John Kabbaj wins 2009 WSOP Event 45

John Kabbaj has been coming to the WSOP from England since 1996 looking for his first career bracelet. In 2004, he came close finishing runner up in a pot-limit hold’em event which has haunted him for a while. After five years the 36-year-old poker pro finally got some redemption last night by winning 2009 WSOP Event 45, $10,000 buy-in World Championship of Pot-Limit Hold’em.

“I always come out here to the WSOP for seven or eight weeks every year,” Kabbaj said to the WSOP. “I am used to it now. This is part of my life.”

“In 2004, it was the first time in the history that the WSOP went to a day three,” he said. “We were so tired and exhausted. When we got three handed, it was all over in 15 minutes. It was like — bang, bang, and it was over. Afterward, I didn’t pick up my money for a week. I didn’t talk to anyone for about three days. I was really down. It was the biggest score of my career at the time, but I thought I let myself down heads-up. There were a few demons here, but I dealt with it. Poker has changed in the last five years, or so. Bracelets are a big thing now. In previous years when I came to the World Series, I really did not play in that many tournaments. I was a cash specialist. Pot-limit is my game and live action is where all the money was. I won a few big tournaments in Europe. But I never put a big effort here. The last few years I really tried, and now it has paid off.”

With his cash last night, John Kabbaj became the 129th player in history to eclipse the milestone of $1,000,000 in career WSOP cashes.

2009 WSOP Event 45 Day 3 Report

2009 WSOP Event 45, $10,000 buy-in World Championship of Pot-Limit Hold’em started with 275 entrants. When day three began yesterday, there were 14 previous day survivors retuning to the Rio to battle it out for a WSOP bracelet. There were several big names in contention including Krill Gerasimov, Isaac Haxton, Jason Lester as well as accomplished pros David Kitai, Eugene Todd, JC Alvarado, John Kabbaj and 2009 WSOP bracelet winner (Eric Baldwin). Along with the bracelet, $633,335 top place prize money was on the line.

The short stack coming into the day was Thomas Pettersson and it didn’t take long for him to make his final stand. His final chips went in with preflop with Jd10h against Billy Kopp’s Ad5c. Kopp picked up an ace right on the flop, and when the final board read Ah8c4d2h8d, Pettersson was done in 14th place ($43,091). He was followed to the rail by Ken Lennaard (13th, $43,091), Michael Kamran (12th, $57,645) and Billy Kopp (11th, $57,645).

The remaining ten players drew cards as new seat assignments were given on a single table. As far as official WSOP stats are concerned we’d need to lose one more player for the final table to be reached. It didn’t take long for this to occur as Mohsin “chicagocards1” Charania made his exit soon thereafter in tenth place ($57,645) after his Ah Jh failed to out race Davidi Kitai’s pocket nines.

Going into the final table John Kabbaj had the chip lead.

John Kabbaj – 1,867,000
Davidi Kitai – 1,737,000
Isaac Haxton – 1,139,000
Eric Baldwin – 1,115,000
J.C. Alvarado – 810,000
Kirill Gerasimov – 621,000
Jason Lester – 386,000
Eugene Todd – 341,000
Darryll Fish – 241,000

The first casualty of the final table was Darryl Fish when he was all in preflop with As 8d against JC Alvarado’s 7d7h. The board ran Jh9d4cQh2s and Fish was out in ninth collecting $77,136. Next out was Isaac Haxton ($82,688) after he got all in with KQ and was dominated by Davidi Kitai AQ.

A big pot developed when J.C. Alvarado opened for a raise, Eugene Todd reraised, Kirill Gerasimov moved all in over the top, Alvarado got out of the way. Todd called all in for less, and he was at risk. Todd was drawing to three outs with AsQd to Gerasimov’s pocket queens, and there were no aces on the 8c7c2h3h2c board to help him out. Todd collected $93,085 for seventh place.

Next to go was Jason Lester after he pushed all in with Jd Td and was called by Davidi Kitai who held As5s. The board ran 9s3c3dQh7d and Lester collected $110,431. The best hand held up once again when Kabbaj’s pocket tens out ran J.C. Alvarado Ah Qh to send him to the rail in fifth place worth $138,375. Finally we saw the over cards win in a coinflip when Davidi Kitai was unfortunate to have his 5h 5d out raced by Kirill Gerasimov’s Kh Th in an all in pot which left Kitai heading to the rail to pick up $183,636.

Eric Baldwin’s chance to join Brock Parker, Phil Ivey and Jeffrey Lisandro as 2009 WSOP multiple bracelet winners became unlikely after a hand where Gerasimov raised from the button and Baldwin called from the small blind. The flop came Ah9c8s, Baldwin checked, Gerasimov bet, Baldwin check-raised, Gerasimov reraised all-in and Baldwin called. Baldwin was in rough shape with Ad Jd for top pair as Gerasimov tabled Ac9h to flop two pair. The turn and river came Qh and 8h, Gerasimov doubled and Baldwin was left crippled. On the very next hand Baldwin got the remainder of his chips in with Js6d and was called by John Kabbaj who held As5c. Kabbaj made two pair on the AdQd5h flop, and although Baldwin caught runner-runner two pair, Kabbaj’s top pair was better to send Baldwin to the rail in third place to pick up $259,534.

Heads up play went back and forth for a while, but finally ended when John Kabbaj was dealt Aces and Kirill Gerasimov was dealt kings. On this hand Gerasimov raised preflop, and Kabbaj smooth-called to see the 4d3s7h flop. Kabbaj led out on the flop, and Gerasimov raised. Kabbaj thought for a very brief moment before moving all in, and Gerasimov quickly called. The turn and river came 4s Qd and Gerasimov had to settle for second place worth $391,369 while John Kabbaj’s picked up his first career WSOP bracelet and the $633,335 top place prize.