Thu, 25 Sep 2008 05:07:07 +0100
Congratulations to Sherkhan Farnood, Event #57 Champion!
It took over 14 hours of final table play for Sherkhan Farnood to emerge as the WSOP's newest bracelet winner. Coming into the final eight as the second-shortest stack, Farnood outlasted some of the game's most celebrated and decorated players like Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, and Jeffrey Lisandro to take the bracelet home to Afghanistan. He was never intimidated by them in the least on his way to victory.
Farnood had come close to a bracelet several times before, making the final table of the £5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha event at last year's WSOP-Europe and finishing second in the $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha with Rebuys at the 2006 WSOP.
The Kabul native pointed out in his post-game interview that this was not the first bracelet to be won by an Afghan, but the second (Qushqar Morad won the $5,000 Seven-Card Stud Event in 2002). He was also eager to remind us that he is not a professional player, but a businessman, and sent his love out to his wife who had been diligently following the action from Dubai.
Congratulations to Sherkhan Farnood, on a game (and a marathon one at that) well played!
Thu, 25 Sep 2008 04:51:17 +0100
Sherkhan Farnood Wins Event #57 (£2,500 H.O.R.S.E.), Ivo Donev Eliminated in 2nd Place (£48,125)
Stud:
Ivo Donev got the last of his chips in on third street and Sherkhan Farnood made the call
Farnood: (
) (
)
(
)
Donev: (
) (
)
(
)
Though Donev picked up a flush draw on sixth street, he blanked out on seventh, while Farnood made two pair, queens and eights, to eliminate Donev and capture his first WSOP bracelet.
Donev will take home £48,125 for his runner-up finish.
Thu, 25 Sep 2008 04:40:18 +0100
Silence Falls
The nearer Ivo Donev gets to the felt, the quieter it gets in the casino (though the exit of the reveling cocktailers helped quite a bit). Donev is on his last 70,000, Farnood playing carefully as not to double up his opponent before dealing the final blow.
Thu, 25 Sep 2008 04:30:50 +0100
Donev Nearing the Felt
Someone must have sneaked Kryptonite into his pocket, as Ivo Donev has been gradually leaking chips over the last few rounds and is down to just 185,000. No major pots in particular, but every time he reaches a later street, he is bet off the hand by a dominating Sherkhan Farnood.
Thu, 25 Sep 2008 04:21:01 +0100
The Worm Turns Again
Sherkhan Farnood 798,000
Ivo Donev 304,000
Thu, 25 Sep 2008 04:13:24 +0100
When Railbirds Attack
Things are getting strange around here.
A woman in a red dress, who has been sweating Sherkhan Farnood for the last several hours just made a sudden eruption from the rail. We're unsure about the relationship between these two (or even if they know each other) but her outburst concluded in her lunging at the table and hurling two crumpled £50 notes at a flabbergasted Farnood.
The woman (who is pregnant, I might add) was immediately escorted off the premises by security as she screamed obscenities at a stunned Farnood. Farnood then retrieved the crumpled notes and pocketed them with a bewildered expression on his face.
Add to this the crash of glassware to the floor that appears to be happening at regular intervals behind the bar, the late-night cocktail-swillers chatting loudly to each other in front of it, the thump of ever-present electronica music in the background, and, well, you have a pretty good picture of what's going on here while our two finalists play for a WSOP bracelet.
Thu, 25 Sep 2008 03:57:06 +0100
Updated Chip Counts
Ivo Donev 610,000
Sherkhan Farnood 490,000
Thu, 25 Sep 2008 03:41:00 +0100
Chop It Up
Omaha 8:
Both players saw the
flop. Sherkhan Farnood led for 12,000, Ivo Donev made it 24,000 and Farnood called.
Before the
turn was even dealt, Donev bet 24,000 in the dark. Farnood made the call.
The
river led to a bet of 24,000 from Donev, which, again, Farnood called.
Whilst Donev had the low sewn up with
, his nine high didn't quite cut the mustard, allowing Farnood to snap up half the goodies with
.
Thu, 25 Sep 2008 03:40:51 +0100
No Break, Blinds Up
The players have elected to forgo their regularly scheduled 20-minute break and will play on.
