The World Series of Poker crowned another notable winner on Sunday when Allen Bari took home the gold bracelet in Event No. 4 ($5,000 no-limit hold’em). It was his first major tournament victory since he won the Borgata Summer Open in 2008 and he grew his career earnings close to $3 million thanks to the $874,116 he was awarded for first place along with his first gold bracelet.
Bari topped a field of 865 players in this four-day event that was originally scheduled for three days. The tournament was stopped late last night when the final four players remained and Bari held the chip lead. When play resumed Bari finished what he started, which eventually led to a heads-up battle with Maria Ho for the tournament title.
In the end Ho was eliminated as the runner up and she took home $540,020 in prize money. She just missed becoming the first woman to win a bracelet in an open buy-in event at the 2011 WSOP. “When there is only one spot to go at the final table and you do not get there, you are always going to be chasing that from this point forward. I’m definitely going to be going for first place whenever I play,” said Ho after the final table.
Another notable at the final table was Farzad Bonyadi, who was looking to win his fourth gold bracelet. He fell short of that goal but he did score his 18th career cash at the WSOP.
Bari was confident throughout the final table and that confidence did not subside when the tournament was over. He had come close to winning WSOP gold before, having previously made two final tables, so tonight’s victory had to be a sweet one. “The bracelet means a lot. But I do not really think the bracelet should validate you as a player. For example, Eugene Katchalov just won a bracelet ($1,500 Seven-Card Stud). He should probably have four, because he’s the ill-est. And, I’m the ill-est because I should have four. But I only have one. And stinkers like Phil Hellmuth have eleven. So, it’s all meaningless. All that matters is that good players know you are good. And when you sit at a table, they are like scared of you. And they respect your game. That’s the most important thing,” said Bari after the victory.
Bari jumped to fourth place in the Card Player Player of the Year standings with the victory. He took home 1,920 points for his gold bracelet win and that gives him a total of 3,352 points in 2011. His other major cash in 2011 came when he busted out in fifth place at the World Poker Tour Seminole Hard Rock Showdown main event, which was good for $211,997 and 1,000 points.
Here is a look at the elimination hands at the final table as featured in CardPlayer.com’s live coverage:
Farzad Bonyadi Eliminated in 9th Place ($65,535)
Farzad Bonyadi moved all in for 215,000 from under the gun and Jesse Chinni called from the small blind.
Bonyadi turned over 9
9
for the lead while Chinni showed A
7 for the draw.
The board came A 4
3 10 10, giving Chinni top pair on the flop and a better two pair on the river. Farzad Bonyadi was eliminated in 9th place ($65,535) while Jesse Chinni moved up to 1.7 million in chips.
Mikhail Lakhitov Eliminated in 8th Place ($84,033)
Allen Bari opened for a raise of 80,000, Mikhail Lakhitov reraised to 210,000 from the small blind, Bari shoved and Lakhitov called all in for around 1,000,000.
Lakhitov turned over K K for the best hand while Bari showed A 10 for the draw.
The board came Q 10 8 10 J, giving Lakhitov a flush draw on the flop and Bari trip tens on the turn. Allen Bari secured the chip lead this hand with over 4 million in chips while Mikhail Lakhitov is eliminated in 8th place ($84,033).
Jesse Chinni Eliminated in 7th Place ($108,914)
Ricky Fohrenbach raised to 120,000 from the cutoff, Jesse Chinni shoved for 1,600,000 and Fohrenbach called.
Fohrenbach turned over K K for the lead while Chinni showed A 10 for the draw.
The board came J 6 5 J 4, offering no help to Jesse Chinni who was eliminated in 6th place ($108,914). After this elimination, Fohrenbach was up to 2.7 million in chips.
Ricky Fohrenbach Eliminated in 6th Place ($142,821)
Ricky Fohrenbach opened to 120,000 from the cutoff, Allen Bari raised enough to put him all in and after a minute or so in the tank, Fohrenbach called all in for 1,720,000.
Fohrenbach turned over 10 10 for the lead while Bari showed A J for the draw.
The board came J 9 8 3 2, giving Bari top pair on the flop. Ricky Fohrenbach was eliminated in 6th place ($142,821) this hand while Allen Bari secured a monster chip lead with over 8 million.
Thomas Ross Eliminated in 5th Place ($189,574)
In one of the last hands of the night, Allen Bari opened for 160,000 from the cutoff, Thomas Ross moved all in for 710,00 from the button and Bari called.
Ross turned over A 10 for the lead while Bari showed A 8.
The board came J 7 6 2 J, giving Bari a flush on the river. Thomas Ross was eliminated in 5th place ($189,574) while Allen Bari moved up to just under 10 million in chips.
Nicholas Blumenthal Eliminated in 4th Place ($255,028)
Maria Ho raised to 200,000 from under the gun, Nicholas Blumenthal moved all in for 1,300,000 from the small blind and Ho called.
Blumenthal turned over 8 8 for the lead while Ho showed A Q for the draw.
The board came A K 5 Q J, giving Ho top pair on the flop and two pair on the turn. Ho moved up to roughly 4 million in chips while Nicholas Blumenthal was eliminated in 4th place ($255,028).
Sean LeFort Eliminated in 3rd Place ($348,128)
Sean LeFort opened the pot for 240,000 from the button, Allen Bari three-bet to 660,000 from the small blind, LeFort four-bet all in and Bari called.
LeFort turned over 10 10 for a pair, but Bari showed K K for a higher pair.
The board came K 6 4 10 7, giving Bari top set on the flop and although LeFort made a smaller set on the turn, it was not enough to stay alive. Sean LeFort was eliminated in 3rd place ($348,128) while Allen Bari took a commanding chip lead to the heads-up finals.
Allen Bari Wins Event #4 ($874,116)
Maria Ho Eliminated in 2nd Place ($540,020)
Maria Ho was severely short stacked at the beginning of heads-up play with just 1.875 million to Allen Bari’s 11.1 million. She managed to double up early, but eventually the rising blinds and surmounting chip deficit was just too much to stave off.
On the final hand of the event, Maria Ho open-shoved for 2,000,000 from the button and Allen Bari called from the big blind.
Bari turned over 8 8 for the lead and Ho showed A 4 for the draw.
The board came K K 6 5 Q, and Maria Ho was eliminated in 2nd place ($540,020). After four days and 864 opponents, Allen Bari finally won Event #4, claiming the gold bracelet and the $874,116 grand prize.
