2009 40th Annual World Series of Poker
Pot-Limit Omaha (Event 35)
Date:
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 to Friday, June 19, 2009
Buy-In:
$5,000
Prize Pool:
$1,706,100
Entrants:
363
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:17:40
Congratulations to Richard Austin, Winner of Event 35 ($409,484)!
Wow! What a finish to Event 35. Who could have seen it coming? We have to imagine that not even Richard Austin saw it coming. After playing small ball with Cliff Josephy and Sorel Mizzi for most of the day, all hell broke loose and Austin managed to knock out both of his opponents during a single hand after each player put in almost one million chips before the flop!
We shouldn't take anything away from Richard Austin. He played marvelous poker the whole day, keeping pots small when he needed to and using position to chip up without frequently going to showdown. It's a good day when you can win a tournament without having to show down most of your winners.
A good word is in order for Cliff Josephy and Sorel Mizzi as well. Both got very unlucky in the final hand -- Mizzi's aces being outflopped by Josephy's kings; and Josephy's set of kings losing to Austin's gutshot and flush draw combination.
A confused member of the media who stepped away from the table for a few minutes returned to see the stage clear. "What the hell happened?" he asked, and we could excuse him for his confusion. Sorel Mizzi and Cliff Josephy probably feel the same way.
For his win, Richard Austin will bank $409,484 and a 2009 WSOP gold bracelet. Congratulations Richard!
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:13:45
Cliff "JohnnyBax" Josephy Eliminated in 3rd Place ($166,771); Sorel Mizzi Eliminated in 2nd Place ($253,048)
Richard Austin called from the button, Sorel Mizzi completed from the small blind and Cliff Josephy raised to 150,000 from the big blind. Austin called and Mizzi unexpectedly reraised pot to 750,000.
Cliff "JohnnyBax" Josephy moved all in for 195,000 more.
Austin then goes into the tank for a minute before flat calling. After confirming that he could not reraise, Mizzi also called the all in.
The board came 
and Mizzi moved all in for 680,000. Austin called.
Mizzi: 
(an overpair with aces)
Josephy: 
(flopped top set with a backdoor diamond draw)
Austin: 
(baby flush draw and a gutshot)
The turn is a blank with the 
River: 
The river gave Austin a flush and the pot to eliminate both Cliff Josephy (3rd) and Sorel Mizzi (2nd).
With the double elimination, Richard Austin takes down the $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha title.
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:58:17
More Chips for Austin
We fast forward the action between Richard Austin and Cliff Josephy to the turn. With the board showing 
, Austin bet 250,000. Josephy called to the river 
, where Austin made a sizable bet of 400,000 that Josephy decided he couldn't call.
Another pot was pushed in Austin's direction.
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:55:54
Another Small Pot for Austin
Sorel Mizzi raised the pot preflop to 100,000 and got calls from both of his opponents, Cliff Josephy and Richard Austin. Action checked all the way to the river on a board of 
. Josephy checked again, but this time Austin bet 200,000. That bet produced two folds and a win for Austin.
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:48:44
Josephy's All-In Raise Wins the Pot
Given all of the small-ball poker we've seen over the course of the last few hours, we were very surprised to see Cliff Josephy raise his button to 150,000. We were even more surprised to see Richard Austin and Sorel Mizzi both called.
The 
flop seemed to show some promise for action but checked all the way through. The turn 
checked all the way through as well.
On eht river , Austin took a shot at the pot with a bet of 300,000. Mizzi tanked for about forty seconds before folding. Josephy then quickly moved all in. Austin just as quickly folded.
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:41:57
Clifff Josephy vs. Sorel Mizzi
Cliff Josephy raised to 150,000 from the button and Sorel Mizzi called from the big blind.
and both players checked. The turn brough the 
and they check again. The river paired the board with the 
. Sorel checked and Josephy bet a miniscule 50,000. Sorel called.
Josephy showed 
for aces up and takes the pot.
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:36:40
Mizzi Makes A Full House
Sorel Mizzi limped into the pot from the button, Cliff Josephy called from the small blind and Richard Austin checked the big blind.
The flop came . Josephy lead out for 50,000, Austin folded and Mizzi called. The turn brought the and Josephy bet again, this time for 150,000. Mizzi called.
The river brought the and both checked it down.
Mizzi showed 
giving Mizzi a full house and the pot.
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:33:28
Mizzi Uses the Power Check-Raise on a Dry Board
Sorel Mizzi limped into the pot preflop from the small blind, then called a raise to 150,000 by big blind Cliff Josephy. The flop did not look like an action flop -- . Mizzi checked to Josephy, who led out for 225,000.
Mizzi eyed the bet carefully, then announced that he was raising the size of the pot -- 975,000! That raise put Josephy into the tank for well over a minute. He could be seen talking to himself and shaking his head slightly. He finally mucked his hand.
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:25:58
A Few Chips for JohnnyBax
Cliff Josephy limped in from the small blind before Richard Austin raised the big blind to 150,000. Josephy quickly called.
