More than once early on in the 2007 World Series of Poker, well-established players had found themselves with chips in final table play only to be disappointed in their quests for bracelets. Gavin Smith, Greg Mueller, and then Alex Jacob had leads evaporate during final table play. ‘ZeeJustin’ Justin Bonomo was to put an end to that.
Bonomo had started the year talking some very big talk. He was talking about playing enough live tournament poker to win the Card Player and Bluff Magazine Player of the year awards, First, he back up his talk with money, betting on the PotY outcome. Then, he backed it up with his play in event 10 - $2,000 no-limit hold’em.
By the time he reached the final table, Bonomo had gathered T2,036,000 chips, with the second largest stack at T852,000. His confidence was shattered when first Hunter Frey, then eventual winner William Durkee doubled through him, starting a battle for the chip lead that would wage until Durkee took Bonomo out in consecutive pots.
First, it was Durkee who was all-in, his As-Ah beating Bonomo’s Ks-Kc on a board of Qs-5d-2c 4s 8h. The wind taken from his sails, Justin moved his last chips in with kh-10d. It was again Durkee who offered the challenge, his 7c-7h ultimately proving good on the board of Qh-Js-7d 4h 5s.
Bonomo was out in fourth place, and Durkee was in firm control. Three hands later, Frey was eliminated, leaving Todd terry at a 3-1 deficit to Durkee. He fought part way back, but the effort ultimately fell short.
Durkee won the bracelet, and thanks to 1,531 entrants, $566,916. To say the least, the numbers were encouraging, breaking records for live tournament play and exceeding all expectations. All this, and Phil Ivey was about to play a final table.
Gary Wise
gary@wisehandpoker.com
