Richard Austin wins 2009 WSOP Event 35

2009 WSOP Event #35, $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha ended in dramatic fashion last night with a double elimination on the tournaments final hand. The winner of the event was Richard Austin from Louisville, KY. At the end of the event he declined all comments from the media, and also declined to be part of the bracelet presentation ceremony, being the first player this summer to do so. With this being his first major tournament victory, little is know about this player, but you can read comments on 2+2 in the Richard Austin declines comment thread, to see how other poker players feel about him.

Here is how 2009 WSOP Event #35 day 3 played out:

363 players entered this tournament, but on Day 3 there were just eleven survivors returning to the Rio to play it out for a WSOP bracelet and the $409,484 top place prize money. Sorel Mizzi began the day as the chip leader at 969,000, but both Rifat Palevic and Cliff “JohnnyBax” Josephy were right behind him.

Jeppe Nielsen was the first player to go as he got all his chips in with AcKd3d2s against Josephy’s AdAhKh3h and next Isaac Baron became the final table bubble-boy. On his final hand Baron raised preflop to 70K, Richard Austin raised to 240K, Austin called all in and was ahead with KdKs9c6s to Baron’s AdJh10d8h. However the board ran Kh Qs 4h 8h Qc giving Austin a full house.

When final table play began the seat assignment and chip counts were:

Seat 1: Felipe Ramos (452,000)
Seat 2: Cliff Josephy (1,027,000)
Seat 3: Richard Austin (563,000)
Seat 4: Rifat Palevic (989,000)
Seat 5: Sorel Mizzi (869,000)
Seat 6: Dan Hindin (282,000)
Seat 7: Van Marcus (544,000)
Seat 8: Samuel Ngai (182,000)
Seat 9: Peter Jetten (430,000)

Poker-Prop.net’s horse in last years WSOP Samuel Ngai entered the final table as the short stack and was the first to exit. He was followed to the rail by Peter Jetten when on the turn the board read Ks8c5s10d and Jetten bet out 100K, Richard Austin raised the pot and Jetten moved all in. Jetten held AsJc10s4c for a gutshot Broadway draw and the nut-flush draw Austin flipped over 10h10c9c8h for a set of tens. The river fell the 9h and Jetten finished in eighth place, taking home $48,112.

Van Marcus made his final stand in this event with KcKd10d4d behind to the AsAd3d9h of Cliff JohnnyBax Josephy. The flop and turn missed both players and the river brought Bax and unneeded third ace to send Van Marcus home in seventh place worth $55,687.

Sorel Mizzi caught a heater winning several big pots to claim and build on a chip lead. He then found himself in danger of losing many of these chips when Ramos was all in with AsAd6d10c against Mizzi’s Ah7dJc9c. When the flop came 2d10d4s Mizzi was down to just runner-runner straight cards to win the pot, miraculously these cards did appear on the turn and river and Felipe Ramos was out in sixth worth $67,663.

Rifat Palevic hovered around second in chips for most of this event, but after losing a huge pot to Sorel Mizzi, he was never able to rebound. The last of his chips went in preflop against Mizzi. Palevic held As8s9c2h and found himself behind to the AhQs3hQd of Mizzi. By the river, both players held aces up, but Mizzi held aces and threes to the aces and deuces of Palevic. Rifat Palevic finished in fifth place for $86,516.

It took just one more hand before Dan Hindin was following Palvic to the rail. On his final hand Austin raised him all in preflop with AsAcKd8d and Palvic called with KcKhQc7h. A queen on the flop gave Hindin some life, however the board paired sixes and he was out in fourth worth $116,748.

During three handed play Mizzi’s chip lead slowly evaporated at the hands of both his opponents. Then in a WSOP rarity, the final hand saw two players eliminated. On this hand both Richard Austin and Sorel Mizzi limped preflop and Cliff Josephy raised to 150,000 from the big blind. Austin made the call and Mizzi re-potted to 750,000. Josephy then moved in for 945,000 total. Austin tanked for about a minute before making the call. Mizzi wanted to raise again, but was unable to since Josephy did not make a raise of at least half the pot. Mizzi called and the three players saw the flop of Kc9d3c.

Mizzi then shoved the rest of his chips into the middle for 680,000 and Austin made the call. Mizzi held AsAh5d3d for a pair of aces. Josephy had AdKhKs8d for top set. Austin tabled QhJs8c5c for a flush draw and a gutshot straight draw. The turn fell the 8s and Josephy stayed in the lead, looking primed for a triple-up. But the river was the 7c to complete the flush for Austin, eliminating both Josephy and Mizzi in one fell swoop. Cliff Josephy finished in third place for $166,771, while Sorel Mizzi finished in second place for $253,048.