In one of the best battles so far at this year’s World Series of Poker, Brian Rast was able to outlast a strong Justin Bonomo to make history in winning his second $50,000 Poker Player’s Championship.
When the final table for the PPC began on Wednesday, Rast wasn’t the only person with a shot at making history. Two-time PPC champion Michael Mizrachi was in excellent position to win his unprecedented third title with his 5.535 million in chips, but he was going to have to get past Bonomo’s 7.75 million stack to achieve the feat. Rast was in fourth with his 3.185 million in chips, looking up at Eric Wasserson’s 3.84 million chip mountain, while Wil Wilkinson took up the fifth place slot with his 2.045 million. The only player who could conceivably be said to have absolutely no chance at winning the tournament – and it isn’t to be mean, it is because he only had 395,000 in chips – was Ray Dehkharghani, on the short stack in sixth place.
As expected, Dehkharghani looked to get his chips in and double, but it wasn’t to be. Dehkharghani, who already has a WSOP bracelet from this year’s schedule, would get his chips in the center during Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo with (7-7) 3-A against Mizrachi’s (A-4) 6-4. A Queen on Fifth Street didn’t help Dehkharghani, but Mizrachi received a five to improve his chances at a low draw to split the pot. Sixth Street would be a killer as a trey came for Mizrachi, giving him at least a split of the pot after Dehkharghani drew a six for no improvement for his high hand. A six on Seventh Street for Mizrachi improved him to two pair and, after a squeeze for drama, Dehkharghani turned up a Jack, allowing Mizrachi to scoop the pot and eliminate Dehkharghani in sixth place.
Mizrachi continued to be active at the final table, taking over the lead after about an hour of play, and he would solidify his place there in knocking off Wilkerson in fifth place. That would be the apex for the 2010 and 2012 champion of this event, however, as he would slowly begin to bleed chips from his stack. Mizrachi doubled up Wasserson in No Limit Hold’em and dropped more to Wasserson in Seven Card Stud, then make a move back to the top by besting Wasserson in Pot Limit Omaha to reclaim some chips. Another clash with Wasserson would drop Mizrachi below 7 million in chips, setting up for his departure from the tournament.
In Deuce to Seven Triple Draw, Mizrachi and Bonomo got into a tussle that neither man would give up and one would suffer greatly from engaging. Capping the action before the first draw, Bonomo would take two cards to Mizrachi’s one. After the first draw, Bonomo check-called a Mizrachi bet to take one card along with Mizrachi on the second draw. After a Bonomo check Mizrachi fired again, but this time Bonomo fired back with a raise. Mizrachi called.
When both players stood pat on the final draw, Bonomo bet out and, after Mizrachi made the call, Bonomo called out “Seven,” and tabled the second-best hand in Deuce to Seven, 7-6-5-3-2 (the only hand that can beat this? 7-5-4-3-2). Mizrachi’s cards went to the muck and, after a count, Mizrachi was only left with 180,000 in chips, which went to Rast on the very next hand as Mizrachi was eliminated in fourth place.
Now with more than half the chips in play, Bonomo looked to be in command. His domination continued as he pushed Rast under two million chips, but Rast proved resilient in doubling back through Bonomo to stay viable. Wasserson couldn’t avoid Bonomo either, seeing his stack whittled down to under a million as Bonomo rumbled through his remaining opponents.
Just when it was thought that Bonomo was going to storm to the title, Rast started making some hands. He gradually worked his way up to 7 million in chips, then took out Wasserson in third place to get to 8.515 million. It was a long way to the top, however, as Bonomo sat with 14.235 million to go against Rast.
In stark difference from the path to heads up play, Rast now seemed to be the one in charge. Within five minutes of the start of heads up action he had assumed the lead from Bonomo, but another Bonomo rush saw Rast sink back down to a 3:1 deficit. The never say die attitude from Rast remained, however, as he once again began the climb back up the ladder and bring the chip stacks closer together.
The men battled valiantly, with the chip lead swinging between them, before the final hand came down. In No Limit Hold’em, Bonomo raised the bet and Rast simply made the call to see a flop of A-10-5. Rast would check-call a 350K bet from Bonomo and, after another Ace peeled off on the turn, Rast checked again. This time Bonomo fired a healthy bet of 2.2 million and, after pondering his spot, Rast made the call. A King on the river drew another check from Rast and Bonomo immediately announced all-in. Rast beat Bonomo into the pot in making the call, turning up an A-10 for a full house; Bonomo, who rivered a Broadway straight with his Q-J, could only shake Rast’s hand as he won the PPC for the second time.
1. Brian Rast, $1,296,097
2. Justin Bonomo, $801,048
3. Eric Wasserson, $545,772
4. Michael Mizrachi, $380,942
5. Wil Wilkerson, $272,558
6. Ray Dehkharghani, $200,027
A-10 for a flopped 2 pair becomes a FH on the turn (“another ace peeled off”)
So what was Bonomo’s hand on the final hand of the $50k players championship?
Hello Ian,
Thank you for pointing that out. I had reversed the hands from the two men, but the result was still the same: Rast, holding an A-10, flopped two pair and turned the boat. Bonomo rivered the Broadway straight with a Q-J.
Thanks for reading!
EB