Saturday, June 20, 2009 11:15 PM Local Time
It took three gruelling and hard-slogged days of poker and a seven hour final table to crown Jordan Smith as the Event 36 - $2,000 No Limit Hold'em Champion!
Another giant field of 1,695 competitors contained some of the toughest players to grace the circuit including Kathy Liebert, Joe Sebok, Andy Black and David 'Chino' Rheem.
However once the final table was formed early this evening, it was one of the most evenly stacked final tables in history with Pat Atchison firmly on top.
Two women also made the final nine with chess champion Almira Skripchenko exiting in seventh and professional poker player Laurence Grondin bowing out in third place. In the end it would be Jordan Smith taking a slight advantage into heads-up play against Ken Lennaard.
The two battled it out in a see-sawing affair with the chip lead trading hands at several occasions. When Smith took the strong advantage with a rivered nut-straight to Lennaard's second nut-straight it seemed all but over. Lennaard battled back before being flushed out of the tournament in second place when his top-pair and flush draw was unable to improve.
For Smith's great showing of patience, skill and selected aggressiveness he will walk away with $586,212 in prizemoney, the title of champion and most importantly the coveted gold bracelet.
Congratulations to Jordan Smith for taking down Event 36, and make sure to stay dialled in to PokerNews as the remainder of the 2009 WSOP unravels right here!
Saturday, June 20, 2009 11:07 PM Local Time
Ken Lennaard made it 300,000 to go and Jordan Smith called.
Smith then checked on a flop of
, and Lennaard bet out 350,000. Smith reraised all in, and Lennaard called.
Smith:
Lennaard:
When the turn and river came
, Smith's flush held and he captured the title and champion's bracelet. After the hand, the player's congratulated each other on a hard fought match.
Lennaard earned $360,439 for his second-place finish.
Saturday, June 20, 2009 11:01 PM Local Time
Jordan Smith made it 275,000 to go and Ken Lennaard moved all in for 1,800,000. Smith made the call.
Lennaard:
Smith:
The flop came
, bringing no help, though Smith caught a straight draw with the
on the turn. The
was a brick for Smith and Lennaard doubled up to 3,620,000.
Saturday, June 20, 2009 10:48 PM Local Time
Players are on a 10-minute break.
Saturday, June 20, 2009 10:38 PM Local Time
Since doubling Jordan Smith, Ken Lennaard has been slowly grinding his way back.
Most recently he took down a nice pot holding
on a
board to push back to 1,700,000 in chips.
Saturday, June 20, 2009 10:26 PM Local Time
Ken Lennaard opened to 240,000 from the button and Jordan Smith made the call.
The flop fell down
and Smith checked to Lennaard who fired out 150,000. Smith called and then checked the
on the turn before calling a 300,000 chip bet.
When the river landed the
Smith took the lead by betting out 900,000, only to have Lennaard push all in.
Smith insta-called and tabled his
to best Lennaard's
on the way to doubling to 8,670,000 while Lennard slipped to 1,500,000 in chips.
Saturday, June 20, 2009 10:11 PM Local Time
Ken Lennaard pushed the action to 240,000 from the button and Jordan Smith made the call.
Both players checked the
flop to see the
fall on the turn.
Lennaard led out for 300,000 and Smith quickly folded. As Lennaard raked in the pot he flashed his
for top-set and the nut flush-draw as he moves closer to even in chips.
Saturday, June 20, 2009 10:06 PM Local Time
The cards are back in the air after the mini-break.
Saturday, June 20, 2009 10:02 PM Local Time
The two players are heading on a quick 5-minute break.
Saturday, June 20, 2009 10:01 PM Local Time
After taking a minute break to have a chat, both players were back at the see-sawing battle that is heads-up.
Firstly Jordan Smith took a pot down when he bet the flop and river on a
board.
A few hands later it was Ken Lennaard's turn when he check-called a turn bet before firing the river on a board of
to take the pot from Smith.
If play continues along these lines . . . it could be a long night for the players, the railbirds, staff and media!
Saturday, June 20, 2009 9:43 PM Local Time
With the board reading
Ken Lennaard led out for 200,000, but Jordan Smith was having none of it and raised to 650,000 total.
Lennaard made the call and tabled his
for a wheel, but it would be Smith's
for a six-high straight and the pot.
Saturday, June 20, 2009 9:41 PM Local Time
Ken Lennaard bumped the button to 160,000 with Jordan Smith making the call.
The flop fell down
and Smith check-called 150,000 to see the
fall on the turn.
Smith again checked, and Lennaard obliged with a bet of 400,000. Smith made the call and checked a third time to Lennaard when the
fell on the river.
Lennaard continued his aggression by firing 600,000 into the pot, and after a few minutes of deliberation Smith made the call.
Lennaard quickly rolled his
to take down the pot with quads and soar up to just under five million as Smith slipped to 5,480,000 in chips.
Saturday, June 20, 2009 9:35 PM Local Time
Jordan Smith opened to 160,000 from the button with Ken Lennaard making the call.
The flop of
fell down and both players checked to see Lennaard and his 200,000-chip bet when the
fell on the turn take the pot.
Smith has slipped below the seven million mark while Lennaard has crept back to be over 3,300,000 in chips.
Saturday, June 20, 2009 9:32 PM Local Time
Ken Lennaard limped in from the button and Jordan Smith checked his option.
The flop of
was checked by Smith to see a bet of 100,000 from Lennaard. Smith called but then check-folded for 300,000 when the
landed on the river.
Saturday, June 20, 2009 9:26 PM Local Time
Jordan Smith opened to 160,000 from the button and Ken Lennaard made the call.
Lennaard checked the
flop to see Smith fire 200,000 at the pot. Lennaard made the call and checked the
on the turn, as did Smith.
The river of the
went check, check and Smith rolled his
for rivered trips as he bounds back out to 7,100,000 in chips.
Saturday, June 20, 2009 9:18 PM Local Time
Ken Lennaard opened to 160,000 and Jordan Smith defended his big blind.
The flop of
was checked to see the
fall on the turn. Smith checked-called a 150,000-chip bet from Lennaard as the
fell on the river.
Smith again checked, but when Lennaard fired 400,000 into the middle, he relinquished his hand.
Lennaard has now clawed his way back over 4,300,000 in chips.
Saturday, June 20, 2009 9:10 PM Local Time
Jordan Smith has taken a starting even heads up match into a nearly two-to-one advantage.
Now sitting with 6,590,000 in chips to Ken Lennaard's 3,580,000, Smith has been on a rampage taking down pot after pot.
Lennaard has only taken one down - when he stole Smith's big blind, and can't seem to get anything running for himself.
Saturday, June 20, 2009 9:05 PM Local Time
In a limped pot, the
board was checked down to the river to see Jordan Smith bet out 210,000.
Ken Lennaard made the call and mucked when he saw Smith's
.
Saturday, June 20, 2009 9:03 PM Local Time
Ken Lennaard opened to 120,000 from the button before Jordan Smith bumped it to 425,000.
Lennaard called and then folded to the 550,000-chip bet from Smith on the
flop.
As Smith raked in the pot to climb to around 6,000,000, Lennaard slipped to just over 4,000,000 in chips.
Saturday, June 20, 2009 9:01 PM Local Time
Here are the counts as we enter heads-up play.
Jordan Smith - 5,220,000
Ken Lennaard - 4,950,000