74 year old Freddie Ellis wins 2009 WSOP Event 6

He might not be a known poker professional, but when 74 year old Freddie Ellis spoke after winning a bracelet in his very first trip to the series, he moved himself and much of the audience in the Rio to tears; and while they might not have been routing for him at the outset, I’m sure there were dozens of people standing there who were glad he had won.

Ellis victory came in 2009 WSOP Event 6 which was the $10,000 buy-in 7 Card Stud Championship. This event attracted 142 players and to get to the final table he needed to get past Daniel Negreanu and Jeff Lisandro who finished on the final table bubble. As if getting past these two players wasn’t enough he then found himself sitting at a final table that included star players Greg FBT Mueller, Hasan Habib and Max Pescatori as well as another accomplished player Tim Phan and several tough amateurs. In the end it was 66 year old Eic Drache he defeated heads up to win the title.

Freddie Ellis is a Brooklyn native whose only major tournament cash came in 2003, a sixth place finish at the US Poker Championship 7 Card Stud Event in Atlantic City for $14,000. Ellis, an amateur poker player, moved to New York in the 1950s to become a pop singer but has been active in the city’s real estate market since 1967.

In his post match interview Freddie Ellis commented:

“I was playing poker just to do something different and I started playing, really, casino poker when I went to Atlantic City, when they got it officially (in 1993). The one thing I wanted to do when I came to Las Vegas, was play in the Seven-card Stud tournament and that was one of the main reasons I came.”

The bracelet and title is special to Ellis because his wife Barbara, who would travel with him to wherever and whenever he played cards, passed away two years ago.

“The one thing — that I can’t talk about — is my wife used to always go with me, wherever I would play poker, whether to Atlantic City, whether it’s wherever, Las Vegas, and I would love for her to see this,” he said, his voice quivering. “And I know I couldn’t go without her. If I talk about her, I can’t hold back the tears. I still haven’t gotten over it.”

With his humble demeanor and polite manner Freddie Ellis is surely a player who is capable of becoming a fan favorite. 74 years old might be a bit late to start a serious poker career, but if not – one things for sure, we at poker-prop.net will be routing for Ellis when he makes his next final table appearance.

Day 3 and Final Table Coverage

After a long day 2 that was unable to reach the final table, eleven players called it quits to get a few hours sleep before returning to play for the Gold Bracelet. Coming into the final day 66 year old armature Eric Drache had the chip lead.

The first player to fall was Ray Dehkharghani courtesy of the Italian Pirate Max Pescatori. On this hand Pescatori completed with the 3c as his door card and Dehkharghani raised with the 5h. On 4th street Pescatori now showing 3c 6c checked, Dehkharghani showing 5h 3h bet , Pescatori check-raised and Dehkharghani called. Showing 5h 3h 8d on fifth street Dehkharghani checked, and then called a bet from Pescatori who was now showing 3c 6c 5s. On 6th street Pescatori’s board read 3c 6c 5s 4c and he bet out again, Dehkharghani called all in showing a pair of fives. Pescatori opened KcJc in the hole for the flush and Dehkharghani was still drawing live as he showed Ah Jh for a higher flush draw, but missed collecting $29,152 for 11th place.

Daniel Negreanu’s run toward a fifth WSOP bracelet fell short when he lost a huge pot to Eric Drache and then was finished off by Tim Phan. With Negreanu eliminated a 9 handed Stud table was assembled (odd for a Stud game). This didn’t last long as Jeff Lisandro got all his money in with split 10’s on forth street and Wahlbeck had 4 clubs to start, but it was a backdoor two pair that gave him the winning hand. Lisandro picked up $36,267 for his ninth place finish.

The final table saw quite a few short stacks double up before finally Phan got all his money in on third street against Freddie Ellis and Ivan Schertzer, but was in terrible shape having made only a pair of deuces by the river. Schertzer had started the hand with rolled-up tens and sent Phan to the rail to collect $47,532 for his eight place finish.

Next to go was Greg “FBT” Mueller who picked up $53,886 for seventh place after making a stand with deuces in the hole against Hasan Habib’s split aces. Only moments later Ivan Schertzer’s got all his money in on fifth street with (Ks Kd) Jh 6h 2d against Eric Drache’s As Ac 9h 10c 3d. Schertzer did pick up a jack on sixth to make two pair, but Drache got a second pair on the river as well, sending Schertzer to the rail in sixth place.

Hasan Habib eventually finished in fifth place when on third-street with a jack showing completed and got called by Drache who had a ten up. Habib lead on every street and Drache just smooth called until sixth where he raised and Habib put the rest of his chips in. Habib showed (Ad Ks) Jh 4h Qd 5h and had just two outs when Drache showed (10s 6c) 10d 8c Js 6h for two pair. A king on the river made Habib a pair but it wasn’t good enough to stay alive and he headed to the rail as the fifth place finisher.

The remaining star in the field Max Pescatori made his final stand with (Qs Jc) 10h, but Ville Wahlbeck had (Qh Qc) 9d which by showdown remained the best hand. The Italian Pirate collected $107,959 for his fourth place finish.

Three handed play lasted for over two hours but finally Ville Wahlbeck had to settle for third place and $152,915 when his buried kings ran into Eric Drache’s buried aces.

As heads up play began Freddie Ellis had a significant chip lead, but Eric Drache would not go down without a valiant fight and shortly into the mach grabbed the chip lead. For nearly 90 minutes Ellis played from behind, but as the night moved on the 74 year old Ellis proved to be the player with the most stamina as he slowly but surely wore his younger opponent out. Once Ellis captured the lead again he never again relinquished it finally winning it on a hand that Eric Drache led out on every street and with a final board reading 4d10hQs5d raised all in after Ellis bet out. Ellis showed (8d 8h) 4h 9h 3d Jh (2h) for the rivered flush and Drache mucked his hole cards being forced to settle for $231,014 as the runner up finish. Freddie Ellis took down the tournament, which earned him $373,744 and his first WSOP bracelet.

2009 WSOP Event 6 Payout List

1st Place: Freddie Ellis – $373,751
2nd Place: Eric Drache – $231,013
3rd Place: Ville Wahlbeck – $152,914
4th Place: Max Pescatori – $107,958
5th Place: Hasan Habib – $80,968
6th Place: Ivan Schertzer – $64,297
7th Place: Greg (FBT) Mueller – $53,885
8th Place: Tim Phan – $47,532
9th Place: Jeffrey Lisandro – $36,266
10th Place: Daniel Negreanu – $36,266
11th Place: Ray Dehkharghani – $29,152
12th Place: Mel Judah – $29,152
13th Place: Eric Brooks – $24,480
14th Place: Matt Glantz – $24,480
15th Place: Fu Wong – $21,343
16th Place: Steve Landfish – $21,343