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Monday, September 22, 2008 9:11 PM Local Time
As Porky Pig always says... "T-T-T-T-That's all folks." After a highly entertaining four days, Jesper Hougaard of Denmark has finally overcome 409 other poker fanatics to capture that shiny gold bracelet and the small matter of £144,218. But for the 24-year-old pro, this is a particularly momentous occasion as he becomes the first player in history to win bracelets both sides of the Atlantic, having captured World Series gold in Las Vegas just a few months ago.
"Words can't describe how I feel," he gleamed. "I'm ecstatic. I was chip leader for most of yesterday, and it was then that it dawned on me that I could actually win."
But coming into the final, Hougaard was eighth in chips, and looking to edge his way up the ladder. "It's not my normal approach, but I'm embarrassed to say that I was just trying to make my way through the money gradually. When I doubled up though and got some chips, I felt I could start to play."
As a tournament that was lacking from the festival's inaugural year, many would suggest that this opening £1,500 freezeout was a roaring success. From my ringside view and overhearing comments made by the players themselves, I would have to agree and hope that the tournament becomes a permanent fixture in years to come.
But before then, we've got a H.O.R.S.E event to finish. Yee-haw, giddy up!
Monday, September 22, 2008 9:01 PM Local Time
Hand #162 -
Fuad Serhan has the button. He raises to 120,000, Jesper Hougaard moves all in and Serhan calls.
Serhan:
Hougaard:
Though he's dominated to start off, the flop is utterly perfect for Hougaard, coming down
, making him the nut flush and leaving Serhan drawing dead. As almost an afterthought, the
and
land on the turn and river respectively... and Jesper Hougaard is our champion, taking home his second WSOP bracelet of 2008 and £144,218. He becomes the first person to win one bracelet in Las Vegas and one in London during the same WSOP.
Fuad Serhan earns £89,175 for his runner-up finish.
Monday, September 22, 2008 8:54 PM Local Time
Jesper Hougaard limps, and Serhan checks.
Flop =
Serhan check-folds to a bet of 45,000.
Monday, September 22, 2008 8:52 PM Local Time
Fuad Serhan has the button. He gives Hougaard a walk in the big blind.
Monday, September 22, 2008 8:51 PM Local Time
Fuad Serhan receives a walk.
Monday, September 22, 2008 8:51 PM Local Time
Fuad Serhan has the button. He moves all in and picks up the blinds and antes.
Monday, September 22, 2008 8:50 PM Local Time
Jesper Hougaard 2,020,000
Fuad Serhan 440,000
Monday, September 22, 2008 8:46 PM Local Time
Jesper Hougaard pushes all in for the umpteenth time, but on this occasion, Yevgeniy Timoshenko wakes up with a hand and makes the call.
Hougaard =
Timoshenko =
Board =
As the ace hits the flop, the happiest man in the room appears to be Fuad Serhan, who celebrates more avidly than a surprisingly stoic Hougaard.
And then there were two...
Monday, September 22, 2008 8:44 PM Local Time
Yevgeniy Timoshenko has the button in Seat 3. Jesper Hougaard moves all in from the small blind and wins the blinds and antes.
Monday, September 22, 2008 8:43 PM Local Time
Fuad Serhan takes the blinds and antes with an all-in push from the button.
Monday, September 22, 2008 8:41 PM Local Time
Jesper Hougaard has the button in Seat 6. He moves all in, gets no takers, and wins the blinds and antes.
Monday, September 22, 2008 8:41 PM Local Time
Jesper Hougaard raises to a total of 100,000 from the small blind. Fuad Serhan folds.
It appears as though we're either waiting for someone to lose patience and crack, or for two big hands to clash.
Monday, September 22, 2008 8:38 PM Local Time
Fuad Serhan has the button in Seat 1. Yevgeniy Timoshenko moves all in from the small blind for 330,000. Hougaard passes and Timoshenko wins the pot.
Monday, September 22, 2008 8:37 PM Local Time
Fuad Serhan moves all in from the small blind, Yevgeniy Timoshenko concedes his big.
Monday, September 22, 2008 8:36 PM Local Time
Yevgeniy Timoshenko has the button in Seat 3. Jesper Hougaard moves all in from the small blind. Fuad Serhan gives up his hand and Hougaard wins the pot.
Monday, September 22, 2008 8:35 PM Local Time
Fuad Serhan folds, only for Yevgeniy Timoshenko to make an inevitable push from the small blind for 330,000. Clearly holding a marginal hand, Jesper Hougaard grimaced as he peeked at his cards, but eventually tapped the table and passed his hand. The deliberation, however, was perhaps a warning that next time, he'd make the call.
Monday, September 22, 2008 8:32 PM Local Time
Jesper Hougaard has the button in Seat 6. Fuad Serhan moves all in from the small blind and Yevgeniy Timoshenko calls.
Serhan:
Timoshenko:
The flop is
, the turn is the
, the river is the
and Serhan doubles up to 540,000 while Timoshenko falls to 335,000.
Monday, September 22, 2008 8:29 PM Local Time
As expected, Jesper Hougaard pushes all in from the big blind, and a short-stacked Fuad Serhan is forced to fold.
Monday, September 22, 2008 8:27 PM Local Time
Fuad Serhan has the button in Seat 1. Yevgeniy Timoshenko moves all in from the small blind and wins the blinds and antes.
Monday, September 22, 2008 8:27 PM Local Time
On the first hand back, Jesper makes it 140,000 from the button and takes down the blinds and antes uncontested, albeit after a very lengthy dwell from Yevgeniy Timoshenko in the big blind.