WSOP -- David Bach Wins H.O.R.S.E. World Championsip

David Bach had made a final table at the World Series of Poker in each of the four years leading up to 2009, but he had no gold bracelet to show for his strong results. That all changed the morning of July 1, when Bach won the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. world championship and the most coveted gold bracelet among poker professionals. “I never wanted to touch one until I earned it,” said Bach, as he put on his golden prize and grinned from ear to ear.

Bach emerged from a field of 95 players, the toughest collection of players pound-for-pound in the history of tournament poker, to claim the first-place prize money worth $1,276,802, along with his bracelet. Bach will also have his name placed on the Chip Reese memorial trophy, along with the former champions of this event, including Reese, Freddy Deeb, and Scott Nguyen. Bach now holds $2,407,727 in lifetime earnings after booking the largest win of his career.

The win wasn’t an easy one for Bach. He head to overcome John Hanson in a heads-up match that lasted seven hours and saw six lead changes before Bach was crowned champion. The entirety of the final table ran 18 hours and 44 minutes in length and it took 480 hands to decide. The 2009 H.O.R.S.E. world championship is the second longest WSOP final table in history, the 484 hands that took place during 19 hours and 9 minutes at the 2008 WSOP Europe main event holds the top spot.

Hanson scored $789,199 for his runner-up finish, and his results are now the greatest in terms of $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. consistency. He also finished in third place in 2007. Hanson joined the short list of players that have made two final-table appearances during the first four years of the H.O.R.S.E. world championship:

John Hanson (2007 — third place, 2009 — second place)
Huck Seed (2008 — eighth place, 2009 — fifth place)
Barry Greenstein (2007 — seventh place, 2008 — sixth place)
David Singer (2006 — sixth place, 2007 — sixth place)

Here are the final results:

1. David Bach – $1,276,802
2. John Hanson – $789,199
3. Erik Sagstrom – $522,394
4. Vitaly Lunkin – $368,813
5. Huck Seed – $276,610
6. Ville Wahlbeck – $219,655
7. Chau Giang – $184,087
8. Erik Seidel – $162,382

Here are the elimination hands, as featured on CardPlayer.com’s live updates:

Erik Seidel Eliminated in Eighth Place ($162,382)

STUD/8

Vitaly Lunkin brought it in with the 3, and both Erik Seidel and David Bach called.

Lunkin: X-X-3 A J 7
Bach: X-X-8 Q 6 5
Seidel: X-X-J 9 3 8

Lunkin bet out on fourth street, and both opponents called. Bach bet out on both fifth and sixth streets, and the two callers followed. Bach bet out again on seventh street, Seidel called, Lunkin raised, Bach called the raise, and Seidel called all in.

Lunkin turned over 4 3 2 for a seven-low, while Bach showed 10 8 8 for trip eights. Bach and Lunkin split the pot, and Erik Seidel was eliminated in eighth place ($162,382).

Chau Giang Eliminated in Seventh Place ($184,087)

HOLD’EM

Chau Giang raised before the flop, Erik Sagstrom three-bet, and Giang called.

The flop came A Q 5, Sagstrom bet, Giang raised, Sagstrom three-bet, and Giang four-bet all in.

Giang: Q 9
Sagstrom: A Q

Giang flopped middle pair while Sagstrom flopped top two pair.

The turn and river were the 10 and the 4, no help to Giang, who was eliminated in seventh place ($184,047).

Ville Wahlbeck Finally Succumbs, Eliminated in Sixth Place($219,655)

Omaha/8

Wahlbeck kept finding ways to survive, but in the end, David Bach would have no more of his nonsense. Wahlbeck raised preflop to 160,000, and Bach made the call from the big blind. The flop came down J 3 4, and Bach checked to Wahlbeck, who bet 80,000. Bach then raised to 160,000, and Wahlbeck made the call. The turn was the K, and Bach fired 160,000.

Wahlbeck called his last 135,000 and showed 7 5 3 2 for a straight draw and a 7-low draw. Bach showed A J 4 3 for two pair. Wahlbeck had outs, but the 4 on the river was not one of them, and he was eliminated in sixth place.

Huck Seed Eliminated in Fifth Place($276,610)

Hold’em

Vitaly Lunkin limped in from early position, and Erik Sagstrom raised to 200,000 from the button. John Hanson called from the small blind, and Huck Seed called all in from the big blind.

The players saw a flop of A 10 4, and Sagstrom bet 100,000. Hanson raised to 200,000, and Lunkin called, as did Sagstrom. The turn was the Q, and Lunkin fired 200,000. Hanson and Sagstrom both called, and the river was the 5.

Everyone checked, and Hanson showed A J for top pair. Everyone, including Seed, mucked. Seed then made his exit in fifth place, pocketing $276,610.

Stud/8

Vitaly Lunkin Eliminated in Fourth Place($368,813)

Vitaly Lunkin brought in for 30,000, and Erik Sagstrom completed to 100,000. Lunkin called, and here were their boards heading into fourth street.

Lunkin: X-X-2 4
Sagstrom: X-X-7 5

Sagstrom bet 100,000, and Lunkin made the call.

Lunkin: X-X-2 4 8
Sagstrom: X-X-7 5 A

Sagstrom bet 200,000, and Lunkin called.

Lunkin: X-X-2 4 8 8
Sagstrom: X-X-7 5 A 10

Lunkin paired and led out with 200,000. Sagstrom raised to 400,000, and Lunkin came right back over the top for the rest of his chips. Sagstrom made the call and showed (A A) for a set of aces. Lunkin tabled (5 8) for a set of eights and an 8-5 low draw. Sagstrom did not improve on the river, and Lunkin needed something to salvage half the pot. He received the 9, getting no help, and he was eliminated.

Erik Sagstrom Eliminated in Third Place($522,394)

Omaha/8

John Hanson raised to 300,000 from the button, and David Bach made it 450,000 from the small blind. Erik Sagstrom made the call, and Hanson called, as well. The flop then came down K 7 6, and Hanson led out with 150,000. Bach made the call, and Sagstrom raised 75,000 more, putting himself all in. Hanson then three-bet, and Bach made the call. The turn was the J, and Hanson bet 300,000. Bach called, and both players checked the K on the river. Hanson then showed 8 8X-X, and it was good enough to take down the pot. Sagstrom mucked, and he was eliminated.

David Bach Wins 2009 $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship ($1,276,802)

Razz

John Hanson brought it in, and David Bach completed. Hanson then raised, Bach reraised, and Hanson made the call. Bach bet out on fourth street, and Hanson made the all-in call. Their cards:

Bach: (7 4) 6 A A Q (9)
Hanson: (8 5) 9 J 6 5 (2)

Bach made a 9-7 low to beat out Hanson’s 9-8 low, winning the hand and the tournament. Hanson was awarded $789,199 for his runner-up finish (he also finished in third place in this event in 2007). Bach was awarded his first gold bracelet, $1,276,802, and his name will be added to the Chip Reese memorial trophy.

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