James Van Alstyne Wins WSOP Event 31

42-year-old Las Vegas poker pro James Van Alstyne came into 2009 WSOP Event 31, with quite and impressive poker resume. To his credit he had 9 career victories in major poker tournaments, a plethora of tournament-cashes, and over $3 million in career winnings, however he had yet to win a WSOP bracelet. Well after coming close in 2009 WSOP Event 21, $3,000 HORSE where he finished runner up, just a week later he got himself redemption by winning 2009 WSOP Event 31 $1,500 HORSE.

“It feels really good to win,” said Van Alstyne. “Last time, I was a little bit disappointed. Also, you do not want to have the chip lead when we get down to two players and then not win. With closing this out, I feel a sense of relief.”

It was validation for James Van Alstyne he can win the big one. Last night he won $247,033 and his first career WSOP bracelet against a tough final table that included bracelet holder Farzad Rouhani and ranked poker pros Bryan Micon and Shanon Shore. Other noteworthy players cashing in this event included Chris Bjorin (16th), Vanessa Rousso (19th) and Paul Darden (22nd).

Here’s how day three played out:

2009 WSOP Event 31, $2,500 HORSE – Day 3 Report

770 players entered 2009 WSOP Event 31, when day three started yesterday there were just 23 survivors returning to battle it out for a WSOP bracelet and the $247,033 top place prize. At the summit was Fabrice Soulier with with 351K, but there was a tough group of competitors remaining including Shannon Shorr, Farzad Rouhani, Chris Bjorin, Bryan Micon, Vanessa Rousso, and James Van Alstyne.

Early on day three, the field was narrowed to 20 players when in a stud hand John Racener moved in on third street with king-high against the split queens of Dustin Bryan and failed to improve. James Van Alstyne used Aces up to cripple Torstein Iversen who was eliminated a few hands later. An in 21st was Paul Darden whose run at a second WSOP bracelet would need to wait for another day.

During Omaha Hi/Lo Kathy Raymond got her money in with Kc2c9d7d and was eliminated by Sebastien Sabic who held 10c10h4d6d. Next to go was Vanessa Rousso after she was all in on third during razz with 8c6d5d against the Qc2s5h for Alan Myerson. Rousso caught a nine on sixth street, but Myerson caught runner-runner-runner to make a wheel.

Alan Myerson and Joe Serock were the next players eliminated both during stud. Myerson got in with Kings versus Shannon Shorr’s aces, and Serok finished with eights up against Schiffman’s aces up.

Chris Bjorin run at a third bracelet came to an end in 16th when he pushed his last chips in with AcKc3c on a Stud Hi/Lo and was called by Paul Evans concealed aces. Bjorin failed to make even a pair in the hand and was to the rail to collect $7,903 prize money. After losing most of his chips with jacks versus Shannon Shorr’s aces during Hold’em, Dustin Bryan was eliminated the very next hand with nines in a multi-way pot. Paul Evans was out in 14th after he put his remaining chips in with queen-high against Bryan Micon’s split queens.

Both Peter Gelencser and Phillip Marmorstein were eliminated in the same Omaha hi/lo hand by Mitch Schock. On the turn, the board read 4d6d6hKh and Schock bet out. Both Gelencser and Marmorstein called all in for less than the bet. Schock tabled Ah6cKcKs for kings full, and Marmorstein tabled AcAs7d4d for two pair with a low draw. Gelencser mucked his hand as he was drawing dead. The river fell the 7s and Schock scooped. Marmorstein had more chips at the start of the hand, so he took the superior placing and finished in 12th. Sebastien Sabic was next out the door out in 11th place. He was all in at the river in an Omaha hi/lo hand against Fabrice Soulier. The board was 9c7c4c3h6c as Soulier flipped over Ac5c3d2h for the nut flush and the nut low to eliminate Sabic.

Lana Maier was the last woman standing in this event; however she ended up being the final table bubble when her AcQc failed to out race Shannon Shorr’s pocket threes.

At the start of the final table the chip counts were:

Seat 1: Ron “Schifty” Schiffman – 313,000
Seat 2: Tad Jurgens – 391,000
Seat 3: Bryan Micon – 354,000
Seat 4: Fabrice Soulier – 380,000
Seat 5: Brian Malcolm – 436,000
Seat 6: Shannon Shorr – 565,000
Seat 7: Mitch Schock – 693,000
Seat 8: James Van Alstyne – 202,000
Seat 9: Farzad “Freddie” Rouhani – 136,000

Farzad Rouhani was the first player eliminated from the final table when his fourth street all in with (5h2h) 6s6h was called by Van Alstyne’s (QsQd) Jd7s. On sixth Rouhani picked up a low draw and Van Alstyne picked up trip queens. With his only chance at survival being an unpaired low card Rouhani was disappointed to catch a king on the river which sent him out in ninth worth $19,265

Ron Schiffman got his money in during an Omaha Hi/Lo hand where the board read Ks6s4d8sQc only to muck after his opponent Brian Malcolm tabled As4s4c3h for the nut flush and a low. Fabrice Soulier followed him to the rail when he was all in on fourth in a razz hand with 5-7-3-A against the A-5-3-6 of Mitch Schock. Schock caught a deuce on Fifth Street to make a six-low and Soulier caught a nine to make a nine-low.

Brian Malcolm collected $39,183 for sixth place after he got his final chips in with buried fives against Mitch Schock split jacks. Soon later Shannon Shorr found himself needing to wait for another opportunity to win his first career WSOP bracelet when he got his final chips in with an Ace up against Mitch Schock’s King up in Razz. Unfortunately for him Schock looked him up and Shorr was well behind with KhJsAh against 8c7cKs. Shorr finished with king high and was out in fifth place worth $50,881.

Bryan Micon lost several key pots during the stud games and when it came around to stud hi/lo he got all his money in with 7h5h3c only to see his opponent Van Alstyne table Ac3s2c. Micon caught sevens up on sixth street, but Van Alstyne caught aces up to send Micon out in fourth place worth $69,505.

Heads up play was reached when Van Alstyne’s six high straight bested Mitch Schock’s pair of jacks. Schock collected $100,165 for his strong three day performance.

When heads up play started the chip counts were James Van Alstyne 2.45 million and Tad Jurgens 980K. Van Alstyne kept the pressure on and took most of Jurgens’ chips during Omaha Hi/Lo. The final hand came during Stud when Jurgens made his last stand with split deuces and was called Van Alstyne’s ten high. A pair of tens on sixth was enough to win Van Alstyne his first career WSOP bracelet while Tad Jurgens received $152,654 for his runner up finish.