Andre Akkari Wins World Series of Poker Event No. 43 ($1,500 No-Limit Hold'em)

The World Series of Poker can be a long grind, so it’s always nice to come across a final table that not only re-energizes the players and the media, but also grabs the attention of the onlookers from the rail.

On Tuesday, Brazil’s Andre Akkari topped Nachman Berlin for his first bracelet in event no. 43, the $1,500 no-limit hold’em tournament. Not since Jake Cody won his bracelet in event no. 2 has the final table arena been so raucous.

With the full support of Brazil’s poker community behind him, Akkari came back from a 2-1 heads-up deficit to earn the $675,117 first-place prize and Brazil’s second bracelet.

Over 50 of Akkari’s supporters flooded the final table stage after the final card hit the felt, jumping over the rail sporting soccer jerseys and waiving the Brazilian flag in celebration.

Akkari was in attendance in 2008 when Alexandre Gomes won Brazil’s first bracelet and Gomes was in the audience to return the favor during the final table.

“After [Gomes] won the bracelet, it changed everything about poker in Brazil,” Akkari said. “Poker was growing before he won the bracelet, but after that, it was unbelievable. Three million people play poker online and play poker live, it changed everything about poker in Brazil. I was so happy. I was here, rooting for him, and now he is here rooting for me.”

Akkari was then asked how his win would affect poker in Brazil. “Oh, it’s going to be amazing. You have no idea what is happening in Brazil,right now. Poker is an American sport. It’s an American game and maybe the Americans don’t know what happens outside the country. But in Brazil, just to give you one idea. I received 1,500 messages a minute on Twitter, it’s unbelievable.”

Here’s how all of the action happened according to Card Player’s live updates page.

Ray Foley Eliminated in 9th Place ($50,140), Philip Meulyzer Eliminated in 8th Place ($65,452)

Ray Foley and Philip Meulyzer came into the official nine-handed final table on the bottom of the counts and were eliminated shortly after it began in a big three-way, all-in pot that helped Andrew Akkari shoot up the leaderboard.

Andre Akkari raised to 55,000 before the flop, Ray Foley moved all in for 336,000, Philip Meulyzer re-shoved for 549,000 and Akkari called.

Foley: J J
Meulyzer: 10 10
Akkari: A K

Foley was ahead before the flop with a pair of jacks, but the board came A Q 7 Q 6, giving Akkari top two pair on the flop and a full house on the turn to win the pot. Ray Foley was eliminated in 9th place ($50,140) and Philip Meulyzer was eliminated in 8th place ($65,452) on the same hand.

Zachary Hall Eliminated in 7th Place ($86,434)

Jacob Naquin min-raised before the flop, Zachary Hall reraised to 128,000 from the button, Naquin shoved and Hall called all in for just under 550,000.

Hall lead with J J against Naquin’s A 8.

The board came A 6 4 A 3, giving Naquin top pair on the flop and trips on the turn to win the pot. Zachary Hall was eliminated in 7th place ($86,434).

Nicolas Chouity Eliminated in 6th Place ($114,477)

Nicolas Chouity open-shoved the button for 355,000 before the flop, Matthew Carmody reraised to 1,000,000 from the button and everyone else folded.

Carmody lead with A K against Chouity’s J 9. The board came K 10 4 8 2, giving Carmody top pair on the flop to win the pot. Nicolas Chouity was eliminated in 6th place ($114,447).

Scott Sitron Eliminated in 5th Place ($150,090)

Scott Sitron opened for a min-raise from under the gun, Matthew Carmody reraised the button to 140,000, Sitron four-bet to 400,000 and Carmody called.

The board came 7 3 2, Sitron bet 500,000, Carmody shoved and Sitron called all in for about 500,000 more.

Carmody was ahead on the flop with A A against Sitron’s A K. The turn and river were the 4 and the K, not enough help for Scott Sitron who was eliminated in 5th place ($150,090).

Jacob Naquin Eliminated in 4th Place ($213,520)

Jacob Naquin was left on the short stack after Andre Akkari doubled through him with Q-7 against his pocket sixes on a queen-high board. That hand left Naquin with just over 1 million in chips, which he very quickly shipped all in from the button in the following hand.

Akkari called from the big blind with J J and was in the lead against Naquin’s A 8.

Matthew Carmody Eliminated in 3rd Place ($295,625)

Nachman Berlin button-raised to 200,000 before the flop, Matthew Carmody reraised all in from the small blind and Berlin called.

Berlin lead with 9 9 against Berlin’s A Q.

The board came Q J 9 10 A, giving Berlin bottom set on the flop to win the pot. Matthew Carmody was eliminated in 3rd place ($295,625).

The board came K 10 4 3 7, no help for Jacob Naquin who was eliminated in 4th place ($213,520).

Nachman Berlin Eliminated in 2nd Place ($419,173)

Nachman Berlin had the chip lead going into Level 24 with 8.6 million to Andre Akkari’s 4.3 million, but quickly lost it after Akkari doubled through him with K K against A 10 early in the level. That hand put Akkari in the lead for the first time this evening with more than 10.6 million to Berlin’s 2.2 million.

Shortly after being doubled through and left on the short stack, Nachman Berlin open-shoved the button before the flop for 1,920,000 and Andre Akkari called from the big blind.

Berlin lead with A 8 against Akkari’s K J.

The board came K Q 3 K 5, giving Akkari top pair on the flop and trips on the turn to win the pot. Nachman Berlin was eliminated in 2nd place ($419,173 ) while Andre Akkari won the gold bracelet for Event #43 and the $675,117 grand prize.

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