2009 40th Annual World Series of Poker
No-Limit Hold'em / Six Handed (Event 56)
Date:
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 to Thursday, July 02, 2009
Buy-In:
$5,000
Prize Pool:
$4,361,000
Entrants:
928
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:47:09
Josh Brikis Eliminated in 2nd Place ($619,609); Matt Hawrilenko Wins!
On just the fourth hand of heads up play, Josh Brikis raised to 300,000 from the small blind. Matt Hawrilenko then said "One million", Brikis fired back with "All in", Hawrilenko instantly said "Call!".
Showdown:
Brikis: 
Hawrilenko: 
With a bunch of mixed callings from the rail, the board ran out 
and Josh Brikis is our 2nd place finisher.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:41:00
Heads Up Begins
In the first hand of heads up play, Matt Hawrilenko reached to raise from the small blind/button, and Josh Brikis folded before he grabbed any chips.
In the second hand, Josh Brikis raised before the flop and Hawrilenko called. The flop came 
. Hawrilenko checked, Brikis bet 450,000, and Hawrilenko called. The turn was the 
, and both checked. The river was the 
. Hawrilenko checked, Brikis bet just 300,000, and Hawrilenko grabbed his water. After a few sips, he grabbed some chips, but then let it go.
In the third hand, Hawrilenko again raised from the button, and Brikis let it go.
The fourth hand... well, that was a doozy. Stay tuned.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:23:45
A Break First, then Battle
Matt Hawrilenko and Josh Brikis are taking a 20-minute break before they begin their heads-up battle.
Hawrilenko -- 9.025 million
Brikis -- 4.975 million
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:20:12
Faraz Jaka Eliminated in 3rd ($400,526)
After a few raises back and forth, Faraz Jaka and Matt Hawrilenko got all of their chips in preflop.
Jaka showed 
and Hawrilenko tabled 
. We had ourselves a classic race.
The board would run out 
and Mr. Jaka is our 3rd place finisher.
Hawrilenko is now in command with 9,025,000.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:11:25
Brikis Chips Up
Faraz Jaka raises from the button to 250,000. Josh Brikis makes the call from the small blind. Both player checked the flop of 
. The turn would then come the . Brikis would check call a bet of 350,000 from Jaka. To the river, it fell the 
again Brikis checked, Jaka fired 800,000 and Brikis insta called. No sooner than Brikis called, Jaka mucked his hand. Brikis showed 
and said "Cmon, you can't push me around all night."
Brikis is now up to 4,625,000.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:00:06
Updated Chip Counts
Matt Hawrilenko -- 6.75 million
Faraz Jaka -- 5.15 million
Josh Brikis -- 3.5 million
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:52:00
Are You Sure You Want to Fold?
Faraz Jaka limped in from the button/under the gun, Josh Brikis folded from the small blind, and Matt Hawrilenko tossed his cards to the muck.
"What did I do?" asked Hawrilenko, immediately realizing he'd folded unnecessarily. Jaka dragged the pot. "I wanted to see a flop, actually," Jaka said. "Sorry about that," answered Hawrilenko with a sheepish grin.
"Can't do that online, can you?" added Josh Brikis.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:47:00
Beer Me
The rail as usual here at the series is full of life and full of alcohol. Josh Brikis' crew is ordering fifteen Miller Lites at a time to keep everyone kosher. If the final table keeps on for too long we may need some cots brought in to accommodate the rail. Keep 'em comin.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:41:14
We Don't Need a Soundtrack, Thanks
Might've spoken too soon a moment ago about the relatively peaceful surroundings for the last stage of our tournament. Just now a song burst through the PA system, and as it played the players looked around with wonder.
"You gotta be kidding me," said Matt Hawrilenko. "God, Hellmuth was better than this," added Josh Brikis, referring to the Poker Brat's emceeing of the earlier part of the Ante Up for Africa tourney.
Thankfully, when the song ended, another didn't start, and we're back to poker. As if to reemphasize what is going on here, the WSOP gold bracelet was brought out and set on the table -- even though we're three-handed.
"I don't even want to look at my cards, now!" said Brikis, the glint of the light hitting the bracelet having caught his eye.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:36:47
Sean Keeton Eliminated in 4th ($269,983)
Faraz Jaka raised to 200,000 from first position, Sean Keeton then moved all in for 2.1 million. Matt Hawrilenko then shipped it all in over the top. Jaka stepped aside.
Keeton: 
Hawrilenko: 
The board would run dry for Keeton -- 
-- and he is eliminated in 4th place. The "Hoss" man moves up to 6,950,000.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:30:30
Brikis Back On Top
With about 450,000 already in the middle, the flop came 
. Faraz Jaka checked, Josh Brikis bet 280,000, and Jaka called. The turn was the , and both checked.
