Home / Poker News February 2009 / WSOP-C Council Bluffs final day report
WSOP-C Council Bluffs final day report
Posted by: James Carter. - Thu, 2009-02-26 17:11
The final table of the Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit event saw John McDonald come into the battle with a huge chip lead, thus carrying the best odds for the victory. At the end of the day however, it would be someone else picking up the $113,020 first prize and the championship bracelet.
Jesse Hale, a live multi tabler took home the gold after a grueling heads-up battle with Dennis Meierotto.
Hale’s rise to victory began with the first hand of the final day. He knocked out Jeff Daubs who had shoved all in on a pair of jacks which were thoroughly dominated by Hale’s pocket rockets. The board failed to bring a miracle card for Daubs and thus Hale managed to get off to a soaring start.
Jeff Bryan had a tough time on his final all-in move: no fewer than 3 players ganged up on him and checked the flop. Meierotto took the initiative there, and made the other two guys fold. He turned over top pair to send Bryan packing.
Jeff Banghart, who had flirted with the chip leads several times during the event, was the player to go in 7th place, followed shortly by Ari Engel in 6th.
Jesse Hale made another victim by sending Joaquin Sosa to the rail in 4th. Sosa moved all-in with his K,K but to his misfortune, Hale made the call with the only hand that had him beat: pocket Aces. The board failed to rush to his aid, and thus he too was eliminated.
Evan Panesis was bounced next by John McDonald, who succumbed to Hale in a hand in which he had his pocket Aces cracked by Hale’s two pairs.
That hand gave Jesse Hale a huge chip lead going into heads-up play, but interestingly enough that fact didn’t become a decisive factor in shortening the heads-up stage.
He and Meierotto exchanged blows for over an hour before the final hand came about. The final hand saw Hale’s A,7 hit two pairs on a board of A,J,6,K,7, to make short work of Meierotto’s 6,5. After his win, Hale registered for a PL Omaha side event as well and cashed in that one too.
