2009 World Series of Poker

Wow! What a finish to Event 35. Who could have seen it coming? We have to imagine that not even Richard Austin saw it coming. After playing small ball with Cliff Josephy and Sorel Mizzi for most of the day, all hell broke loose and Austin managed to knock out both of his opponents during a single hand after each player put in almost one million chips before the flop!

We shouldn't take anything away from Richard Austin. He played marvelous poker the whole day, keeping pots small when he needed to and using position to chip up without frequently going to showdown. It's a good day when you can win a tournament without having to show down most of your winners.

A good word is in order for Cliff Josephy and Sorel Mizzi as well. Both got very unlucky in the final hand -- Mizzi's aces being outflopped by Josephy's kings; and Josephy's set of kings losing to Austin's gutshot and flush draw combination.

A confused member of the media who stepped away from the table for a few minutes returned to see the stage clear. "What the hell happened?" he asked, and we could excuse him for his confusion. Sorel Mizzi and Cliff Josephy probably feel the same way.

For his win, Richard Austin will bank $409,484 and a 2009 WSOP gold bracelet. Congratulations Richard!

Richard Austin called from the button, Sorel Mizzi completed from the small blind and Cliff Josephy raised to 150,000 from the big blind. Austin called and Mizzi unexpectedly reraised pot to 750,000.

Cliff "JohnnyBax" Josephy moved all in for 195,000 more.

Austin then goes into the tank for a minute before flat calling. After confirming that he could not reraise, Mizzi also called the all in.

The board came and Mizzi moved all in for 680,000. Austin called.

Mizzi: (an overpair with aces)
Josephy: (flopped top set with a backdoor diamond draw)
Austin: (baby flush draw and a gutshot)

The turn is a blank with the

River:

The river gave Austin a flush and the pot to eliminate both Cliff Josephy (3rd) and Sorel Mizzi (2nd).

With the double elimination, Richard Austin takes down the $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha title.

We fast forward the action between Richard Austin and Cliff Josephy to the turn. With the board showing , Austin bet 250,000. Josephy called to the river , where Austin made a sizable bet of 400,000 that Josephy decided he couldn't call.

Another pot was pushed in Austin's direction.

Sorel Mizzi raised the pot preflop to 100,000 and got calls from both of his opponents, Cliff Josephy and Richard Austin. Action checked all the way to the river on a board of . Josephy checked again, but this time Austin bet 200,000. That bet produced two folds and a win for Austin.

Given all of the small-ball poker we've seen over the course of the last few hours, we were very surprised to see Cliff Josephy raise his button to 150,000. We were even more surprised to see Richard Austin and Sorel Mizzi both called.

The flop seemed to show some promise for action but checked all the way through. The turn checked all the way through as well.

On eht river , Austin took a shot at the pot with a bet of 300,000. Mizzi tanked for about forty seconds before folding. Josephy then quickly moved all in. Austin just as quickly folded.

Cliff Josephy raised to 150,000 from the button and Sorel Mizzi called from the big blind.

and both players checked. The turn brough the and they check again. The river paired the board with the . Sorel checked and Josephy bet a miniscule 50,000. Sorel called.

Josephy showed for aces up and takes the pot.

Sorel Mizzi limped into the pot from the button, Cliff Josephy called from the small blind and Richard Austin checked the big blind.

The flop came . Josephy lead out for 50,000, Austin folded and Mizzi called. The turn brought the and Josephy bet again, this time for 150,000. Mizzi called.

The river brought the and both checked it down.

Mizzi showed giving Mizzi a full house and the pot.

Sorel Mizzi limped into the pot preflop from the small blind, then called a raise to 150,000 by big blind Cliff Josephy. The flop did not look like an action flop -- . Mizzi checked to Josephy, who led out for 225,000.

Mizzi eyed the bet carefully, then announced that he was raising the size of the pot -- 975,000! That raise put Josephy into the tank for well over a minute. He could be seen talking to himself and shaking his head slightly. He finally mucked his hand.

Cliff Josephy limped in from the small blind before Richard Austin raised the big blind to 150,000. Josephy quickly called.

After both players checked the flop, Josephy led out for 200,000 on the turn. Austin couldn't fold fast enough.