Event 7 - $1,650 Bounty Feature Event | 2009 Aussie Millions

Event 7 - $1,650 Bounty Feature Event

Day 2 Completed

01-18-2009 03:36 UTC+11

Congratulations to Saidal Wardak, Champion of Event #7! (AU$151,200)

[user75032]

It was a thrilling end to a thrilling tournament, but there could only be one winner. That winner is Saidal Wardak. Wardak played very patient poker at the final table, picking his spots carefully. Once he made it to heads-up play, he concentrated on small ball, waiting for his opponent, Ben Delaney, to make a mistake. The pivotal hand was not so much a mistake as a wicked cooler -- Delaney turned a five-high straight with the same card that made Wardak a six-high straight. From there, Wardak used his stack to beat Delaney into submission.

In addition to the AU$151,200 first prize, Wardak picked up an extra AU$1,000 for eliminating Delaney. Delaney was one of forty-five "bounty" players that were sprinkled throughout the starting tables of this tournament. We figure his mates probably spent at least that much on the champagne that they pre-ordered once the match was heads up, but we can't see how Wardak could mind. They provided him with an amazing dose of enthusiastic encouragement throughout the final table.

Congratulations once again to Saidal Wardak on a well-earned victory. We're sure the celebration tonight will be one that will never be spoken of again.

That's it for tonight from the Crown Poker Room. Tomorrow brings the final table of the $100,500 No-Limit Hold'em Challenge and the first Day 1 flight of the eagerly anticipated and long awaited 2009 Aussie Millions $10,500 Main Event. It'll be a great day of poker and we hope you join us then.

Tags: Ben Delaney Saidal Wardak

01-18-2009 03:24 UTC+11

Ben Delaney Eliminated in 2nd Place (AU$110,250); Saidal Wardak Wins Event #7!

[user75032]

The final hand was the one every poker player dreams about. Saidal Wardak limped in from the button, only to watch Ben Delaney move all in for roughly 250,000. Wardak double-fist-pump-snap-called with {A-Hearts}

, leaping out of his seat as he did so. Delaney turned over {10-Clubs}

. He completely whiffed on the flop, {K-Clubs}

. The turn gave a small sweat to Wardak's supporters, as it was the {7-Diamonds}

to give Delaney a pair of sevens. But at the end, it was all Wardak. The river was the {A-Diamonds}

to give him a set of aces and finally end this epic struggle.

Delaney was crestfallen, but walks away from the tournament with AU$110,250. That's not a bad check for two days of work.

Tags: Ben Delaney Saidal Wardak

01-18-2009 03:19 UTC+11

Wardak Shoves His Way Back to 2MM

[user75032]

Ben Delaney raised to 40,000. Saidal Wardak called. The flop came {K-Diamonds}

, with Wardak check-calling a bet of 50,000. He checked again on the {6-Diamonds}

turn, then shoved when Delaney bet 120,000. Delaney quickly folded.

Tags: Ben Delaney Saidal Wardak

01-18-2009 03:16 UTC+11

Delaney, Down for the Eight-Count, Gets Up Off the Mat

[user75032]

Another exciting hand had the rail riveted to the secondary feature table. Saidal Wardak opened for 60,000 before Ben Delaney moved all in for 220,000. Wardak called!

Delaney: {A-Clubs}

Wardak:

Both players hit the {A-Hearts}

flop. Delaney made two pair; Wardak made a small flush draw. His mates were all shouting for a heart and were elated to see the {4-Hearts}

hit the turn. It wasn't over, though. Delaney still had four outs on the river, and wouldn't you know, he hit one -- the {A-Diamonds}

-- drawing roars from Delaney's own supporters.

As a result, play goes on. Delaney now has almost 500,000 chips.

Tags: Ben Delaney Saidal Wardak

01-18-2009 03:13 UTC+11

Delaney

[user75032]

"What's your user name?" Saidal Wardak asked Ben Delaney.

Delaney looked a bit embarrased. "Crusher," he responded. Delaney's railbirds then shouted out "CNT_CRUSHER!"

"What's that?" Wardak said, not hearing the response.

"Cee Enn Tee Crusher," the railbirds said. It took Wardak a second, but he got it.

"Oh isn't that nice," he quipped sarcastically, looking directly at PokerNews video presenter Annette Melton.

01-18-2009 03:10 UTC+11

The Gloves are Off!

[user75032]

Just, WOW. An absolutely huge hand for Saidal Wardak. He called a button raise to 50,000 from Ben Delaney to see a flop of {J-Spades}

. Both players checked. On the turn {2-Spades}

, all hell broke loose.

Wardak led out for 75,000. Delaney quickly raised to 200,000, with Wardak just as quickly moving all in for about 975,000 total. Delaney snap-called, excitedly slamming down {A-Diamonds}

for the turned wheel. Wardak stared at him with the intensity of someone who's been downing Red Bull for the last six hours, then slammed down {5-Clubs}

for a six-high straight!

The roars from Wardak's crew were loud enough to bring half of the Crown Poker Room running to the table. Delaney was stunned; not only was his monster second-best, he was drawing dead. A pumped Wardak ran up and down the rail, high-fiving all of the members of his crew.

Wardak is now the chip leader, with about 2.0 million in chips. Delaney is struggling with roughly 250,000!

Tags: Ben Delaney Saidal Wardak

01-18-2009 03:02 UTC+11

Party's Over

[user75032]

The Jim Beam Party Crew has finally been cleared from the rail behind Ben Delaney. We're not sure which straw broke the camel's back. We did note that just before they were asked to clear out by a floor supervisor, a few women in short dresses joined them.

01-18-2009 03:00 UTC+11

Wardak Gets a Little Frisky

[user75032]

Saidal Wardak opened the betting with a raise to 55,000. Ben Delaney responded by three-betting to 150,000. Wardak immediately moved all in for roughly 700,000. The bet seemed to shock and confuse Delaney. He raised his eyebrows in surprise, then quickly mucked his hand.

Wardak grinned delightedly, showing {K-Diamonds}

as he dragged the pot.

"Please keep doing that," said Delaney.

"Don't worry," replied Wardak. "Next time I'll have aces."

Tags: Ben Delaney Saidal Wardak