WCOOP Day 10: Noah "Exclusive" Boeken and Mike "goleafsgoeh" Leah Capture WCOOP Gold

September 14, 2011

Three more bracelets were won on Day 10 of the 2011 PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker. Two big names were among the three — Team PokerStars Pro Noah "Exclusive" Boeken and Mike "goleafsgoeh" Leah topped the field in the $300 Mixed Hold'em and $300 Badugi, respectively. For Boeken, it was sweet redemption after final-tabling the $2,500 Mixed Hold'em event at the World Series of Poker this summer.

PokerStars WCOOP 23 - $200 No-Limit Hold’em Four-Max Two-Day ($500K Guaranteed)

Only seven players returned for Day 2 of Event #23 because the swift nature of four-max no-limit hold'em resulted in 99.7 percent of the field being eliminated on Monday. The remaining seven returned Tuesday to play for a WCOOP bracelet and a first-place prize of $77,349.

Among the Team PokerStars members who cashed but failed to survive Day 1 wereJude "j.thaddeus" Ainsworth, Mickey "mement_mori" Petersen, Anders "Donald" Berg, Javier "El_Canonero" Dominguez, Richard Toth and Randy "nanonoko" Lew. Playing in front of a large rail of supporters, Lew was eliminated in 10th place when his A♦K♥ lost to German player "Da3dalus'" Q♦Q♣. Lew collected $6,424 in prize money, and "Da3dalus" entered Day 2 as the chip leader with nearly 4 million in chips.

The early eliminations of "kekim1" and "BrightStripe" Tuesday led to an "unofficial" final table of five, per tournament rules. The short-stacked "Loverat" decided to take a stand on the bubble, holding 8♣8♦, and moved all-in with a three-bet for 724,815 in chips. "Da3dalus" called with A♠Tc} and increased his chip lead even further when the turn brought the A♥, sending the U.K native to the rail with $15,732.

That set up the "official" final table of four:

Before the four players could even congratulate each other for making a WCOOP final table, one was already out the door. On the very first hand, Belgium's "KingRakker" raised to 64,000 (blinds 15,000/30,000) from the cutoff and Sweden's "z_balata" called from the small blind. "Claypole" then moved all-in for 1,265,932 from the big blind, prompting a fold from the original raiser, but "z_balata" called and the hands were tabled:

"claypole:" A♣K♠
"z_balata:" 10♦10♠

The board brought 7♥Q♠5♣3♥8♥ and "claypole" exited in fourth place with $21,658. "Z_balata" moved up to second in chips and then moments later tangled with "Da3dalus" for the chip lead. The two players saw a flop of K♠10♥7♥ and "z_balata" called a bet of 94,763. On the 5♣ turn, "Da3dalus" checked, "z_balata" bet 175,000 and "Da3dalus" check-raised to 613,474. The Swede called and the 8♠ fell on the river. "Da3dalus" fired 1,843,212 and "z_balata" called with 10♠7♦ for two pair, successfully picking off the bluff of his opponent's Q♣9♥.

"Da3dalus" lost the lead but got some of his chips back by eliminating "KingRakker" in third place. "KingRakker" opened the button to 125,000 with 9♠8♠, "Da3dalus" three-bet to 287,416 from the small blind with A♥A♠, and "KingRakker" called. The flop came Q♦7♠6♥ and "Da3dalus" led out for 242,768. "KingRakker" moved all-in for more than 1.1 million with his straight draw and his opponent snap-called with the pair of aces. The Q♣ turn changed nothing, and the A♣ river only improved "Da3dalus'" hand and "KingRakker" was eliminated in third place for $30,153.

The tournament ended a few hands later. "Z_balata" entered the heads-up match with a sizable chip lead and put his opponent away in dramatic fashion. The two players saw a flop of 6♠4♠2♣. "Z_balata" check-called a bet of 102,463 and the 3♣ hit the turn. This time, "z_balata" led out for 200,000 and "Da3dalus" called. The 5♠ landed on the river and "z_balata" bet 800,000. "Da3dalus" moved all-in for 2,084,624, and the Swede snap-called with 8♦7♠ for the nut straight, which bested the seven-high straight of "Da3dalus." The victory gave "z_balata" a prize of $77,349 and his first WCOOP bracelet.

