisert faced down his own demons in Event #52 - $3,000 Triple Chance No Limit Hold'em. His had names like Kathy Liebert, Michael Mizrachi, Sandra Naujoks, Jeff Lisandro, and John Juanda. Even with all that star power standing in his way, Jorg managed to squeak into the final table with only the sixth biggest stack, and from there on dominated the entire day. He won every hand worth winning, and by the time he was heads-up against Jason DeWitt he was holding most of the chips. It only took him 24 minutes to dispatch with Mr. DeWitt and claim his first WSOP bracelet.
David Halpern also scored his first piece of WSOP jewelry this year. He has been competing in events on a semi-regular basis for over a decade. Before this year the commercial law attorneys best finish in a WSOP event was 8th place. This year he broke through and won the $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo 8-or-better bracelet. The odd thing about this is how he got into this event. A few days ago, Halpern tried to get in on some cash games and was turned away because the tables were full. He bought into this event on an impulse, and probably thought it would be a day or two of poker fun. Now he has a bracelet and a story to dine out on for the rest of his life (along with an extra $159,390).
We congratulate all the winners for today and point and laugh in Gus Hansen’s general direction.
