Ralph Perry Wins 2006 WSOP PL Omaha BraceletTakes Home Bracelet After 3-1/2 Hour Heads-Up Battle |
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The 16 remaining players for WSOP Event #26, the pot-limit Omaha tournament, took their seats at 2 p.m. PDT yesterday to test their Omaha prowess against each other in an attempt to take home the sought-after golden WSOP bracelet.
The tournament day would quickly be characterized by rapidly occurring eliminations, as the first seven players were ousted in just over an hour-and-a-half. The remaining nine players comprised the final table. Here were the players going to the final table:
Q 2 , Russ Salzer raised all in and was called by George Abdallah. Salzer showed A
A
8 9 for a set of aces and a flush draw, while Abdallah had K J Q
A for a flopped nut flush. The turn and river, 9 and 5, improved neither player and Salzer was eliminated in ninth ($14,333).
Only 15 minutes, later Jason Newburger was put all in preflop with A K 5 2 and eliminated in eighth when Brian Kocur's K K J 3 held up. Newburger brought home $21,499 for his finish.
The quick eliminations continued as Frank Henderson was eliminated in seventh ($28,665) and another bust occurred just five minutes after. Rafael Perry raised and Spiro Mitrokostas called on the button. The flop came A Q J and Perry led out with a pot-sized bet. Spiro reraised to put himself all in. Perry called and showed A Q K 7 for two pair and a flush draw, while Spiro flipped up A Q J 6 for the same two pair. The turn, a 3, gave Perry the flush and a blank on the river, the 3, eliminated Spiro in sixth place, earning him $35,831.
Play slowed and players were given some breathing room as an hour passed before the next elimination. On a flop of 8 6 3, Ray Lynn pushed all in and was called by George Abdallah. Abdallah showed A A 10 8 for a pair of aces and Lynn turned over KJ J A for a pair of jacks. Lynn needed a jack or running kings to avoid elimination. Unfortunately for him, the turn and river brought two nines and he was eliminated in fifth ($42,998).
Zhang Luzhe was eliminated shortly thereafter when he pushed all in preflop and was called by Brian Kocur. Kocur flopped a straight and rivered an even better straight to beat Luzhe's two pair and eliminate him in fourth. Luzhe took home $50,164 for his finish.
However, Kocur's win didn't help him stay in the ranks. Kocur moved all in on a board showing 10 7 6 Q and was called by Rafael Perry. Perry showed J 9 8 5 for a flopped straight and Kocur turned up A K J 9 for a draw to the nut straight with a jack. The draw did not pan out, however, when the river was the 5 and Kocur was eliminated third ($57,330) leaving Perry and George Abdallah heads-up.
Perry and Abdallah's heads-up match lasted three-and-a-half hours before a winner was decided. Before the flop, Abdallah raised and Perry called. The flop came 10 7 3 and Perry bet, prompting Abdallah to raise all in. Perry was thinking of calling when Abdallah pointed out, ""Still leaves you a lot of chips (if you call)." After this comment, Perry moved his chips in the middle and called. Abdallah showed Q 10 4 3 for two pair while Perry flipped over K J 10 2 for top pair. The turn brought the 9, which gave both players a flush draw, but Abdallah a higher one. The river was the 8 and Abdallah celebrated. He started high-fiving his friends at his perceived win. However, Perry was sitting patiently, waiting for the chips to come his way, as he had hit a straight (7 8 9 10 J). Upon realizing this, Abdallah congratulated Perry on his victory. Abdallah collected $109,644 for his second place finish and Rafael Perry won the WSOP gold bracelet along with $207,817.
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