Brandon Cantu became the latest player in the 2009 World Series of Poker to improve on a runner up finish in a previous event, by going on to win a bracelet in the next. His second place finish was worth $403,951 in Event #39. Last night, the final hand of 2009 WSOP Event #48, $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, saw two former bracelet winners Lee Watkinson and Brandon Cantu each vying for their second career bracelet and the $228,867 top place prize. Cantu made trip fours to finish the deal, as he joined Angel Guillen and James Van Alstyne as players who recently earned a bracelet after finishing runner up in an earlier 2009 WSOP event.

2009 WSOP Event 48 Final Table Report

2009 WSOP Event 48, Pot-Limit Omaha Hi/Lo started with 762 entrants. As day three began yesterday there were just nine players remaining, each looking for a spot in poker history by claiming a 2009 WSOP bracelet. Here were the chip counts and seat assignments to start the day.

Lee Watkinson – 412000
Steve Jelinek – 260000
William McMahan – 168000
Brandon Cantu – 1025000
Ted Weinstock – 250000
Aaron Sias – 353000
Mathieu Jacqmin – 552000
Ronnie Hofman – 76000
Tommy Vedes – 334000

William McMahan was first out on the final table receiving $22,862. On his elimination hand: Tommy Vedes raised to 36K, he reraised the pot and then when Verdes re-raised he called all in. McMahan held AsAhKcQh and Vedes had Ac10c10d4d. The flop was a nightmare for McMahan when it fell 8s4h4s giving Verdes trip fours. Unable to catch an Ace or perfect runners McMahan headed to the rail as the ninth place finisher.

A couple of hands later Ronnie Hofman moved all in on a flop of 7s4h2h and was called by Lee Watkinson. Watkinson flipped over AdKc4d2c for two pair and Hofman held AsKsQdJh for nothing but air. The turn gave him some help when it came 7c but a 3s was a brick on the river sending Hofman out in eighth to collect $25,618.

Aaron Sias was the next out when all in preflop his As3d7d8h was up against Ted Weinstock’s AhAd6dKh. The board ran Ac2s10dKs9d to send Sias out in seventh worth $30,028.

During six handed play Lee Watkinson emerged as the new chip leader after he won a big three handed pot, and Brandon Cantu lost a bunch of chips in another pot split by Steve Jelinek and Ted Weinstock. Despite winning half that pot, Steve Jelinek was the next player to fall, eliminated in sixth place worth $36,893. On Jelinek’s final hand the action was 3-bet preflop to 222,000 and the flop came Kc6c6s. Jelinek moved in for 184,000 with Ah2hKsQh for kings up and Vedes called tabling Ac2c10d6d for trip sixes. The turn and river brought no help and Jelinek’s tournament was over.

The next key pot saw Mathieu Jacqmin raise to 90,000 preflop and Vedes call. On the flop of 8c7c8h, Jacqmin check-raised all in after Vedes bet out 225,000. Vedes called all in for slightly less and tabled KdQc10d9c for an open-ended straight draw and flush draw. Jacqmin flipped over AcJd8d5c for trip eights, a low draw, and the nut-flush draw. The turn fell the 9d and the river 2h to eliminate Vedes, who received $47,617 for his fifth place finish.

During four handed play Brandon Cantu regained the chip lead after doubling up to 1.47 million through Mathieu Jacqmin.

On the next elimination hand: Ted Weinstock and Brandon Cantu called a 100,000 raise preflop by Mathieu Jacqmin and the flop came 6d7sQd. Cantu bet out 300,000 on the flop and Weinstock moved all in for 500,000. Jacqmin then also moved in and Cantu got out of the way. Jacqmin held AsAd2d4d for a double-nut draw and a pair of aces. Weinstock held Ah2s6cKs for a pair of sixes and nut-low draw. The 9d on the turn gave Jacqmin his nut flush and the river 6h sent Weinstock out in fourth worth $64,727.

During three handed play the chip lead changed several times, and this round eventually came to an end on a hand where Watkinson took a massive chip lead after sending Mathieu Jacqmin to the rail. Jacqmin potted from the small blind and Watkinson called from the big. The flop fell 9s5dQs and Jacqmin check-raised all in after Watkinson bet pot. Watkinson snap-called and Jacqmin found himself needing help. Watkinson held QhQd6d2c for a flopped set while Jacqmin had Ac7d7s2s for a flush draw and a weak pair of sevens. The turn 8c gave Jacqmin a low draw, but the Kh on the river sent a stunned Jacqmin out in third place for $92,946.

When heads up play started Lee Watkinson held more than a 2.5-to-1 with 2,485,000 to the 945,000 of Brandon Cantu, he improved on this lead further nearly putting Cantu away after a hand that ended with Cantu down to only 470,000 in chips. However, this night would not come to an end quickly as Cantu doubled to 840K, picked up another pot to 1.3 million and then briefly gained the chip lead. Watkinson then stormed back and gained another dominating chip lead, however, once again Cantu battled back and re-re-claimed the heads up chip lead.

This was an epic heads up battle that went back and forth and was finally decided over a series of two key hands. First, Brandon Cantu was all in preflop with Ad3c5d6h against Watkinson’s Ac2c7h5s. The board did not produce a low and Cantu won the hand with only a pair of sixes to take a 2-to-1 chip lead on Watkinson. On the final hand of the tournament, Cantu raised to 150,000 preflop and Watkinson made the call. The flop fell 6h4cQc and the rest of Watkinson’s chips went into the middle. Cantu held Ah4d7c10c for a pair, flush draw, and a low draw. Watkinson held 2c3c5s7h for a wrap and a low draw. The turn missed both players when the 9s hit, and the river 4h gave Cantu trip fours and the victory. Lee Watkinson finished as runner-up and will take home $141,873 for his well-fought battle. With Brandon Cantu’s victory he increased his career tournament winnings to over $3 million in over 30 major events since 2006 as he also captured his second career bracelet.