Derek Raymond wins 2009 WSOP Event 46

Two days after graduating from Georgetown university, 24-year semi-poker pro Derek Raymond won a major poker tournament, taking down 2009 WSOP Event 46, $2,500 buy-in Omaha Hi/Lo. In the end he overcame a chip disadvantage to in the final level of the structure sheet defeat co-founder of the Poker Players Alliance Mark Tenner heads up. This was Raymond’s first year making it out to the WSOP, he’s been traveling the country the past couple years playing poker, having most recently spent time in Australia and New Zealand.

Here is how day three played out:

2009 WSOP Event 46 Day 3 Report

Day 3 of Event #46, $2,500 Omaha Hi/Lo, started with 23 survivors of the events original 425 entrants returning to the Rio to play for a bracelet. Mark Tenner began the day as chip leader with 285K and was joined by several accomplished pros such as Frankie O’Dell, Mike Matusow, Pat Poels, David Rabbi, CK Hua, Mark Gregorich, and John Monnette. In addition to the bracelet these players were competing for the $229,192 top-place prize.

In the early going five players were eliminated, the first was Mike Matusow when he moved in preflop after looking at only two of his hole cards and was called by James Dempsey. Matusow held AsAdQc6d to Dempsey’s AhAc6c5c. By the river, Dempsey held both an eight-high straight and an eight high low to scoop the pot. Mattusow was followed to the rail by David Danheiser, Jonah Seewald, Victor Deltoro and James Banafato.

Meng La finished in 18th when his queens-up were bested by the aces-up of Mark Tenner. CK Hua soon joined La on the rail, out in 17th place.

Two time Omaha Hi/Lo bracelet winner Frankie O’Dell made it deep in this event, unfortunately for him a sick beat sent him to the rail in sixteenth place. On his final hand he was all in preflop with AAQQ against Josh Schlein AA55. O’Dell was 95% favored to win the hand when the turn car was dealt, but a five on the river sent him dejectedly to the rail to pick up his $9,634 prize.

To get down to the final table bubble we saw Daniel Smith, James Dempsey, Jeffrey Tunkel eliminated each receiving $12,667, and Patrice Boudet and JW Smith out in 12th and 11th worth $17,007 each. Eventually it was John Monnette who needed to settle for the undesirable roll as final table bubble boy after Michael Keiner three-bet preflop and Monnette called all in. Monnette held 9s7h6h5s against the AhAd3d8s of Keiner. The flop of 7s2dQd gave Keiner a double-nut draw. The turn Jd left Monnette needing a non-pairing small card to hit the river to win half the pot. The 2h on the river didn’t work and Monnette was out receiving $17,007.

When the official WSOP final table began this chip counts were:

Seat 1: Mark Gregorich — 90,000
Seat 2: Josh Schlein — 740,000
Seat 3: Scott Bohlman — 120,000
Seat 4: Mark Tenner — 585,000
Seat 5: Michael Keiner — 400,000
Seat 6: Pat Poels — 90,000
Seat 7: Derek Raymond — 415,000
Seat 8: Sirous Jamshidi — 260,000
Seat 9: Fabio Coppola — 407,000

Two-time bracelet winner Pat Poels was the first player eliminated from the final table. He had a very short stack when he committed his final chips with Ac Ah Jd Js on a board of 7c 8h 8s 9s and was called by Scott Bohlman who held AsAd7s4h for the same current hand but powerful redraws to both a flush and a low. The river fell the 5s to send Poels out in ninth place worth $23,541.

Mark Gregorich’s final chips went in preflop AhKs10s10h and he got action from both Josh Schlein and Mark Tenner. At the turn, Tenner bet into the board of 8sKh4dKc and Schlein got out of the way. Gregorich saw the bad news when Tenner tabled KdJd9c8d, for a turned full house which topped his trip kings. The river 6h failed to improve Gregorich and he headed to the rail in eight worth $26,213. On the very next hand Michael Keiner got his final chips in preflop with As5h5d10h and was called by Derek Raymond holding Jc9s4h3d. By the river, Raymond held jacks up to best the eights up of Keiner sending him out in seventh worth $30,562.

Sirous Jamshidi put his final chips in on a board of 4d5s2h7d and knew he was in trouble when Bohlman snap called, even saying “You flopped the wheel, huh?” Jamshidi was correct and when his two pair failed to improve on the river he was out in sixth worth $37,350 payday.

Josh Schlein became the fifth ($48,028) place finisher after his final 110K chips went in on a hand against Derek Rayond with Schlein holding 7d6c5s5d and Raymond Qd10h4d3d. The board ran QcAc6dJc6c to give Raymond the scoop. He was followed to the rail by Fabio Coppola who took home $65,094 for fourth. At showdown Raymond flipped over AdKs10d7d for jacks and sevens and Coppola showed AsKc4s3h for jacks only on board that read Jd7h5hJcQd.

During three handed play Scott Bohlman moved all in on the turn of a board reading 5d7cJd5h and was called by Mark Tenner. Bohlman held AdKsQs7s for two pair and Tenner held AsKh5s4c for trip fives. No seven arrived on the river and Bohlman headed out in third place ($93,199).

When heads up play began Mark Tenner held a 1.7 million to 1.3 million chip advantage. Early on things went great for Tenner after a series of pots he had Raymond down under 800K pots. However, from here play would last two additional hours as Derek Raymond slowly grinded his way back into contention and eventually gained the chip lead.

With the tournament now on the final level of the structure sheet the final hand took place. Tenner was all in with KdQh3h2h against the 10s5c4c3d of Raymond. The flop of Jd7h2d gave Tenner the lead with a pair and also gave Raymond a low draw. The Ad turn gave each player a straight draw at opposite ends of the deck, as Raymond was drawing to a wheel and Tenner had a draw to Broadway. The river fell the 4d to complete Raymond’s wheel and eliminate Tenner. Mark Tenner finished as the runner-up of this event and took home $141,647 as Derek Raymond celebrated his first career bracelet and took photos with his $229,192 top place prize money paid in cash.