WSOP -- James Van Alstyne Wins Event No. 31

Deja vu struck once again at the 2009 World Series of Poker when James Van Asltyne made the final table of event No. 31 ($3,000 H.O.R.S.E.) on June 16. Van Alstyne had just finished in second place in event No. 21 ($1,500 H.O.R.S.E.) on June 11. He would go on to prove that he had learned from his previous lessons, and this time he closed the deal, winning his first gold bracelet and $247,033 in prize money. He has now made three final tables at the 2009 WSOP. (He also finished in sixth place in event No. 12, the $10,000 world championship mixed event.) His three final-table appearances have earned Van Alstyne $519,080.

Van Alstyne came into the $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. final table with a tough roster of professional talent to beat if he hoped to make the third try the charm. He was still alive after Fabrice Soulier, Shannon Shorr, and Bryan Micon hit the rail, and once again he took a chip lead into the final heads-up match against his opponent. Five days ago, he held the chip lead heading into heads-up play against Zachary Fellows, but he eventually lost, finishing as the runner-up. The chip lead was a little larger this time around, and he used his advantage against Tad Jurgens to quickly win his first bracelet just after midnight on June 17.

Here are the final results:

1. James Van Alstyne – $247,033
2. Tad Jurgens – $152,654
3. Mitch Schock – $100,165
4. Bryan Micon – $69,505
5. Shannon Shorr – $50,881
6. Brian Malcolm – $39,183
7. Fabrice Soulier – $31,657
8. Ron Schiffman – $26,780

Here is how the elimination hands came down as featured in CardPlayer.com’s live updates:

Ron Schiffman Eliminated in Eighth Place ($26,780)

Omaha 8OB

Brian Malcolm raised preflop, and Ron Schiffman made the call. The flop was dealt K 6 4, and Schiffman bet. Malcolm made the call, and the turn fell 8. Schiffman bet, and Malcolm raised. Schiffman called, and the river fell Q.

Schiffman checked, Malcolm bet, and Schiffman check-called all in. Malcolm turned up A 4 4 3 to scoop the pot, and Schiffman was eliminated in eighth place.

Fabrice Soulier Eliminated in Seventh Place ($31,657)

Razz

Fabrice Soulier completed with X-X-3, and Brian Malcolm raised. Mitch Schock made the call, and Soulier called, as well. Action checked to Schock on fourth street, and then Soulier check-raised. Malcolm mucked, and then Schock and Soulier capped the betting until Soulier was all in. The two players then turned up their hands:

Soulier: (7-5)3-A-9-5(X)
Schock: (A-5)3-6-2-Q(9)

Schock made a 6-5 low to win the pot, and Souleir was eliminated in seventh place.

Brian Malcolm Eliminated in Sixth Place ($39,183)

Stud

Brian Malcolm completed on third street with X-X-K, and Mitch Schock raised with X-X-J. Malcolm made the call, and then he check-called on fourth street. Schock bet on fifth street, and Malcolm called. Schock bet on sixth street, and Malcolm called all in. Their cards:

Malcolm: (5 5) K 8 4 Q (3)
Schock: (J 8) J 10 A 2 (9)

Schock won the hand with jacks, and Malcolm was eliminated in sixth place.

Shannon Shorr Eliminated in Fifth Place ($50,881)

Razz

Mitch Schock brought it in, and Shannon Shorr completed. Schock reraised, and Shorr made the all-in call. Shorr put the last of his chips at risk, and the cards fell as follows:

Shorr: (K J) A 4 J 3 (3)
Schock: (8 7) K Q A K (5)

Schock eliminated Shorr with a Q-8 low, and action was down to four players.

Bryan Micon Eliminated in Fourth Place ($69,505)

Stud 8OB

Bryan Micon was all in on third street against James Van Alstyne. Their cards:

Micon: (7 5) 3 J 3 7 (8)
Van Alstyne: (A 3) 2 9 A 6 (6)

Micon was eliminated in fourth place by the aces up of Van Alstyne.

Mitch Schock Eliminated in Third Place ($100,165)

Stud 8OB

Mitch Schock bet on fourth street, and James Van Alstyne called. Schock led out again on fifth street, and Van Alstyne made the call again. Schock bet again on sixth street, and Van Alstyne raised enough to put him all in. Schock made the call, and here is how the cards fell:

Van Alstyne: (7 3) 3 5 4 6 (9)
Schock: (J J) 7 8 K 6 (9)

Van Alstyne won the hand, and Schock was eliminated in third place. Van Alstyne is now heads-up for a H.O.R.S.E. bracelet for the second time at the 2009 WSOP.

Stud

James Van Alstyne completed, and Tad Jurgens raised on third street. Van Alstyne called, and then Jurgens bet on fourth street. Van Alstyne called again, and Jurgens moved all in on fifth street. Van Alstyne made the call. Here is how the cards fell:

Van Alstyne: (7 6) 10 5 Q 10 (4)
Jurgens: (5 2) 2 7 A Q (K)

Jurgens was eliminated on the hand in second place and he took home $152,654 in prize money. Van Alstyne won his first gold bracelet and $247,033 in prize money.

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