Ahmadi Wins His First Bracelet in Event 47 of the 2009 WSOP

Gambling News - June 29, 2009 - Written by Bruce

Event 47 at the 2009 WSOP was a $2500 Mixed Hold'em event with 527 entrants taking aim at the $278,804 first prize. The top 54 players made the money in this event with the final three spots netting over $100,000 each for their efforts. Some of poker's heavyweights were seated at the start of play with the likes of Barry Greenstein, Daniel Negreanu, Gavin Smith, and Erick Lindgren scattered throughout the field. Lindgren actually won this same event the year before for his first career WSOP bracelet, but unfortunately fell short of repeating and busted on day one. After the first day of play there were 67 players left shooting for a final table appearance and a chance at the coveted gold bracelet. Pokerstars Pro Barry Greenstein was the chipleader heading into day two with 177,200 chips to work with.

With only 13 players left until the money payouts there was obvious tension throughout the field as day two play began. Along with Greenstein poker titan Daniel Negreanu was among the chip leaders as play began. The money bubble lasted for fifteen grueling hands with the short stacks desperately hanging on to make the money. Amazingly Brian Devonshire, Klein Bach, and Charles Teplitz were all knocked out on the bubble each receiving $3,159 for their efforts. After the players all made it into the money, they took a twenty minute break and came back to play down to a final nine to finish off day 2 action. With everyone battling to make the final table, play was fierce and lasted into the late night hours. Finally, Lee Vlastaris busted in tenth place when his AJ came up short to Karlo Lopez's KK. Vlastaris although disappointed received $19,672 for his efforts.

The final table was set to be a great one with poker great Barry Greenstein and the newly signed Pokestars Pro Ylon Schwartz left in the field. Schwartz finished fourth in the 2008 WSOP Main Event for a cool $3,763,515 for his efforts. The players played a long drawn out final table with Vegas Pro Hasan Habib finishing in eigth and then online pro Randy Haddox going out next in seventh. They earned $30.641 and $36,084 respectively for their final table performance. Poker heavyweight Barry Greenstein's run at the bracelet came up short when he bowed out in fifth place earning $57,671 for his three days of work. Ylon Schwartz looked as if he was going to take the title dominating the chip lead for most of the final table. However the final three players ended up with very close chip stacks and Schwartz ultimately went out in third for $112,967. The heads up battle lasted all of one hand when Bahador Ahmadi made a flush to best the pocket tens of John McGuiness. McGuiness took home $172,227 for his efforts while Ahmadi took in $278.104 and won his first WSOP gold bracelet. Congratulations to Bahador Ahmadi, a deserving champion of Event 47 at the 2009 WSOP.