World Series of Poker -- Ben Lamb Wins $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship

One of the largest prizes of the 2011 World Series of Poker was awarded on Monday when Ben Lamb topped a field of 361 players in Event No. 42 ($10,000 pot-limit Omaha championship). He defeated Sami Kelopuro heads up and won one of the most coveted title of the summer in the process. He also picked up a handsome amount of Card Player Player of the Year points — 2,160. That is the most points awarded for any bracelet win this summer. Lamb took home his first gold bracelet and $814,436 in prize money as well and his career earnings now stand at $3,172,055.

The poker professional was both gracious and humorous after his victory. “Some of my friends would tell me that I’m a great player,” Lamb joked. “But then, they would point to their own wrist and say, ‘Oh wait – I’ve won my gold bracelet. Where’s yours? After winning this, now I can say back to them – I’ve got a $10,000 buy-in world championship gold bracelet. Where’s yours?” Many of Lamb’s friends were present at the final table to root him on and they celebrated with him in photos after the win.

Lamb is a pot-limit Omaha specialist and it was apparent at the final table as he topped other professionals like Dario Alioto, John Kabbaj, and his heads-up opponent Sami Kelopuro. He was cognizant of the level of competition he would have to defeat to win a $10,000 world championship event. “I feel like a lot of players will play in a (smaller) buy-in tournament. But when it comes to the $10,000 buy-in, the backers say – ‘no, you can’t play in that one.’ The players are tougher in the bigger events.” He continued by putting his win into context, “It feels great. The money is good. But this bracelet stays with me forever.”

Here is a look at the elimination hands from CardPlayer.com’s live updates:

Hans Winzeler Eliminated in 9th Place ($68,410)

Hans Winzeler raised the small blind to 150,000 before the flop, Christopher King shoved the big blind and Winzeler called all in.

King: Q Q 10 6
Winzeler: A 9 6 2

King was ahead before the flop with a pair of queens. The board came Q 9 7 72, giving King top set on the flop and a full house on the turn to win the pot. Hans Winzeler was the first to go, eliminated in 9th place ($68,410).

Joshua Tieman Eliminated in 8th Place ($88,873)

Cory Wood opened for a raise to 115,000 before the flop, John Shipley called from late position and Joshua Tieman called from the big blind.

The flop came K Q 7, Tieman and Woods both checked to Shipley who bet 230,000. Tieman moved all in over the top, Woods folded and Shipley called.

Tieman: A 10 9 8
Shipley: k K 7 4

Shipley was ahead with top set while Tieman flopped the nut flush draw and an inside straight draw. The turn and river were the A and 6, no help to Joshua Tieman who was eliminated in 8th place ($88,873).

Cory Wood Eliminated in 7th Place ($116,359)

Cory Wood started the level on the short stack and was eliminated shortly after it began.

Wood got it all in before the flop with A – K – Q – J against Dario Alioto’s Q – Q – 9 – 8.

The board came 8 – 3 – 2 – 7 – 5 rainbow, completely missing Wood and giving Alioto the pot with a pair of queens. Cory Wood was eliminated in 6th place ($116,359).

John Kabbaj Eliminated in 6th Place ($153,517)

Ben Lamb raised to 185,000 before the flop, John Kabbaj moved all in for 700,000 from the big blind and Lamb called.

Lamb: A A Q Q
Kabbaj: A K 10 8

Lamb was ahead before the flop with a pair of aces. The board came 9 5 2 4 5, no help to John Kabbaj who was eliminated in 6th place ($153,517).

Dario Alioto Eliminated in 5th Place ($203,113)

Sami Kelopuro raised to 200,000 from under the gun and Dario Alioto called from the big blind. The flop came K 8 5, Alioto bet the size of the pot, Kelopuro re-potted and Alioto called all in.

Kelopuro: A A 4 3
Alioto: A 8 7 6

Kelopuro was ahead with a pair of aces, but Alioto flopped middle pair and an open-ended straight draw.

The turn and river were the 2 and the Q, no help to Dario Alioto who was eliminated in 5th place ($203,113).

Christopher King Eliminated in 4th Place ($273,573)

Christopher King came to the unscheduled fourth day of this final table as the short stack and was eliminated shortly after the day began.

Sami Kelopuro button-raised before the flop, Ben Lamb three-bet the small blind, Christopher King moved all in from the big blind for about 1,100,000, Kelopuro folded and Lamb called.

King: A A K Q
Lamb: K K 8 4

King was ahead before the flop with a pair of aces against Lamb’s pair of kings. The board came
10 6 3 5 4, giving Lamb a flush on the flop to win the pot. Christopher King was the first one eliminated this afternoon in 4th place ($273,573).

John Shipley Eliminated in 3rd Place ($369,575)

Shortly after Christopher King’s 4th place elimination, Sami Kelopuro doubled through John Shipley with kings against jacks, leaving him under one million in chips. A short while later, Shipley got the rest of his chips in before the flop against Sami Kelopuro.

Shipley: A K 8 5
Kelopuro: K Q J 8

Shipley was ahead before the flop with a suited-ace against Kelopuro’s suited-king. The board came
Q 10 5 2 7, giving Kelopuro top pair on the flop to win the pot.

Sami Kelopuro Eliminated in 2nd Place ($503,173)

Ben Lamb took the chip lead into heads-up play with 6,650,000 to Sami Kelopuro’s 4,180,000. Lamb struck first and widened his lead by about 2:1 before Kelopuro chipped up to a slight lead with about 5.6 million to 5.1 million.

Kelopuro didn’t hold on to the lead very long as Lamb won a big pot with a pocket pair of kings, reclaiming a slight lead going into the final hand of the tournament.

Kelopuro button-raised 240,000 and Lamb called from the big blind.

The flop came A 9 3, Lamb checked, Kelopuro bet 275,000 and Lamb called.

The turn was the Q, Lamb checked, Kelopuro bet 675,000, Lamb check-raised the size of the pot, Kelopuro moved all in and Lamb called.

Kelopuro: A K Q 7
Lamb: 6 5 4 2

Kelopuro lead the turn with top two pair while Lamb had a flush draw and a straight draw. The river was the 5, giving Lamb a straight to win the pot. Sami Kelopuro was eliminated in 2nd place ($503,175) and Ben Lamb wins Event #42, the gold bracelet and the $814,436 grand prize.

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