Phil Ivey, Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, Layne Flack, Berry Johnston, Gary Berlang, Ted Forrest, and now Allen Cunningham are members of an exclusive club. Cunningham joined the illustrious five-time World Series of Poker bracelet club with his victory in event #13, the $5,000 world championship pot-limit hold'em. Cunningham survived a field of 389 players, who created a prize pool of $1,870,600. He claimed the top prize of $487,287. The final table was stacked with top pros and they entered the day like this: Jeff Lisandro ($982,000), Joe Patrick ($631,000), Travis Rice ($544,000), Gavin Griffin ($524,000), Allen Cunningham ($346,000), Jason Lester ($295,000), Alan Jaffray ($254,000), Humberto Brenes ($225,000), and Keith Lehr ($182,000). Cunningham defeated high-stakes cash game pro Jeff Lisandro in a two hour heads-up match that featured countless small pots, then two huge ones consecutively.
6
3
. Lisandro bet $300,000 and Cunningham quickly called. The turn brought the 5
and Lisandro showed weakness. He checked and Cunningham bet $300,000. Lisandro mucked and that set up the final hand of the tournament.
9, but was behind Lisandro's Q Q. Cunningham's girlfriend, Mellissa Hayden, who was sitting in the media area, led a group sweat that included pro Andy Bloch. She made sure everyone rooted for a king, saying that if just one person wished for two nines it would break the "Mojo." The flop came A 8 3, and Lisandro was in prime position to double up. Suspicious looks were cast from Cunningham supporters, as they tried to figure out who was the lone soul pulling for the nines. Whoever it was must have got on board because the turn brought the K, and the rail exploded in victorious cheers. The river brought the 7, shipped Cunningham the pot, and his fifth WSOP bracelet.
