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With supply and demand being what it is, there was little surprise when the World Series of Poker announced it would be expanding its schedule to fifty-five events. The announcement was taken well, with most players applauding the decision to move away from the ‘World Series of hold’em’ the event had been becoming.
One advantage of the expanded schedule was the opportunity to cater to niche formats. Heads-up, shootout and short-handed play each got their own vehicles. If the 1,427 entries for event 12 - $1,500 no-limit hold’em six-handed max was any indication, the poker world was happy with that development.
After a high-profile finish the previous year, when Jeff Madsen defeated Erick Lindgren, this year’s final table was mostly unknown. The six players who advanced to the final day’s play had a combined four WSOP cashes prior to this tournament, and only eventual runner-up David Zeitlin had managed a cash prior to the 2007 Series. In the end, it was Canadian Jason Warner who defeated Zeitlin in the final.
Warner started the heads-up portion with by far the shorter of the two stacks, He managed to double up though, then take the 2-1 chip lead when he doubled up again. Finally, the stage was set when Warner took the majority of Zeitlin’s chips after Zeitlin slow-played aces into Warner’s three sixes.
The final hand of the tournament started with Zeitlin moving all-in preflop with Qh-4s for T600,000. Warner called with Ad-6d and the flop came 9c-3s-7h, preserving his lead. The turn was 4h, putting Zeitlin ahead, but it didn’t last; the river was 6s, giving Jason the better pair, the better hand and the better placing. He finished first, good for $481,698.
Gary Wise
gary@wisehandpoker.com
