David Bach Wins Event 49 of 2009 WSOP, Earning a Spot in Poker History

Poker News - July 2, 2009 - Written by Bonnie

Long hours of play would be a understatement when describing event 49 of the 2009 WSOP, the H.O.R.S.E. World Championship Tournament. What seemed to be a never ending final table has come to an end and we now have a new champion. The journey to the final table was a long one indeed, but the results for one player could not of come off any better. The first few days of this tournament, separated the great, from the best. It wasn't until we had a final table, that the serious poker playing would begin. Barely earning his spot at the final table was poker player Ville Wahlberk who came in with the lowest stack of chips, nearly half less than chip leader Erik Sagstrom. It was none other than poker player Erik Seidel who would be the first player to leave the final table, followed almost immediately by Chau Giang. Wahlbeck is no strangers to final tables at this years events. Wahlbeck leave this tournament, and his fourth final table appearance, in 6th place which earned him a payday of $219,655.

One by one the players continued to fall. First Huck Seed leaving in 5th, Vitaly Lunkin in fourth, followed by 3rd place Erik Sagstrom, which left David Bach and John Hanson to battle it out in the final heads up match. Both players starting the final match up nearly even in chips, play went on for a grueling 7 hours passing the lead back in fourth the entire time. After one of the most lingering final table in the history of World Series of Poker, David Bach is left the last man standing and is named H.O.R.S.E. World Champion after a 7 hour heads up match against John Hanson. Only 95 players showed up for this $50,000 buy in tournament and among those players were some of the worlds greatest all around poker players. Although Bach was among the best of the best, he stood strong and outlasted 94 other players, 20 hours at the final table, 492 hands, and a 7 hour battle to the finish. Today's win earned him a payday of $1,276, 802 , a Chip Reese Memorial Trophy, and the much deserved respect of his fellow poker players. Not only did this win make him a memorable figure in poker history, he is now considered a pro of long-form poker by managing to remain a competitor throughout a protracted final table.