WSOPEThe final table from Event #2 of this year’s WSOPE was a short, sharp, and some may say, brutal affair. it only took 91 hands for Swede Henrik Johansson to emerge as the second 2013 WSOP bracelet winner.

Johansson was able to pick up the €129,700 first prize along with his first major live title.

The first to leave the final table was Andrei Konopelko when he shoved from the big blind over Johansson’s button raise. Konopelko was in trouble as his 77 was crushed by Johansson’s JJ, and the community cards weren’t any help. Konopelko busted in 9th for €12,134.

It only took 3 hands for the next elimination, and the hand started when Jean-Philippe Tuffery put his tournament life on the line as he declared he was all in. Sitting in the small blind, Adriano Torre-Grossa took a visit to the tank before making the call.

Tuffery was in bad shape when his Q9 was dominated by Torre-Grossa’s AQ. The board ran out in Torre-Grossa’s favour as the cards showed AJJT4, sending Tuffery to the rail with €15,285.

The next to depart the streamed table was Jose Obadia. In only the 19th hand of the last day, Obadia was all in from the small blind for just 6,000, Johansson chased out the button limp from Weinman with a raise to leave him heads up against the very short Obadia. Obadia actually went to the flop the favourite with his
A7 against Johansson’s A5. The board was dealt 743J6 and Johansson rivered a straight to knock out Obadia in 7th for €19,498.

In the 34th hand of the day Torre-Grossa opened the action to 22,000 from the small blind, and Daniel Laidlaw defend in the Big Blind. The flop hit the felt showing 629 and Torre-Grossa continued his line by firing out 17k. Laidlaw made the snap call, bringing the J turn. Torre-Grossa checked over to Laidlaw who moved 45,000 over the line. Torre-Grossa slid into the tank, fiddling with his chips before he made the call. The K completed the board, and for the second street in a row, Torre-Grossa checked. Laidlaw, obviously sensing weakness moved his remaining stack over the line. Torre-Grossa obviously didn’t want to make the fold, and counted out calling chips before he went back into the tank. After what seemed an age, he made the call, showing KQ for a rivered pair of Kings. It was enough to beat Laidlaw’s Ace high, and the Australian busted in 6th place with a payday of €25,190.

Four hands later, another one bit the dust. Serge Ekert had shoved the previous hand, picking up the blinds. He went for it again, pushing all his chips over the line from the button, but this time getting a call from Yaniv Botbol in the big blind. Ekert showed his A9 but was totally dominated by Botbol’s AK.

The board ran out 5Q74T to give Butbol a flush, and send Ekert to the cashiers desk to pick up his €32,992 for 5th place.

Hand 61 saw 4th place awarded €43,772 when Torre-Grossa opened the action from the button. Daniel Weinman was sitting to his left, and pushed his remaining stack over the line. Henrik Johansson, sitting in the big blind gave it a few moments of thought before making the call. Torre-Grossa let out an frustrated sigh, and mucked his cards. When the cards were turned over, Johansson’s call was shown to be bordering on genius. His AT had pipped Weinman’s A9, and the board ran out 42QJK to give Johansson a broadway straight and eliminate Weinman.

8 hands later, this procession of eliminations continued with a hand that will make many poker player sick as a dog.

12988-winner-photoJohansson opened the action from the button with a min plus raise, and got action with a call from Botbol in the small blind. The flop came 26Q and Botbol checked in flow, allowing Johansson to continue betting, this time to 31k. Botbol called, and the turn came 4. Botbol quickly checked, and Johansson fired again this time to 78k. Botbol quickly announced he was all in, and Johansson made the call.

Botbol turned over 44 for a turned set, leaving Johansson’s KK hoping to hit on the river. The river card of Johansson’s dream appeared when the K came, sending Botbol to the rail with €58,860.

The heads up battle only lasted 21 hands, and ended in hand 91. Johansson opened his button, and Torre-Grossa made the call out of position. the flop came 9T7 and Torre-Grossa check shoved over Johansson’s 51k bet. Johansson made a quick call, and was miles ahead with his T9 against Torre-Grossa’s 76. The last two cards to hit the felt in Event #2 were the A and Ah, giving Johansson the title.

Johansson had freerolled his way into this event when he had won a raffle for the seat on 888 Poker. This isn’t his only brush with the high stakes poker community as he is a regular player in the high stakes cash games online.

The final table ended up like this:

  1. Hentik Johansson – €129,700
  2. Adriano Torre-Grossa – €80,250
  3. Yaniv Botbol – €58,860
  4. Daniel Weinman – €43,772
  5. Serge Ekert – €32,992
  6. Daniel Laidlaw – €25,190
  7. Jose Obadia – €19,498
  8. Jean-Phillippe Tuffery – €15,285
  9. Andrei Konopelko – €12,134