Notable Finishes: Randy "nanonoko" Lew (10th - $6,424), Karl "discomonky" Fenton (37th - $1,468)

PokerStars WCOOP 26 - $300 Mixed Hold’em Six-Max ($225K Guaranteed)

Dutch poker pro Noah "Exclusive" Boeken followed Anders "Donald" Berg as the second member of Team PokerStars to win a bracelet during the 2011 WCOOP by winning the mixed hold 'em six-max event on Tuesday. Boeken bested a field of 841 players, including what was arguably the toughest final table of the series thus far, to earn a payday of $44,480.

Boeken was joined at the six-handed final table by two legends of online poker. Steve "gboro780" Gross and Shaun "shaundeeb" Deeb each boast more than $5 million in online tournament winnings and added even more to that total by making deep runs in Event #26. Both moved out of the U.S. recently to resume their online poker careers — in fact, Tuesday's mixed hold'em event was Deeb's first online tournament since moving to Mexico.

Here's how the loaded final table stacked up late Tuesday evening:

Boeken began the final table with the chip lead and never lost it again. His stack continued to increase with the elimination of former SCOOP champion "Goldenboys" in sixth place. In the no-limit round, Boeken min-raised to 20,000 from under the gun with K♠K♥ and "Goldenboys," on the button, three-bet to 40,000 with A♥J♥. Boeken then four-bet all-in and his opponent called for a total of 316,128. The board ran out 7♥6♠8♦Q♣9♠ and "Goldenboys" exited with $7,569.

The next to go was Deeb, whose stack had dwindled to 70,000. In the limit round, Deeb raised to 50,000 from under the gun, and "Fulham8" three-bet to 75,000 on the button. Boeken called in the big blind and Deeb called all-in to see a flop of A♣J♣10♥. Boeken check-folded to a bet from "Fulham8," who had A♦J♠ for two pair against Deeb's K♦6♣ for a gutshot straight draw. The turn and river were no help to Deeb who hit the rail following an impressive return to PokerStars.

Moments later, Gross lost the biggest pot of the tournament en route to his elimination in fourth place. In the no-limit round, Gross raised to 31,225 (blinds 6,250/12,500) on the button and Boeken called in the small blind. The flop came A♦6♥2♣ and Boeken check-raised Gross, who called to see the 4♣ hit the turn. Boeken opted to lead out with a bet this time, firing 1,480,000, and Gross called. The river brought the 7♦ and Boeken moved all-in, having Gross covered. Gross called and Boeken tabled 2♠2♥ for a flopped set, which trumped Gross' A♣6♦ for a flopped two pair. Gross added $17,661 to his career earnings, while Boeken owned nearly two-thirds of the chips in play.

"Fulham8" couldn't get anything going during three-handed play and ultimately bowed out in third place. That left Boeken with a more than 4.5-1 chip lead over "gangst3rn1" when heads-up play began. After 49 hands, Boeken was crowned champion. On the final hand, "gangst3rn1" put the last of his chips in with K♣10♥ on a board of J♦8♦5♠8♠ during the limit round. Boeken called with K♦5♦ for a pair and a flush draw, and the Q♠ on the river sent the German player out in second place with $32,799.

An ecstatic Boeken immediately took to Twitter, saying:

Notable Finishes: Van "Sirens" Marcus (12th - $3,280), Griffin "Flush_Entity" Benger (28th - $1,337), Russ "rdcrsn" Carson (28th - $1,337), Ricky "RonaldKosh" Fohrenbach (34th - $1,135)

PokerStars WCOOP 27 - $300 Badugi ($50K Guaranteed)

There was no shortage of star power at the Event #27, $300 Badugi, final table. Mike "goleafsgoeh" Leah led the way, while Kevin "ImaLuckSac" MacPhee, "Ig123456789", and "PUCIPUCO" all made their second final tables of the 2011 WCOOP.

Andrey “Kroko-dill” Zaichenko was the first to bust, losing much of his stack to “Ig123456789.” From the big blind, Zaichenko called “Ig123456789's” cutoff raise and both drew two cards. Zaichenko check-called a bet, leading to him drawing one. “Ig123456789” stood pat and bet following Zaichenko's check. A check-raise was what Zaichenko had in mind, but “Ig123456789” reraised. Zaicheko called, both stood pat, and Zaichenko check-called his opponent's bet. “Ig123456789” tabled an 8♠5♣3♥2♣ badugi to win the pot. Zaichenko was out in the following hand.

