Event 14 – Brooks wins and donates

Published on 10 Jun 08 14:17 by Drakhor

158 players signed up for the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship. The winner of the tournament is Eric Brooks. He donated his winnings of $415,856 to the Decision Education Foundation (DEF).

Unknown beats Pros
The tournament had one of the strongest line-ups of the current Series. Amongst the 158 players were countless pros. At the final table sat Erik Seidel and Vasili Lazarou - together they had gathered ten bracelets and 61 WSOP cashes. The winner was completely unknown though for now.


Brooks donates Winnings

For the amateur player Brooks it was the first bracelet, as well as the first cash and win in a major, a significant tournament. The Pennsylvanian donated his winnings to the DEF. The foundation has the goal to teach kids and adolescents independent decision-making - an ability which is also trained while playing poker.


Some Luck and lots of Skill

Before the start of the finale, Brooks said he hopes to have some luck and win. Luck he had indeed. But with luck alone a finale cannot be won. The later winner showed a considerable amount of poker skills. Brooks cleverly avoided bigger confrontations with the top players and picked his spots very carefully. Successfully, as the result proves.


Monster Pot versus Kostritsyn
In a real monster pot against Alexander Kostritsyn he was able to expand his stack to almost one million chips. At the showdown he was able to beat Kostritsyn's two pair with a full house, taking almost all of his opponent's chips. Kostritsyn had dominated the table until then, but wasn't able to get back into the game after this loss.

In the later course of the tournament it was Brooks who sent Kostritsyn to the rails on rank 3: With two pair aces and sevens he busted Kostritsyn's two pair – kings and fours.

Heads-Up against Wong
Fu Wong went into the finale of the last two as chip leader and was also able to extend his lead at first. Within two hands though, the tables were turned. Brooks was able to get the chip lead with two big pots.

In the first hand, Wong represented a strong hand with the board in front of him being , but Brooks called him down with () (). The two pair held up, Brooks was back into the game.
In the following hand there was quite some action: Brooks bet on fourth street, Wong raised, and Brooks called. On fifth street, Wong made a conti-bet, Brooks raised, and Wong called. On sixth street it was Brooks who made a conti-bet, Wong raised, and Brooks called. On seventh street, Wong bet again. Brooks only called, showing a pair of kings - enough to take the pot and establish a clear chip lead. Nice read.

The last Hand
About 30 minutes later it had finally been done. On fourth street, Wong called a raise from Brooks for the all-in. The further streets gave Brooks the runner-runner flush, and the tournament was decided: Brooks held () (), Wong had () ().


WSOP 2008 Event 14
$10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship
Rank
 Name
 Prize money
1
 Eric Brooks
 $415,856
2
 Fu Wong
 $259,910
3
 Alexander Kostritsyn
 $163,372
4
 Minh Ly
 $118,816
5
 Erik Seidel
 $92,825
6
 Jim Paluszek
 $74,260
7
 David Oppenheim
 $59,408
8
 Vassilios Lazarou
 $48,269