The final table for Event #33 lasted 271 hands. It took 104 hands to reach the final two players (Alan Smurfit and Qushqar Morad), and heads-up play started shortly after 6:00 p.m. Smurfit and Morad then battled for another five hours (167 hands) before Alan Smurfit won the bracelet.
Smurfit started the day as the short stack with just 95,000 in chips, at a time when the blinds were 10,000-20,000. But he received a walk in the first hand of the night, and raised preflop in hands #3 and #8 to win the blinds. He then doubled through Chau Giang in Hand #9, and never looked back.
Morad was one card away from winning his second WSOP bracelet in Hand #135 -- the 31st hand of heads-up play. Smurfit was all in after a flop of with a pair of fives and an ace, while Morad had a pair of kings and an ace. Smurfit's only chance was to catch a five. The hit on the river, giving Smurfit renewed life in the tournament.
Alan Smurfit made the most of that opportunity, winning his first WSOP bracelet.
Hand #271 - Alan Smurfit has the button, he limps for 160,000, and Morad checks. The flop comes , Morad pot-bets 320,000, Smurfit raises to 1.12 million, and Morad calls all in. They show:
Smurfit:
Morad:
Smurfit has the lead with two pair, jacks and eights, while Morad has a pair of nines and a straight draw. Morad needs to improve to stay alive.
The turn card is -- the ! Morad hits trip sixes to take the lead, and Smurfit needs a jack or an eight on the river to win.
The river card is -- the ! Smurfit rivers a full house, eights full of jacks, to win the hand, and the tournament.
Qushqar Morad is eliminated in second place, earning $279,595.
Alan Smurfit wins Event #33 ($1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha w/Rebuys), earning $464,867, a Corum watch, and a coveted WSOP bracelet.
Hand #270 - Qushqar Morad has the button, he limps for 160,000, and Smurfit checks. The flop comes , and both players check. The turn card is the , Smurfit bets 200,000, and Morad folds. Morad takes the pot.
Hand #268 - Qushqar Morad has the button, he limps for 160,000, and Smurfit checks. The flop comes , Smufit checks, Morad bets 200,000, and Smurfit folds. Morad takes the pot.
Hand #267 - Alan Smurfit has the button, he limps for 160,000, and Morad checks. The flop comes , Morad pot-bets 320,000, and Smurfit folds. Morad takes the pot.
Hand #266 - Qushqar Morad has the button, he limps for 160,000, and Smurfit checks. The flop comes , Smurfit checks, Morad bets 320,000, and Smurfit calls. The turn card is the . Smurfit pot-bets 980,000, and Morad folds. Smurfit takes the pot.