Following Zaichenko to the rail was “spieler52”. Action went four bets predraw between “spieler52,” Kevin MacPhee, and “Ig123456789.” “Spieler52” stood pat while the others each drew one. The action got crazy from there when “spieler52” bet from the small blind, MacPhee raised from the big blind, and last to act, “Ig123456789” reraised. Another raise from “spieler52” capped the betting and of course, the other two called to reach the second draw. Only “Ig123456789” drew one this time, leading to the rest of “spieler52's” chips getting into the pot. Both MacPhee and “Ig123456789” were not going anywhere and on the third draw, “Ig123456789” once again was the only player to draw one card; the others stood pat. MacPhee bet, getting “Ig123456789” to duck out of the way. With a 6♣5♥2♠A♦ badugi, MacPhee bested “spieler52's” 7♣5♠2♦A♥ badugi to score the knockout.

Greg DeBora was felted next, getting his short stack in the middle against MacPhee and “nada123455.” By the time the third draw was dealt, DeBora was all-in and standing pat while his opponents each drew one. “Nada123455” made a Q♣5♠4♥A♦ badugi, besting DeBora's holdings to send the Canadian pro out in sixth place. Five-handed play lasted for about 40 minutes before “Ig123456789” exited in fifth place. In a battle of the blinds with Kevin MacPhee, the betting was capped predraw. Both drew one and the rest of “Ig123456789's” chips went into the middle. MacPhee stood pat on both following draws with a 7♣4♥2♦A♠ badugi while “Ig123456789” drew one on both, unable to catch up.

“PUCIPUCO” fell shortly thereafter to chip leader Mike Leah. After raising on the button, Leah called “PUCIPUCO's” small-blind reraise. “PUCIPUCO” stood pat while Leah drew two. A bet and a call later saw “PUCIPUCO” stand pat while Leah drew one this time. A bet from “PUCIPUCO” was met with another call from Leah, leading to the third draw where the same drawing went down. “PUCIPUCO” moved all-in, Leah called, and “PUCIPUCO's” K♣Q♥9♦5♠ badugi was run down by Leah's 9♠8♣7♦A♥ badugi. Six hands later Leah disposed of “nada123455” in third place. After the second draw, “nada123455's” remaining chips were in the middle. Both stood pat on the third draw with Leah's J♣10♥8♦4♠ badugi beating the K♠4♥3♦A♣ badugi tabled by “nada123455,” setting the stage for the heads-up match.

The chip counts at the start were as follows:

Kevin “ImaLuckSack” MacPhee: 480,858
Mike “goleafsgoeh” Leah: 979,142

MacPhee tried but could not overcome the deficit, and Leah won on hand #81 of the heads-up duel. A short-stacked MacPhee raised on the button, only to see Leah three-bet from the big blind. MacPhee called and after Leah drew one, opted to draw two. Leah kept the heat up with a bet, but MacPhee raised to commit most of his stack. Leah called, with both players drawing one card. Leah bet, getting MacPhee to call all-in. Each drew one again, with Leah making a 9♣6♥5♠A♦ badugi. MacPhee came up short with K♦4♦2♣A♥, clinching the WCOOP bracelet and $17,082 first-place prize for Leah.

Notable Finishes: Alex "AWice" Wice (12th - $1,752), Mike "SirWatts" Watson (13th - $1,314)

PokerStars WCOOP 28 - $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em Two-Day ($600K Guaranteed)

At stake in Event #28, a $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em Two-Day tournament, is a $206,280 first-place prize. A field of 1,146 came to play, and after 24 levels on Day 1, only 65 remain. On top of the counts heading into Day 2 is "3P3NIPA" with 426,508. Not far behind, in third place, is Christina "lindeyloo22" Lindley with 320,923. Others still in the field include Larry "BBOY3110" Sharp, Will "molswi47" Molson, Ben "delaney_kid" Delaney, Adam "Roothlus" Levy, Chris "Genius28" Lee, and Mark "AceSpades11" Radoja. Here are the top ten chip counts:

We will be providing in-depth daily recaps of all WCOOP final tables, so be sure to keep it here at PokerNews to stay up to date on all of the exciting action as it occurs.

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