2009 World Series of Poker

Event 5 - $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha
Day: 3
123
Event Info

2009 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
q♣j♦8♦2♠
Prize
$237,415
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$11,042,850
Entries
809
Level Info
Level
25
Blinds
25,000 / 50,000
Ante
0
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Feeling Out the Table

[user25067]
[user25067]
After such aggressive play on Day 2, the pace of action has slowed considerably at the final table. There has been a good amount of pre-flop limping and most pots have been taken down with a single bet on the flop. To illustrate, here's a look at the last five hands:

1. Steven Burkholder raised to 30,000 from middle position and Chris Biondino called from the cutoff. The flop was {K-Diamonds} {K-Hearts} {6-Hearts} and Burkholder took it down with a 45,000 bet.

2. Jason Mercier opened for 27,000 from middle position and Kevin Iacofano called from the button. Mercier led out for 51,000 on the {K-Hearts} {K-Clubs} {10-Spades} flop and Iacofano mucked.

3. Chris Biondino raised to 30,000 from middle position and won the pot before the flop.

4. An Tran limped in from UTG, Matt Giannetti limped in behind him, Jonathan Tare limped from the cutoff, Vic Park completed the small blind and Steven Burkhead checked from the big blind. The action was checked to Tare on the {7-Spades} {7-Hearts} {5-Clubs} flop and he took it down with a bet.

5. Six players limped in and saw a flop of {9-Clubs} {6-Diamonds} {4-Diamonds}. Everyone checked to Chris Biondino, who took it down with a flop bet.

Tran Puts the Pressure On

[user25067]
[user25067]
Vic Park opened for 30,000 from the hijack seat, An Tran made it 105,000 to go from the cutoff and Park called.

The flop was {Q-Clubs} {9-Clubs} {2-Clubs} and Park checked. Tran moved all in for 118,000, forcing Park to give up his hand. Tran is back up to 335,000 while Park slipped to 200,000.

Chris Biondino Doubles Through An Tran

[user25067]
[user25067]
Chris Biondino limped in from UTG, Jonathan Tare limped from middle position, An Tran completed the small blind and Jason Mercier checked his option from the big blind. The flop came down {4-Clubs} {3-Clubs} {2-Spades} and Tran led out for 56,000. Mercier folded and Biondino moved all in for 165,000. Tare got out of the way and Tran made the call.

Biondino {J-Spades} {J-Clubs} {5-Clubs} {4-Spades}
Tran {K-Spades} {6-Clubs} {6-Diamonds} {5-Spades}

Tran flopped the nut straight but Biondino had a flush re-draw. He hit in on the turn when the {8-Clubs} fell, and the {8-Diamonds} on the river sealed the hand for him. Biondino doubled to 415,000 while Tran slipped to 240,000.

Two Small Ones

[user25067]
[user25067]
The action was folded to Dario Alioto on the button and he made it 30,000 to go. Steven Burkholder called from the big blind and they both checked a flop of {Q-Clubs} {J-Diamonds} {4-Clubs}. The {K-Diamonds} on the turn brought two more checks, and the river fell the {3-Clubs}. Burkholder took a stab at the pot for 45,000 and Alioto folded. Burkholder took it down, increasing his stack to 295,000. Alioto is now at 276,000.

On the following hand, Jonathan Tare opened for 30,000 from late position and An Tran called from the big blind. The flop came down {J-Clubs} {3-Clubs} {3-Diamonds} and Tran checked over to Tare, who bet 35,000. Tran folded and Tare took it down. He's up to 665,000 while Tran is at 420,000.

Tare Strikes First

[user25067]
[user25067]
After five flop-less hands to start, we have some action at last.

Jason Mercier made it 27,000 to go from middle position, Kevin Iacofano called from the cutoff and Jonathan Tare called from the button.

The flop was {8-Diamonds} {7-Hearts} {4-Clubs} and Mercier checked over to Iacofano, who bet 40,000. Tare called and Mercier folded. The turn came the {10-Hearts}. Iacofano checked, Tare bet 100,000 and it was enough to chase Iacofano away. Tare took down the pot without a showdown.

Level: 18

Blinds: 5,000/10,000

Ante: 0

Final Table Bios: Seat 9, Steven Burkholder (263,000)

[user25067]
[user25067]
22-year old Steven Burkholder is a student from Largo, Florida. Playing as "PiKappRaider" online, he went on a massive run in the second half of 2008, winning the Full Tilt $750,000 Guarantee, the Full Tilt $1 Million Guarantee, the PokerStars $500 rebuy 6-max WCOOP Event, and an FTOPS XI event for over $1 million in total earnings. Outside of poker, he enjoys "long walks on the beach, love songs, Britney Spears, and American Idol."

Final Table Bios: Seat 7, Dario Alioto (315,000)

[user25067]
[user25067]
Dario Alioto, Seat 7
Dario Alioto, Seat 7
Hailing from Palermo, Italy, 24-year old Dario Alioto is already a WSOP bracelet winner in pot-limit Omaha, winning the ��5,000 PLO event at the 2007 WSOP-Europe. Currently first on the all-time European PLO money list, Alioto made the final table of this event last summer, finishing fourth, finished 19th at the 2008 $10,000 World Champioship PLO event and notched a sixth-place finish at the 2007 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi/Lo event.

Tags: Dario Alioto