After both players checked the 
flop, Josephy led out for 200,000 on the turn. Austin couldn't fold fast enough.
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:19:52
Updated Chip Counts
Richard Austin - 2,505,000
Sorel Mizzi - 1,610,000
Cliff Josephy - 1,350,000
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:11:30
Small Pots for Austin
It's been a couple of small pots in a row for Richard Austin. He limped the button and took a three-handed flop of 
with Sorel Mizzi and Cliff Josephy. Mizzi and Josephy both checked to Austin, who bet 50,000. Only Mizzi called.
The 
that hit the turn was checked by both players. When the dealer produced the 
on the river, Mizzi checked again. He looked suspiciously at Austin when Austin bet 125,000, but decided the best course was to fold his hand.
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:07:11
Cliff Josephy Takes a Pre Flop Pot
Mizzi raised to 100,000 from the button and Cliff ??JohnnyBax? Josephy reraised to 340,000 from the small blind.
Austin folds his blind and Mizzi let his hand go, giving Josephy the pot with the three-bet.
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:03:36
Austin Getting Tricky
Richard Austin limped into the pot from the small blind, then called a raise to 100,000 by Sorel Mizzi from the big blind. Austin checked a flop of to Mizzi, who put another 100,000 in the middle. Ausin quickly check-raised to 425,000, drawing the fold from Mizzi.
We believe Mizzi is still the chip leader but it's difficult to get accurate counts from our current vantage point.
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:59:53
Austin Wins Battle of the Blinds
Richard Austin limped in from the small blind and Mizzi checked his big blind. The flop came 
. Austin bet and Mizzi called.
The turn brought the . Austin check-called a 130,000 bet from Mizzi.
The river was the and both players checked it down.
Austin showed for a straight and took down the pot.
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:53:19
Dan Hindin Eliminated 4th Place ($116,748)
After a series of preflop raises Dan Hindin was all in before the flop against Richard Austin.
Austin:
Hindin:
The board came 
allowing Austin's hand to hold up.
Dan Hindin is eliminated from the tournament in 4th place, collecting $116,748
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:51:07
Rifat Palevic Eliminated in 5th Place ($86,516)
We've been waiting to say "Rifat Re-pots" all day, but Rifat Palevic hasn't had enough chips to re-pot. He did have enough chips to open for pot (140,000) from the button. Sorel Mizzi was in the small blind and *he* was the one who re-potted. Dan Hindin folded the big blind, giving Palevic space to call all in.
Palevic:
Mizzi: 
Each player made two pair on a board of 
, but Mizzi's aces and treys were better than Palevic's aces and deuces. Palevic is eliminated in 5th place, collecting $86,516, while Mizzi's stack continues to grow.
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:40:45
Rifat Palevic Doubles Through Sorel Mizzi
Rifat Palevic raised to 140,000 from the button and Sorel Mizzi repotted from the small blind to 480,000. Dan Hindin folded the big blind and Palevic called all-in.
Palevic: 
Mizzi:
The board came giving Mizzi a flush, but Palevic deuces full of eights. He doubles up and is now at 475,000.
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:35:16
Felipe Ramos Eliminated in 6th Place ($67,663)
We finally have a sixth-place finisher. Sorel Mizzi opened the pot for 100,000. After Dan Hindin folded, Felipe Ramos re-raised all in. The other players at the table quickly folded, allowing Mizzi the opportunity to call and knock out Ramos. He'd need some help though!
Mizzi: 
Ramos:
Ramos had single-suited aces against Mizzi's one-gapper hand. The flop was very non-threatening for Ramos, . It didn't hit Mizzi at all, and gave Ramos a flush draw to go with his aces.
The turn, however, changed everything. The was the best card Mizzi could hope to see, as it gave him a full wrap to draw at on the river (minus any diamonds that would make Ramos' flush). On the river Mizzi hit one of his cards, the , to make a straight and send Ramos crashing out of the tournament in 6th place.
Mizzi now has about 2.1 million chips, almost double his nearest competitor.
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:28:18
Cliff Josephy vs. Sorel Mizzi
Cliff "JohnnyBax" Josephy limped into the pot from under the gun. Sorel Mizzi raised to 160,000 and the blinds got out of the way. Josephy made the call.
The flop came 
with both players checking it. The fell on the turn and they checked again.
The river brought the and Josephy bet 100,000 into the 380,000 pot. Mizzi threw away his hand and "JohnnyBax" raked in the chips.
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:21:59
Rifat Finds No Callers
Yet another limped pot at this final table, this one contested among Rifat Palevic, Sorel Mizzi and Felipe Ramos. Palevic had first action on a flop of and bet pot, 120,000, leaving himself 45,000 behind. Mizzi quickly folded. Ramos took significantly longer before he too folded.
Palevic showed 
as he collected the pot.
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:15:23
Play Resumes
Cards are back in the air. Updated chip counts are:
Sorel Mizzi - 1.80 million
Cliff Josephy - 1.16 million
Richard Austin - 1.08 million
Dan Hindin - 785,000
Felipe Ramos - 395,000
Rifat Palevic - 245,000
