Thursday, September 25, 2008 4:07 AM Local Time
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!
Thursday, September 25, 2008 3:51 AM Local Time
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.
Thursday, September 25, 2008 3:40 AM Local Time
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.
Thursday, September 25, 2008 3:39 AM Local Time
Omaha 8:
Disaster for the Austrian Chess Master as Ivo Donev finds himself whittled down to just 30,000 chips.
On a board of
...
Sherkhan Farnood had
Ivo Donev had
Although both players had made a straight, Farnood took the high with the nut straight. There was a moment or two of hesitation, but after TD Jack Effel interjected, it was eventually concluded that Farnood had made the best low too with A-2-4-6-7.
As a result of that potentially bracelet-winning scoop, Farnood is now wearing a Cheshire Cat grin the width of London and can sense that victory is near.
Thursday, September 25, 2008 3:30 AM Local Time
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.
Thursday, September 25, 2008 3:21 AM Local Time
Sherkhan Farnood 798,000
Ivo Donev 304,000
Thursday, September 25, 2008 3:13 AM Local Time
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.
Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:57 AM Local Time
Ivo Donev 610,000
Sherkhan Farnood 490,000
Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:56 AM Local Time
Razz:
Just when things were getting a bit lopsided, Sherkhan Farnood took down a huge razz pot.
Farnood: (X) (X)
(X)
Donev: (X) (X)
(X)
Farnood had the bring-in, Donev completed, Farnood raised, Donev reraised, Farnood four-bet and Donev called. Donev led out on fourth street, Farnood raised and Donev called. Fifth and sixth streets brought bets from Farnood and calls from Donev. Both players checked seventh.
Donev showed a J-7 low, which was just edged out by Farnood's J-6-5-3-A. Farnood raked in the monster pot, which nearly evened up their chip counts.
Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:41 AM Local Time
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
.
Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:40 AM Local Time
The players have elected to forgo their regularly scheduled 20-minute break and will play on.
Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:34 AM Local Time
Ivo Donev 849,000
Sherkhan Farnood 253,000
Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:34 AM Local Time
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.
Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:21 AM Local Time
Stud 8:
Farnood: (X) (X)
Donev: (X) (X)
Farnood brought it in, Donev completed, Farnood raised and Donev called. On fourth street Donev bet and Farnood called. Farnood made an open pair of deuces on fifth street and led out, Donev raised and Farnood called. Sixth street was met with a check from Farnood and a bet from Donev. After a few moments of consideration, Farnood mucked, conceding the pot to Donev.
Farnood is down to 394,000 while Donev is up to 708,000.
Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:12 AM Local Time
Ivo Donev 654,000
Sherkhan Farnood 448,000
Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:11 AM Local Time
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.
Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:04 AM Local Time
Stud:
Lederer: (X) (X)
(X)
Farnood: (X) (X)
(X)
Howard Lederer had the bring-in, Sherkhan Farnood completed, Ivo Donev folded and Lederer called. Farnood led out on fourth and fifth streets and Lederer called. Sixth street brought a check from Farnood, a bet from Lederer, and a call from Farnood. Both players checked seventh street.
Farnood rolled over
for a pair of eights. Lederer looked back at his hand resignedly and mucked. Farnood dragged the pot, leaving Lederer with only 22,000 in chips.
Thursday, September 25, 2008 1:59 AM Local Time
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.
Thursday, September 25, 2008 1:53 AM Local Time
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.
Thursday, September 25, 2008 1:38 AM Local Time
Ivo Donev 430,000
Howard Lederer 368,000
Sherkhan Farnood 238,000