2009 40th Annual World Series of Poker
Seven Card Razz (Event 44)
Date:
Monday, June 22, 2009 to Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Buy-In:
$2,500
Prize Pool:
$792,500
Entrants:
315
Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:55:47
Congratulations to Jeff Lisandro, Event #44 Champion! ($188,370)
There's no question that Jeff Lisandro just accomplished the greatest feat any stud player has ever achieved in World Series of Poker history. Not only did he just win his third WSOP bracelet of 2009, but he now has one in each discipline of stud poker-- stud high, stud eight or better, and Razz.
Clad in his signature fedora and possessing his typically cool demeanor, Lisandro absolutely ran over this final table. Arriving there with a 2-1 chip lead over his closest opponent, Lisandro really never had to look back. At times it seemed like he just couldn't lose a pot, eliminating four of his seven opponents at the final table, and taking most of Kenna James' stack before Michael Craig finished him off.
For runner-up Michael Craig, his finish is also quite a feat. Though this is his fifth cash and third career WSOP final table, Craig is not a professional player. Rather, he is a writer, penning the book "The Professor, The Banker, and the Suicide King" as well as blogging daily for Full Tilt Poker. Clearly he's picked up some serious Razz skills through his friendships with Ted Forrest and Huck Seed, arguably two of the game's greatest players.
Congratulations to Jeff Lisandro on an incredible feat, and for becoming the first player since Phil Ivey in 2002 to win three WSOP bracelets in one year.
Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:44:03
Michael Craig Eliminated in 2nd Place ($116,405), Jeff Lisandro Wins His Third Bracelet of 2009!
Lisandro (
)(
)
(
)
Craig (
)(
)
(
)
Jeff Lisandro completed, Michael Craig raised and Lisandro called. Craig led out on fourth street and Lisandro called. Craig bet his remaining 21,000 on fifth street and Lisandro called.
In the end it was a T-9-8-7-4 low for Lisandro and K-J-8-6-A for Craig. Craig was eliminated as the runner-up, while Jeff Lisandro earned his third bracelet of the 2009 WSOP and his fourth overall.
For his efforts, Craig will take home $116,405.
Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:37:25
First Heads-Up Pot to Lisandro
Craig (X)(X)
Lisandro (X)(X)
Michael Craig brought it in, Jeff Lisandro completed, Craig raised, Lisandro made it three bets and Craig called. Lisandro led out on fourth and Craig called, but Craig folded to Lisandro's fifth street bet.
Craig is on his last 125,000 in chips.
Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:35:34
Heads-Up Chip Counts
Yeah, it's a bit of a lopsided battle...
Jeff Lisandro 2,153,000
Michael Craig 210,000
Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:34:05
Ryan Fisler Eliminated in 3rd Place ($76,261)
Lisandro (X)(X)
(X)
Fisler (X)(X)
(X)
Jeff Lisandro brought it in, Ryan Fisler completed and Lisandro called. Fisler bet out on fourth, fifth, and sixth streets, Lisandro calling the whole way. Fisler then bet seventh street and Lisandro came in with a raise that would set Fisler all in. After tanking for quite a while and laying his head on the table in frustration, he decided to fold and save his last 35,000 in chips.
It was all over for Fisler only a few hands later:
Craig (
)(
)
(
)
Fisler (
)(
)
(
)
Michael Craig completed on third street Fisler raised all in and Craig called. When the boards were dealt out it was a king low for Fisler and a 6-5-4-3-2 for Craig. Fisler was eliminated in third place while Craig's stack increased to 210,000.
Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:27:47
Lisandro= 2 Million
Lisandro (
)(
)
(
)
Craig (
)(
)
(
)
Lisandro completed and Craig called. Lisandro led the entire way and Craig called him down. In the end it was a 7-6-4-3-2 low for Lisandro and a 9-7-6-4-2 for Craig. Lisandro took it down and is now on over 2,000,000 in chips.
Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:25:10
Warwick Mirzikinian Eliminated in 4th Place ($52,773)
Lisandro (
)(
)
(
)
Mirzikinian (
)(
)
(
)
Ryan Fisler brought it in with a jack, Jeff Lisandro completed, Warwick Mirzikinian called and Fisler folded. Lisandro led out on fourth street, Mirzikinian raised and Lisandro called. On fifth Lisandro bet again, Mirzikinian raised all in and Lisandro called.
Lisandro's 7-6-5-4-2 bested Mirzikinian's T-8-4-3-A and he hit the rail in fourth place.
Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:17:54
Mirzikinian On the Short Stack
Jeff Lisandro (X)(X)
(X)
Michael Craig (X)(X)
Warwick Mirzikinian (X)(X)
(X)
Jeff Lisandro completed on third street and got two callers in Michael Craig and Warwick Mirzikinian. Craig bet out on fourth street when both his opponents caught tens. Both Mirzikinian and Lisandro called. Lisandro took the lead on fifth street and led out. Craig caught a king and folded while Mirzikinian made the call. Mirzikinian then bet out on sixth street when Lisandro caught a queen. Lisandro still called. Both players checked the river.
Mirzikinian showed
for a T-9-7-5-2 low, but Lisandro had the better hand with
in the hole for a T-8-7-6-5 low.
Mizikinian is down to 100,000 in chips while Lisandro's stack is now north of 1.5 million.
Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:10:33
Slooooooowing Dowwwwn
Not too many hands went past fifth street since Mirizikinian's double-up, but here's a couple of pots that were taken down by... guess who? Jeff Lisandro.
Fisler (X)(X)
Lisandro (X)(X)
Michael Craig brought it in with a king, Ryan Fisler completed and Jeff Lisandro called. Fisler checked fourth street, Lisandro bet out and Fisler folded.
Lisandro (X)(X)
Craig (X)(X)
Warwick Mirzikinian brought it in with a seven, Lisandro completed and Craig called. Lisandro bet out on fourth and Craig called, but Craig folded to Lisandro's fifth street bet.
Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:00:15
Warwick Mirzikinian Doubles Through Michael Craig
Craig (X)(X)
(X)
Mirzikinian (X)(X)
(X)
Michael Craig completed, Warwick Mirzikinian raised and Craig called. Craig led out on fourth and fifth street and Mizikinian called both times. On sixth, Mirzikinian made the low board and led out, Craig raised, and Mirzikinian called all in.
Craig showed
for a T-7-6-4-3 low, but Mirzikinian had the winner with
in the hole for a T-5-4-3-A low. He raked in the pot and doubled up to 300,000.
Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:52:50
Updated Chip Counts
Jeff Lisandro 1,300,000
Michael Craig 600,000
Ryan Fisler 290,000
Warwick Mirzikinian 120,000
Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:51:11
Eric Rodawig Eliminated in 5th Place ($38,471)
Eric Rodawig (
)(
)
(?)
Jeff Lisandro (
)(
)
(?)
Eric Rodawig was all in on third street against Jeff Lisandro. Lisandro made a T-9-7-6-5 low by sixth street, leaving Rodawig drawing dead. He headed to the rail in fifth place while Lisandro added even more to his massive stack, now totaling 1.3 million.
Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:39:16
Ryan Fisler Doubles Through Warwick Mirzikinian
Mizikinian (X)(X)
(X)
Fisler (X)(X)
(X)
Warwick Mirzikinian completed, Ryan Fisler raised and Mirzikinian called. Mirzikinian led out on fourth street, Fisler raised, and Mirzikinian called. Fifth street brought a bet from Fisler and a call from Mirzikinian. Mirzikinian check-called a bet on sixth street, then checked again on the river. Fisler went all in for his last 12,000 and Mirzikinian called.
Fisler showed
for a 7-6-4-3-2 low. Mirzikinian's 9-8-6-3-2 was toast and Fisler doubled up.
Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:28:40
Players Return from Break
Cards are back in the air.
Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:10:18
Chip Counts at the Break
Jeff Lisandro 1,437,000
Michael Craig 377,000
Warwick Mirzikinian 257,000
Ryan Fisler 192,000
Eric Rodawig 93,000
Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:09:15
Players Take a 20-Minute Break
Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:08:56
Kenna James Eliminated in 6th Place ($29,473)
Kenna James (
)(
)
(
)
Michael Craig (
)(
)
(
)
Kenna James completed on third street and Michael Craig called. Craig led out on fourth and James called all in.
James couldn't beat Craig's 7-6-5-3-2 and hit the rail in sixth place. Craig is now up to 400,000.
Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:56:35
Fisler Frustrated, Lisandro Living Large
Ryan Fisler (X)(X)
(X)
Jeff Lisandro (X)(X)
(X)
Michael Craig had the bring-in with a king, Warwick Mirzikinian called, Ryan Fisler completed, Jeff Lisandro raised, Craig and Mirzikinian folded, but Fisler made it three bets to go. Lisandro made the call. Fisler led out on fourth and fifth, Lisandro calling in both spots. Fisler check-called a bet on sixth street from Lisandro and did the same on seventh.
Fisler showed
for a 9-5-4-3-A low but there's just no stopping Lisandro right now. He showed
for a 7-5-4-3-A low and took it down, leaving Fisler with only 150,000 in chips.
Lisandro now has more than half the chips in play.
Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:46:45
Steve Diano Eliminated in 7th Place ($23,669)
Warwick Mirzikinian (
)(
)
(
)
Steve Diano (
)(
)
(
)
Michael Craig brought it in with a queen, Warwick Mirzikinian completed, Steve Diano called and Craig folded. Mirzikinian bet on fourth street and Diano called all in for his last 13,000.
Mirzikinian made a 8-7-5-4-A low, besting Diano's J-7-6-5-4 and he hit the rail in 7th place.
Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:41:47
Jeff Lisandro Cripples Kenna James
Jeff Lisandro (X)(X)
(X)
Kenna James (X)(X)
(X)
Eric Rodawig had the bring-in with a queen, Lisandro completed, James called and Rodawig folded. Lisandro led out the whole way and James called him down.
James showed
for a 9-7-6-4-A low, but Lisandro had him, turning up
for a 9-5-4-3-2 low . James was left with only 20,000.
Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:31:12
Can't Stop Lisandro
Michael Craig (X)(X)
Jeff Lisandro (X)(X)
Eric Rodawig brought it in with a ten, Michael Craig completed, Jeff Lisandro raised Rodawig folded and Craig called. Lisandro bet out on fourth street and Craig called. Lisandro bet again on fifth and having caught a jack, Craig folded.
"Now I know how they feel on the golf course against Tiger," quipped Kenna James.


