Erick Lindgren wins first WSOP Bracelet in Event 4

2008 WSOP Event #4 saw the events nine remaining players return to the Rio today to compete in what was on the more star studded final tables at a preliminary event in recent World Series of Poker history. This table included two members of Team Full Tilt in Howard Lederer and Erick Lindgren, a Full Tilt Pro in Roland de Wolfe, and two member of Team Bodog in David Williams and Justin Bonomo. This is 5 long term sponsored players all at a single final table.

PokerStars swept in quickly singing 2 of the 4 unsponsored players to a final table only endorsement deal, Andrew “Good2CU” Robl was wearing Full Tilt gear and a PokerVT logo (unsure of terms) while one player Pat Pezzin apparently chose to remain independent. With so much online poker room exposure the final table looked like a NASCAR pit-stop area than a poker tournament, but at least it gave online fans a chance to cheer for their favorite poker room while following the Event #4 final table.

Here’s what the seat positions, chip counts and player sponsorship attire looked like at the outset of the final table.

Seat 1: Howard Lederer 324,500 (Full Tilt Hat and Jacket)
Seat 2: Roland de Wolfe 194,000 (Full Tilt logo on shirt)
Seat 3: David Rheem 885,000 (PokerStars logo on shirt and PokerStars hat)
Seat 4: Pat Pezzin 108,500(non sponsored attire)
Seat 5: Isaac Haxton 115,500 (PokerStars Hat and Jacket)
Seat 6: David Williams 678,500 (Bodog Hat and Jersey)
Seat 7: Justin Bonomo 517,500 (Bodog Logo on t-shirt)
Seat 8: Andrew “Good2CU” Robl 162,000 (FTP Hat w/ FTP & PokerVT logo on shirt)
Seat 9: Erick Lindgren 345,000 (Full Tilt Cap and T-Shirt)

The tables second shortest stack Isaac “The Lizard King “ Haxton originally from Boston and now Syracuse was eliminated on just the second hand of this final table. His 9th place finish earned him $35,109 bringing his career tournament winnings over $1.3 million. Haxton is best known in the online poker community as the player who had $800K tied up in Neteller after company founders where arrested (video on topic). He was eliminated from this event racing AK against Erick Lindgren’s QQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnJK7kvbUzw

Pat Pezzin who had 7 previous WSOP cashes including one final table under his belt coming into this event managed to last 30 hands despite starting as a short stack. On Final Table Hand #31 he ended up running into Andrew Robl’s AK which had his AQ out kicked. He finished in eighth place and received $46,812 for his performance.

Bodog Poker would lose the first of their two sponsored players on Final Table Hand #48. This hand saw David Rheem raise from UTG, David Williams re-raise, Rheem three-bet, and Williams move all in to which Rheem called. Rheem had K T and managed to out flop David William who had As 3s. David Williams finding no help on the draw cards was eliminated in 7th place collecting $58,515 for his performance.

Full Tilt Poker would be the next site to suffer a casualty when Howard Lederer on Final Table Hand #80 went all in the dark (as the flop was being dealt) with pocket 4’s to find himself in decent shape against Justin Bonomos Ace Queen. The flop was 5d 2d Ks, but unfortunately for Lederer the board would pair fives on the turn and kings on the river to counterfeit his hand. Lederer received $47.199 for his 6th place finish.

With 5 players remaining the chips counts were:
Justin Bonomo — 1,300,000
Erick Lindgren — 1,100,000
Andrew Robl — 385,000
Roland de Wolfe — 320,000
David Rheem — 220,000

The bottom 3 players would finish in the same order they stood at this point but it would take them an eternity to get there. Lederer had been eliminated on Final Table Hand #80 and heads up play would not be reached until Andrew Robl was eliminated on Final Table Hand #157:

To catch up on these three eliminations, Hand #96 saw Roland de Wolfe show Q J for a Broadway straight to which David Rheem (who was all in) mucked and collected $93,624 for his 5th place finish. Hand #130 saw Roland de Wolfe get his money in good on the flop with top pair but Bonomo had a nut flush draw which completed on the river sending de Wolfe to the rail in 4th place, he received $117,030. Final Table Hand #157 saw Andrew Robl all in with a short stack holding A2 out flopped by Bonomo who had Q5.. Andrew “Good2CU” Robl received $144,337 for his third place finish.

Heads up play came down to 22 year old poker superstar and Team Bodog member Justin Bonomo facing off against Team Full Tilt Poker’s Erik Lindgren. Lindgren has had tons of success with 2 WPT Champions and Aussie Millions, PPT and Party Million victory under his belt and over $5 million is career tournament winnings, but he had never won a WSOP bracelet. Bonomo only recently old enough to play in US events, cashed 3 times at the 2007 WSOP and had other successes on the European poker circuit. He was also competing for his first WSOP bracelet.

When heads up play began Erick Lindgren had 1.3 million and Bonomo had the lead with 2 million. It would take 40 hands for the champion to be decided. About half way through heads up play Lindgren gained the chip lead and never really looked back from there.

On the tournament’s final hand Lindgren raised preflop to 80K and Bonomo called. The flop was Tc 3c 5d, both players checked and the turn came 4d. Bonomo bet 80K and Lindgren called. The river was 8h. Bonomo bet, Lindgren raised, Bonomo reraised all in and Lindgren called. Lindren had A2 for a turned straight and Bonomo had 54 for a turned 2 pair. Bonomo received $230,159 for his runner up finish and Lindgren received $374.505 and more important to him his first WSOP championship gold bracelet.

Congratulations to Erick Lindgren who is the champion of 2008 WSOP Event #4.