2008 WSOP Event 5 Winner Michael Banducci

  There are some sports teams that have subscribed to the theory of "if it's not rough it ain't right". Of course most of them who attempted to apply this idea to a Championship run usually find themselves on the golf course while their opponents are either going deeper into the playoffs or drinking champagne out of an absurdly large trophy.  While the "if it's not rough it ain't right" approach usually fails in team sports it has done well at this year's World Series of Poker. An unusual number of underdogs are walking away with bracelets this year, even after starting the final table with barely enough chips to even be considered a nuisance by the event leaders. Event #5 ($1,000 No Limit Holdem w/ Rebuys) was not one of these events. Michael Banducci had a big chip lead going into the final table and used it to beat his opponents into submission. At the end he had all the little ceramic disks and his first World Series of Poker bracelet.  Banducci did not exactly go through the rest of the table like General Sherman through Georgia. The action was extremely aggressive in the early goings. He basically hovered above the fray, and picked his spots when it came to getting down in the mud and fighting. By the end it came down to Michael vs. Jeff Williams. Banducci had a three to one chip lead, and this was just too much for Jeff to overcome. About thirty minutes after it had started, it was over.  Williams was dealt an Ace/5 and decided this was a good a hand (well there are much better hands, but he was willing to take any Ace at this point). An Ace is a good card to have, but the problem is Michael had one as well, plus a better kicker. His Ace was paired with a Jack. With Williams all in, he ultimately lost to a pair of jacks, and Michael Banducci claimed his first World Series of Poker bracelet.  Congratulations Michael Banducci!