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WSOP Day 22: European News Roundup

Irishman Alan Smurfit Wins Pot-Limit Omaha Bracelet After Marathon Heads-Up Battle

by Brendan Murray  |  Published: Jun 22, 2007

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Day 22 of the 38th World Series of Poker saw the final of the $1,500 pot-limit Omaha tournament (event 33), with Chris Bjorin from Sweden and Alan Smurfit from Ireland challenging for the bracelet. Bjorin put up a strong fight but was ultimately vanquished for a fourth-place $129,691 finish and it was Irishman Smurfit who stole the show.

He eventually got heads up with Qushqar Morad in what turned into a tantalizing game of cat-and-mouse that lasted 166 hands - longer than it took to eliminate the first seven players.

Smurfit won $464,867 for his efforts and joins former Irish bracelet winners Noel Furlong and Donnacha O'Dea in the Irish Poker Hall of Fame.

Elsewhere, Petri Pollanen from Finland made the $3,000 limit hold'em tournament (event 34) final table but was eliminated within minutes in ninth place for $14, 705.

Day two of the $1,500 no-limit hold'em tournament (event 35) saw Irishman Michael Trimby make the final table as fourth chip leader. Dane Jonas Klausen cashed in 29th for $16,995. Italian Fabio Bianchi came in in 35th place for $16,989, his fellow countryman Jeppe Mikkelsen picked up $6,590 for a 77th-place finish, Frenchman Patrice Boudet lifted $4,865 for 91st place, and Irishman Al Kelleher won $4,859 for a 97th-place finish.

The $5,000 world championship pot-limit Omaha eight-or-better tournament (event 36) saw Patrik Antonius, David Benyamine, Marcus Golser, Patrick Bueno, Kirill Gerasimov, and Max Reynaud compete to make the final table.

Reynaud made it as chip leader and Marcus Golser came close but exited in 11th for $16,450.

The $2,000 pot-limit hold'em game (event 37) had 599 entrants, including John Gale, Michael Keiner, William Thorson, Thomas Wahlroos, Dave Colclough, Eoghan O'Dea, Neil Channing, Praz Banzi, Carlo Citrone, Martin Green, Adrian Walsh, Johan Strokers, Juha Helppi, Rolf Slotboom, and Michael Gracz.

Making it to the end of the day, and the money, were 45 players, including Praz Banzi, William Thorson, and Michael Keiner.

Saturday 23 June sees the final table of the $1,500 no-limit hold'em tournament, the final table of the $5,000 world championship pot-limit Omaha eight-or-better event, day two of the $1,500 pot-limit hold'em event, and the start of the $1,500 no-limit hold'em game.

Keep your browser locked on CardPlayer.com for comprehensive European news, live updates, pro blogs from the WSOP.

 
 
Tags: david benyamine,   kirill gerasimov,   pot limit omaha,   thomas wahlroos,   dave colclough,   william thorson,   fellow countryman,   john gale,   world series of poker,   poker hall,   game event,   event 34,   boudet,   smurfit,   morad,   who stole the show,   banzi,   irishman,   european news,   cat and mouse
 
 
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