Thu, 25 Sep 2008 03:34:47 +0100
Updated Chip Counts
Ivo Donev 849,000
Sherkhan Farnood 253,000
Thu, 25 Sep 2008 03:34:20 +0100
Ivo Flopping 'Em Dead
Hold'em:
Ivo Donev raised on the button and Sherkhan Farnood called. The flop was
. Farnood checked, Donev bet, Farnood raised and Donev called. The turn came the
and both players checked. The river brought the
. Farnood bet, Donev raised and Farnood made what looked like a reluctant call.
Donev tabled
for the flush and Farnood mucked.
Thu, 25 Sep 2008 03:12:08 +0100
Heads-Up Chip Counts
Ivo Donev 654,000
Sherkhan Farnood 448,000
Thu, 25 Sep 2008 03:11:45 +0100
Howard Lederer Eliminated in 3rd Place (£30,250)
Stud 8:
With just 27,000 in chips, I lurked over the shoulder of Howard Lederer, notepad poised as I awaited his exit like a bloodthirsty vulture.
The first hand he survived, whipping up the antes early doors by making it 12,000 with the
showing. Ivo Donev seemed tempted with the
, but ultimately conceded his hand.
On the next hand, Lederer made the same move, bumping it up to 12,000 with the
showing. This time, however, his opponents were less accommodating.
Howard Lederer =
Sherkhan Farnood =
Ivo Donev =
After Lederer had made it 12,000, Farnood reraised to 24,000, Donev called, Lederer pushed for 9,000 more, Farnood raised again (he sought permission first), and Donev called.
"Good luck, my friend," said Farnood as Lederer sat back in his seat.
Fourth street: Farnood bet 12,000, Donev called.
Fifth street: Both players checked.
Sixth street: Farnood led for 24,000, and Donev called.
Seventh street: Check, check.
With Lederer's sweet nothings to the Poker Gods falling on deaf ears, the remaining two players chopped the pot, with Farnood showing
and two pair for the high, and Donev tabling
and a 2-4-5-6-8 for the low. Lederer mucked.
Bugles at the ready, the bracelet is on its way.
Thu, 25 Sep 2008 02:59:35 +0100
Donev Straightens Lederer Out
Stud:
Lederer seems to have stumbled upon frustrating times, perhaps the early hour even getting to The Professor as fatigue finally begins to settle in. The last hand with Ivo Donev was just one of a handful of recent encounters that didn't go his way:
Donev =
Lederer =
Fourth street: Lederer bet 12,000, Donev called.
Fifth street: Both players checked.
Sixth street: Lederer bet 24,000, Donev raised to 48,000, Lederer called.
On the final street, Donev came out firing to the tune of 24,000, only for Lederer to grimace, blow out his cheeks and make what appeared to be a very reluctant call indeed. His negative vibes were sadly justified as Donev revealed
for the straight.
Lederer quickly mucked and is now the current short stack with 135,000.
Thu, 25 Sep 2008 02:53:42 +0100
Farnood Razzes Lederer
Razz:
Donev: (X) (X)
Lederer: (X) (X)
(X)
Farnood: (X) (X)
(X)
Ivo Donev brought it in on third street, Howard Lederer completed, Sherkhan Farnood called and Donev called. On fourth street, Farnood led out with the low board, Lederer called and Donev folded. On fifth street Farnood bet out and Lederer called. Farnood paired fives on sixth street, inviting a bet from Lederer, but Farnood made the call. Seventh street brought a bet from Lederer and a call from Farnood.
"Ten," said Lederer, indicating a ten low.
Farnood slapped his
in the hole on the table, for a 9-8-5-4-A low and began applauding himself again.
In perhaps the first bit of emotion we've seen from The Professor tonight, he mucked sharply and let out the sort of frustrated sigh only razz can induce.
Lederer is down to 276,000 while Farnood is up over 300,000.
Thu, 25 Sep 2008 02:38:35 +0100
Updated Chip Counts
Ivo Donev 430,000
Howard Lederer 368,000
Sherkhan Farnood 238,000
Thu, 25 Sep 2008 02:34:36 +0100
Sherkhan Scoops, Seeks Fans
Omaha 8:
On a flop of
Sherkhan Farnood bet and Ivo Donev called. The
landed on the turn. Farnood bet again and Donev called. The
paired the board on the river. Undeterred, Farnood led again and Donev called.
Farnood showed
for a flush and scooped the pot.
Then, perhaps a bit jealous of Howard Lederer's railbirds (including Andy Bloch, his niece Jen Creason, and writer Michael Craig) the affable Farnood offered himself a round of applause.