The river brought the 
. Both checked again. "Ace high," said Jaka. Brikis turned over and nudged his queen forward, a nonverbal query as to its relevance. It mattered, as Jaka mucked.
Brikis is back to 4.65 million, just a bit ahead of Hawrilenko's 4.5 million at the moment. Jaka is at 3.65 million, and after a couple more successful all-ins, Keeton has chipped up to 1.8 million.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:20:00
Something to See
Playing for a million dollars here, folks. Come take a look!
Since the dinner break, the crowd on the rail has gradually built back up to 120 or more, with each of the remaining four players have his own cheering section.
Now that the Ante Up for Africa event has reached its final table, we're hearing much less noise from the other side of the Amazon Room than we were earlier in the day. So now it's stretches of quiet as players make their decisions punctuated by occasional bursts of shouting and applause from all sides.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:13:00
Pressure Mounts for Keeton
Sean Keeton is the table's short stack now, and he's doing what he can to try and chip up. He just went all in before the flop two hands in a row, but all folded.
Soon after that, Keeton raised to 200,000 from under the gun, and both Josh Brikis (button) and Faraz Jaka (big blind) called. The flop came 
. Jaka checked, Keeton continued with a bet of 250,000, Brikis quickly called, and Jaka folded.
The turn was the 
, and both checked. The river was the . Keeton bet just 200,000 this time, and Brikis called right away. Keeton showed 
for nines, and Brikis 
for aces. Brikis is at 3.9 million, and Keeton slips further to 1.25 million.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:06:00
Jaka Jockeys In Some Chips
Faraz Jaka opened to 180,000 from the button. Sean Keeton and Josh Brikis both made the call from the blinds. The flop fell 
. Both blinds checked it to Jaka, who then bet 250,000. Keeton folded and Brikis made it 650,000. Jaka then announced all in and was followed by a snap call from Brikis.
Jaka:
Brikis: 
Brikis needed any heart, five or an eight to eliminate Jaka. The turn and river fell , and Jaka doubled up to 4,300,000. Brikis dropped down to 3,300,000.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:58:44
I Declare!
On the first hand of the new level, Faraz Jaka wanted to raise from the button, but was double-checking the new blinds before he did. "180?" he said, referring to the amount of his raise. "Is that a question?" joked Josh Brikis. No, said a smiling Jaka. He just wanted to be sure the dealer acknowledged his bet amount. The others folded.
Jaka again raised to 180,000 from the cutoff the following hand, his raise a declarative statement this time. Then Sean Keeton made a declaration of his own -- he was all in. Then Brikis made the same declaration -- he was all in, too! Jaka folded, and they showed their cards:
Keeton
Brikis
The flop was 
, meaning the pair were chopping, regardless of the subsequent cards. A lot of excitement, but in the end all the chips returned where they started.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:53:49
We're Back
Four handed for a bracelet and a million dollar first prize, cards are in the air.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:41:58
Updated Chip Counts
Josh Brikis -- 5.2 million
Matt Hawrilenko -- 4.96 million
Faraz Jaka -- 1.9 million
Sean Keeton -- 1.85 million
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:40:00
Break Time
After that last flurry of activity, the remaining four players are now taking 20 minutes to gather themselves before getting back into it.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:38:20
Hearts for Hawrilenko
After a fairly dormant first half of level 26 with most hands ending prior to the flop, the level has ended with a rush of big pots and huge chip exchanges.
In the very last hand of the level, Matt Hawrilenko and Sean Keeton were tangling once again. This time Hawrilenko raised to 150,000 before the flop from the button, and Keeton called from the big blind. The flop came , and Keeton rapidly pushed out a bet of 200,000. Hawrilenko waited a moment, then said he was all in, and Keeton instantly called.
Keeton showed 
for two pair, but Hawrilenko tabled for the flopped flush. The turn was the and the river the , and Hawrilenko chips back up to 4.96 million. Keeton now has 1.85 million.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:34:09
Counterfeited
After a flop of 
, Sean Keeton checked, Matt Hawrilenko bet 200,000, and Keeton called. The turn brought the . Keeton checked again, Hawrilenko bet 500,000, and Keeton didn't waste much time calling.
The river was the . Keeton checked again, and this time Hawrilenko checked behind. Hawrilenko had for two pair, but that deuce on the end gave Keeton the better two pair with his 
.
That hand pushed Keeton up to 4.5 million, and Hawrilenko down to 3.1 million.
