TOUGH COMPETITION IN WSOP EVENT 18

15 June 2007

$5 000 Limit Hold 'Em bracelet taken by Saro Getzoyan

Drawing large spectator crowds due to its powerpacked player roster, the $5 000 Limit Hold 'Em competition at the World Series of Poker boasted a truly star-studded hall of tables, promising seriously tough competition among the 257 players who registered.

The chance to win a WSOP bracelet and a chunk of a wealthy prize-pool of $1 207 900 attracted entries such as Marcel Luske, Howard Lederer, Daniel Alaei, Doyle "Texas Dolly" Brunson, Eric Froelich, Joe Sebok, Phil "Unabomber" Laak, Greg "FBT" Mueller, Ted Forrest, Minh Ly, Barry Greenstein, Ted Forrest, Internet champ Justin "ZeeJustin" Bonomo, WSOP Main Event winner Chris "Jesus" Ferguson and high-stakes cash game player Eli Elezra.

On the first day "Texas Dolly" Brunson was on form in both outstanding play and courteous and amusing conversation, and was at one time the chip leader, with many speculating that he might be headed for the record of the first WSOP player ever to break the 10 bracelets barrier (an honour that went to Phil Hellmuth in another game - see previous InfoPowa reports)

Several leading players, including Daniel 'Kid Poker' Negreanu, Darrel Dicken and David Benyamine seemed to think they were playing online, multi-tabling with impressive skills and split concentration in other events running concurrently.

By Day 2 the field had thinned substantially, with Thomas Wahlroos in the lead with 58 100 chips, closely pursued by the likes of Doyle Brunson, Max Pescatori, TonyG and others but by Day 3 the final table had been decided, showing just how many of the pros had fallen by the wayside.

Taking their seats for the last hurrah were Saro Getzoyan, Geoff Sanford, William Thorssen, Thor Hansen, David Gee, Tom Koral, Ray Dehkharghani, Don Todd and Gabriel Nassif....no Brunsons, Negreanus or Benyamines!

It turned out to be quite a game nevertheless, with the eventual winner coming from a low chip count to take the bracelet and the large main prize. The day started with William Thorssen holding the chip lead at 585 000, followed by Ray Dehkharghani (471 000) and Geoff Sanford (333 000).

Gabriel Nassif was first to the rail, a victim of Geoff Sanford's incisive play when Sanford's two pair (aces and kings) survived Nassif's heart flush draw, and a dominant Sanford was also responsible for the departure in number 8 position of Don Todd. Around a quarter hour later it was Ray Dehkarghani leaving the table in position 7 after tangling with Thorssen. Tom Koral and David Gee were the next players to head for the exit in positions 6 and 5 respectively, leaving Getzoyan with a 800 000 chip stack.

Thor Hansen's dream of a bracelet, at least in this event, ended when he was eliminated at position 4 by Sanford, who ejected Will Thorssen as well shortly thereafter, sending him to the exit with the first of the six figure checks at $136 493 and setting the scene for a Getzoyan vs. Sanford heads up, with Getzoyan holding a chip lead of well over half a million.

In a battle royale, Sanford almost pulled even at one point but then the cards seemed to turn against him and Getzoyan busted his middle pair of eights with a top pair of jacks to take the game - a remarkable come-back from his low starting position

Sanford won a hard-earned $200 511 for a second place finish, with the gold bracelet and main prize of $333 379 going to new champion Saro Getzoyan - a noteworthy truimph given the size and star-quality of the starting field.

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