WSOP Event #49: David Bach Is The $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Champion

The 4th instalment of the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship started off with 95 and we were down to the final table in Day 5. In one of the most eagerly anticipated final table showdowns in the WSOP, 8 players fought it out for the nearly $1.3 million prize money, a WSOP bracelet, the Chip Reese Memorial Trophy, and most importantly the bragging rights as the best all-round poker player in WSOP 2009.

After a gruelling final table marathon that lasted for 20 hours, David Bach beat John Hanson to take down the title. Bach will now join the likes of the late Chip Reese (pictured left), Freddy Deeb and Scotty Nguyen as the winner of the WSOP Players' Championship 2009. Bach's win did not come easily as he had to battle through a very tough field which included the likes of Gus Hansen, Phil Ivey, Johnny Chan, Daniel Negreanu and Scotty Nguyen.

Erik Sagstrom was the last of the three European players to be knocked out of the final table. In the hand (Omaha Eight) that took him out, all three remaining players saw the flop that came . Hanson led-out after play was checked to him. Sagstrom then moved all-in for another 75,000. Hanson reraised and Bach called.

The turn came and Bach check-called another bet from Hanson. came on the river and both players checked. Hanson showed (X)(X) to

Photo credit: IMPDI for 2009 WSOP

scoop the pot with kings and eights as both Bach and Sagstrom mucked. Sagstrom went out in 3rd place and took home $522,393.

Heads-up play began with both Bach and Hanson dead even at almost 7.1million chips each. As play progressed, both players took turns to assume the chip lead. After about 20 hours on the final table, they broke the record for the most hands played in a WSOP final table as the 485th hand was dealt.

David Bach raised from the button and Hanson called. The flop (Omaha Eight) came , Hanson bet and then called the raise from Bach. The turn and river were and respectively. Bach went into the tank for some time before betting out, and Hanson gave it up. The hand left him crippled with just 885,000 chips.

A little later, it was all over. (Razz) Hanson ()()() went all in as he called Bach's bet on fourth street. Bach ()()() was well in the lead then. He paired up, on the fifth as Hanson made a Jack low.

On sixth street, Hanson did not improve as Bach made a Queen low. A deuce came on the river for Hanson improving him to a Nine-Eight low. Bach needed a Nine or lower to seal the deal, and the gave him the hard fought and deserved win.