World Series of Poker -- John Kabbaj Wins Event No. 45

John Kabbaj had not been heads up for a World Series of Poker bracelet since 2004. He capitalized on his second chance early Friday morning, winning Event No. 45 ($10,000 World Championship pot-himit hold’em) for $633,335.

Playing in WSOP events for years, Kabbaj made it to the end of a 2004 $3,000 no-limit hold’em event only to finish second to Mike Sica. The tournament veteran from London took home a bracelet five years later, after battling through a tough final table that included bracelet winners Eric ‘basebaldy’ Baldwin (third), Davidi Kitai (fourth) and Jason Lester (sixth).

Going into the final table, Kabbaj had not won a major tournament since 1999. Making his way through a stacked field of 275 players, Kabbaj added another final table to his 2009 WSOP. The other came when he finished eighth in Event No. 10 ($2,500 pot-limit hold’em/ pot-limit Omaha).

Kabbaj stayed patient throughout the final table, entering heads up play with a 2-1 chip deficit. However, he battled back slowly and held the chip advantage when a cooler went his way. On the final hand of the night, Kabbaj held pocket aces versus the pocket kings of Kirill Gerasimov.

Baldwin took third in the tournament, falling just short of winning his second bracelet of the series. His finish put him first in the Card Player POY race, slightly ahead of Vitaly Lunkin.

Here are the final results:

1. John Kabbaj – $633,335
2. Kirill Gerasimov – $391,369
3. Eric Baldwin – $259,534
4. Davidi Kitai – $183,638
5. Juan Carlos Alvarado – $138,375
6. Jason Lester – $110,431
7. Eugene Todd – $93,085
8. Isaac Haxton – $82,688
9. Darryll Fish – $77,136

Here is a look at the elimination hands as featured in CardPlayer.com’s live updates

Darryll Fish Eliminated in Ninth Place($77,136)

Darryll Fish raised to 120,000 from the small blind. J.C. Alvarado was in the big blind and moved all in, having Fish covered. Fish made the call and exposed the A 8 while Alvarado tabled the 7 7. The board ran out J 9 4 Q 2. Fish had a gutshot straight draw on the turn but the river bricked and he was the first player eliminated from the final table.

Isaac Haxton Eliminated in Eighth Place($82,668)

Isaac Haxton raised to 210,000 from middle position and Davidi Kitai was next to act. He made it 425,000 to go and action folded around back to Haxton. He moved all in for 95,000 more and Kitai made the call. Kitai exposed the A Q while Haxton tabled the K Q. The board ran out 8 7 2 2 J, eliminating Haxton in eighth place.

Eugene Todd Eliminated in Seventh Place ($93,085)

J.C. Alvarado raised to 160,000 under the gun and Eugene Todd reraised to 600,000 in middle position. Kirill Gerasimov went all in over the top from the small blind. Alvarado mucked and Todd called the rest of his chips off. Gerasimov exposed the Q Q and was well ahead of the A Q of Todd. Todd needed to get lucky to stay alive in the tournament. The board ran out 8 7 2 3 2, eliminating Todd in seventh place. Gerasimov was then up to 2,440,000.

Jason Lester Eliminated in Sixth Place ($110,431)

Jason Lester moved the last of his short stack of 230,000 into the middle. Davidi Kitai called from the button with the A 5. Lester tabled the J 10 and was in decent shape to make a double up. The flop was no help for Lester as it came 9 3 3. The Q hit the turn and Lester was down to just one more card. The 7 fell on the river and he was gone in sixth place. Kitai was then at 1,950,000.

J.C. Alvarado Eliminated in Fifth Place ($138,375)

J.C. Alvarado raised to 200,000. John Kabbaj reraised to 700,000 and Alvarado moved all in for 1,250,000. Kabbaj didn’t take long before calling. Alvarado exposed the A Q while Kabbaj tabled the 10 10. The board ran out J 7 6 7 J and the tens held up. Alvarado was sent home in fifth place.

Davidi Kitai Eliminated in Fourth Place ($183,638)

Kirill Gerasimov raised to 250,000 on the button and Davidi Kitai reraised all in from the big blind. Gerasimov called. Kitai exposed the 5 5 while Gerasimov tabled the K 10, for a coin flip. The flop came J 7 2, giving Gerasimov two overs and a flush draw. The 8 hit the turn and Kitai needed to dodge just one more card in order to double up. The river was a disaster as it brought the K, giving Gerasimov top pair and sending Kitai home in fourth place. Gerasimov was then at 3,895,000.

Eric Baldwin Eliminated in Third Place ($259,534)

After being crippled in a previous hand, Eric Baldwin bet the pot, moving all in for 420,000 on the button. John Kabbaj thought briefly before finally making the call and exposing the A 5. Baldwin tabled two live cards with the J 6. Baldwin endured another hideous flop as it came A Q 5, giving Kabbaj two pair. The 6 hit the turn and Baldwin was given some outs to stay alive, needing another six to make trips. However, the J fell on the river and Baldwin was eliminated with his two pair in third place.

John Kabbaj Wins Event No. 45 ($633,335), Kirill Gerasimov Eliminated in Second Place ($391,369)

Kirill Gerasimov raised to 435,000 on the button and John Kabbaj called from the big blind. The flop came 7 4 3 and Kabbaj led out with 400,000. Gerasimov contemplated briefly before making it 1,000,000 total. Kabbaj thought about it momentarily before announcing he was all in and Gerasimov made the quick call. Gerasimov exposed the K K but was in horrible shape against the A A of Kabbaj. The cooler hand saw the 4 hit the turn and the Q fall on the river, eliminating Gerasimov and making Kabbaj the champion of Event No. 45 for $633,335.

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