A Few Notes About the Final Table
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.