Sunday, June 10, 2007 11:29 PM Local Time
We caught up with now five-time bracelet winner Allen Cunningham after he took down the $5,000 Pot-limit event.
[url=http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/video-gallery/?t=33&e=118]Click here[/url] to check out the interview with Allen, along with all the other interviews from this event.
Sunday, June 10, 2007 10:57 PM Local Time
It's hard to describe Allen Cunningham. He's so unassuming, and he seems so humble, but he is deeply confident. How else could he get away with saying, "I never know what to do now" after winning his fifth bracelet?
Phil Ivey was the youngest player to win five bracelets, followed by Phil Hellmuth, and Allen is now the third-youngest. (Side note: Phil Hellmuth has a big stack of chips with 17 players left in Event #15.)
Gary Wise later pointed out that Allen could still set the record for the earliest to six bracelets if he wins another by the end of next year.
When ESPN's Norm Chad pointed out that he was halfway to ten bracelets, Allen responded, "Halfway? I'm a quarter of the way." The implication, of course, is that he has his sights set on a higher number -- 20. Quiet confidence.
When asked about the match, he said that he didn't want to face Lisandro heads-up, but that's how it happened. Allen called Lisandro a very tough opponent.
When he received the bracelet from WSOP Exec Ty Stewart, he thanked the crowd for cheering him on, and mumbled a few other words. He did a few media interviews, but he was eager to go out and celebrate with Melissa and the rest of his friends.
Congratulations, Allen Cunningham, on your fifth bracelet from the World Series of Poker.
Sunday, June 10, 2007 10:05 PM Local Time
Allen Cunningham wanders over to media row to find his girlfriend Melissa Hayden, and ESPN ignores him as they prepare for their final shots and the bracelet ceremony.
Allen says, "I never know what to do now." After five bracelets, you're allowed to say such things. Melissa says, "It's okay. You're allowed to suck out." Allen replies, "Yeah, I liked that card."
Melissa had been leading a group of Allen's friends -- including Andy Bloch, Daniel Alaei, and Carmel Petresco -- to concentrate on getting a king on the board. Carmel requested the king of hearts specifically, and she got her wish.
[url=http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/hands-in-depth/?t=33&e=118]Don't forget you can watch all the big hands from the Final Table via our PokerNews.com Feature Hand simulator[/url]
Sunday, June 10, 2007 10:03 PM Local Time
Hand #181 - Jeff Lisandro has the button, he raises to 165,000, Cunningham raises to 495,000, Lisandro thinks for about a minute before he moves all in, and Cunningham calls with
. Lisandro shows
, and he'll need his queens to hold to stay alive.
Jeff Lisandro walks off the stage to watch from afar, and it takes ESPN a minute to get him into a camera shot. The tension is incredible, and everyone in the audience is on their feet. Allen Cunningham is the last to stand up, and the dealer is the only one seated. (Besides the media, of course.)
The flop comes
, and there is a mixed reaction from the audience. Silence returns as everyone waits for the turn.
The turn card is the
, and the crowd erupts in applause as Cunningham takes the lead with a pair of kings. Lisandro needs one of the two remaining queens to survive.
The river card is the --
. Jeff Lisandro finishes in second place, earning $294,260.
Allen Cunningham wins Event #13 ($5,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em), earning $487,287, a Corum watch, and the fifth WSOP bracelet of his career (his third in three years).
[url=http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/hands-in-depth/cunningham-wins-fifth-bracelet-148.htm?t=33&e=118]Click here to view this hand in our PokerNews.com Feature Hand simulator[/url]
Sunday, June 10, 2007 9:56 PM Local Time
Allen Cunningham - 3,075,000
Jeff Lisandro - 905,000
Sunday, June 10, 2007 9:56 PM Local Time
Hand #180 - Allen Cunningham has the button, he limps for 80,000, Lisandro raises to 220,000, and Cunningham calls. The flop comes
, Lisandro bets 300,000, and Cunningham calls. There is now 1,040,000 in the pot.
The turn card is the
, Lisandro checks, Cunningham bets 300,000, and Lisandro folds. Cunningham takes the pot.
Sunday, June 10, 2007 9:52 PM Local Time
Hand #179 - Jeff Lisandro has the button, he limps for 80,000, and Cunningham checks. The flop comes
, and both players check. The turn card is the
, Cunningham checks, Lisandro bets 145,000, and Cunningham folds. Lisandro takes the pot.
Sunday, June 10, 2007 9:51 PM Local Time
Hand #178 - Allen Cunningham has the button, he raises to 200,000, and Lisandro folds.
Sunday, June 10, 2007 9:51 PM Local Time
Allen Cunningham - 2,555,000
Jeff Lisandro - 1,425,000
Sunday, June 10, 2007 9:51 PM Local Time
Hand #177 - Jeff Lisandro has the button, he limps for 80,000, and Cunningham checks. The flop comes
, Cunningham checks, Lisandro bets 150,000, and Cunningham calls. The turn card is the
, and both players check. The river card is the
, Cunningham checks, Lisandro bets 200,000, and Cunningham thinks for two minutes before he says, "I call." Lisandro immediately mucks, and Cunningham shows
for a pair of sixes to win the pot.
Sunday, June 10, 2007 9:47 PM Local Time
Hand #176 - Allen Cunningham has the button, he raises to 200,000, and Lisandro folds.
That was the 75th hands of heads-up play. It took 101 hands to reach the final two players.
Sunday, June 10, 2007 9:46 PM Local Time
Hand #175 - Jeff Lisandro has the button, he limps for 80,000, and Cunningham checks. The flop comes
, Cunningham bets 125,000, and Lisandro folds. Cunningham takes the pot.
Sunday, June 10, 2007 9:46 PM Local Time
Hand #174 - Allen Cunningham has the button, he limps for 80,000, and Lisandro checks. The flop comes
, and both players check. The turn card pairs the board with the
, Lisandro bets 150,000, and Cunningham folds. Lisandro takes the pot.
Sunday, June 10, 2007 9:45 PM Local Time
Allen Cunningham - 2,045,000
Jeff Lisandro - 1,945,000
Sunday, June 10, 2007 9:44 PM Local Time
Hand #173 - Jeff Lisandro has the button, he raises to 215,000, and Cunningham calls. The flop comes
, and both players check. The turn card is the
, Cunningham checks, Lisandro bets 175,000, and Cunningham folds. Lisandro takes the pot.
Sunday, June 10, 2007 9:42 PM Local Time
Hand #172 - Allen Cunningham has the button, he limps for 80,000, and Lisandro checks. The flop comes
, and both players check. The turn card is the
, Lisandro bets 100,000, Cunningham raises to 300,000, and Lisandro folds. Cunningham takes the pot.
Sunday, June 10, 2007 9:41 PM Local Time
Hand #171 - Jeff Lisandro has the button, he raises to 190,000, and Cunningham folds.
Sunday, June 10, 2007 9:41 PM Local Time
Allen Cunningham - 2.16 million
Jeff Lisandro - 1.82 million
Sunday, June 10, 2007 9:40 PM Local Time
Hand #170 - Allen Cunningham has the button, he raises to 200,000, and Lisandro calls. The flop comes
, Lisandro checks, Cunningham bets 200,000, and Lisandro folds. Cunningham takes the pot.
Sunday, June 10, 2007 9:38 PM Local Time
Hand #169 - Jeff Lisandro has the button, he limps for 60,000, and Cunningham checks. The flop comes
, Cunningham bets 125,000, Lisandro folds. Cunningham takes the pot.