Poker Tournament Results

Legends of Poker / WPT Event Season 8

Hosni Boudargham

Tournament Report

Takes Down the 2009 Legends of Poker Event #12 – $335 NLH Tournament The 2009 Legends of Poker had its twelfth overall event at the Bicycle Casino’s Events Center and the $335 Buy-in No Limit Hold’em tournament’s final table was a very relaxed and jovial one. The 2-day event began with a total of 258 players and a prize pool of $94,178. In addition to a first prize of $30,000 the winner also received a championship ring and a $10K seat at the WPT tournament to be held at the end of the month. Final table play began at level 17 with blinds at 6K-12K with a $2K ante. Souren Ohanian entered the final table as the chip leader holding $690,000 of the $3,938,000 chips in play. On just the 9th hand Hoshi Bardargham raised in late position to a total of $60K, Jay Fishman would then re-raise for $116K more from the big blind and Hoshi called. The rainbow flop came 5-7-10 and when Jay decided to push all-in he was immediately called by Hoshi who turned up his pocket J’s while Jay turned over his A-10. The K on the turn and the 7 on the river did not improve Jay’s hand and he was out in 10th place taking home $1,175. Our next elimination came on the 25th hands at level 19 with antes of $3K and blinds at $10K/$20K. Ronen Danan had been the short stack coming in and had been unable to gain any traction at the final table. Ronen pushed all-in from middle position with A-10 and was called by Hoshi Bardargham who was in the big blind with A-Q. The advantage stayed with Hoshi as the board came 5-8-7-9-3 and Hoshi’s Ace with Queen kicker was enough to eliminate Ronen in 9th earning him $1,410. Two hands later Tong Le raised under the gun for $60K total and was re-raised $125K more by Mark Bryan leaving Mark with $9K behind. Tong deliberated for some time and then pushed all-in and after Mark called he turned up his pocket 9’s while Tong showed his A-8. Any relief that Mark may have felt before the flop was gone when an Ace appeared in the window. The flop came A-7-7 and the 4 on the turn and a Q on the river was unable to help Mark who left the tournament in 8th place worth $1,880. On the very next hand we had yet another player knocked out of the tournament. On the 28th hand Souren Ohanian raised a total of $70K under the gun with A-K and was re-raised all-in by a total of $103K by Mark Roguel holding pocket 5’s. Souren made a quick call and the flop came J-4-Q giving Souren a straight draw to go along with his two overcards. Mark’s pocket 5’s were still in the lead after a 7 on the turn, but the A on the river was Mark’s undoing giving Souren a pair of Ace’s over Mark’s pocket 5’s and he was knocked out in 7th place earning $2,350. The remaining 6 players discussed a chip count and after the staff ran the numbers the players were in agreement to a deal. Play continued in order to determine who would receive the WPT seat, the title, and the championship ring. On the 47th hand Souren Ohanian raised under the gun for $50K and was called by Russell Higa and Adam Weinraub, a former WPT season 5 winner. The rainbow flop came 7-8-6 and Souren pushed all-in and was called by Russell. After Adam folded the two remaining players turned their cards up. Souren was holding A-3 suited while Russell held pocket 7’s giving him trip 7’s. The 4 of clubs on the turn gave Souren a flush draw but that draw did not come when the 10 of hearts hit the river. Souren was eliminated in 6th place. On the 53rd hand Russell Higa found himself calling all-in after the A-4-5 flop with A-6 giving him top pair, but Tong Le turned up his 2-3 suited giving Tong a five high straight for the wheel. The 8 on the turn and 2 on the river finished the hand and ended the day for Russell who went out in 5th place. Seven hands later Tong Le raised under the gun with A-8 and was re-raised by Daniel Auzenne who pushed all-in with 8-7 suited. After Tong called the rainbow flop came 2-3-Q and with the Q on the turn and 5 on the river Tong’s Ace high was good enough to eliminate Daniel in 4th place. On the 69th hand Hoshi Bardargham called in the small blind with 4-5 suited while Adam Weinraub checked his big blind with 8-2. The flop came 4-5-10 giving Hoshi two pair but the action was checked around as the players awaited the turn. After a 2 hit the turn and Hoshi again checked his two pair Adam decided to push all-in. Hoshi made an immediate call and with both players turning up their cards the situation looked grim for Adam, the Q on the river could not improve Adam’s hand and he was eliminated in 3rd place. The heads-up match lasted for thirty hands with the final hand occurring on the 99th dealt. The players were all in before the flop with Hoshi Bardargham holding the A-6 and Tong Le holding pocket 8’s. Tong’s early advantage continued as the flop came 2-K-J but with all spades on the board and Hoshi’s holding the Ace of spades that advantage was short lived. The 8 of spades hit the turn giving Hoshi the Ace high flush but Tong still had a re-draw with his trip 8’s and if the board could pair Tong would get a full house or quad 8’s. The 3 of spades on the river did not pair the board however and Tong was eliminated in 2nd place while Hoshi won the twelfth event of this year’s Legends of Poker earning him first place, a championship ring, and a seat at the WPT later this month worth $10K. -- Matt Snodgrass BIOGRAPHY Hoshi Bardargham has been playing for twelve years and has come to prefer no limit hold’em over other games and tournaments over cash games. His chip count put him in the middle of the field and Hoshi’s strategy coming into the final table was to wait while the players picked each other off. He said that after his first all-in with his pocket J’s holding up against Jay Fishman’s A-10 that all following decisions were fairly easy with him either calling all-in or pushing all-in with the best hand.