Thursday, July 02, 2009
WSOP event 52: Banker makes it a running double for Deutschland

2009 World Series of Poker Event 52: $3000 Triple Chance No Limit Hold’em (854 entries; 81 players paid; USD $2,357,040 prize pool)



The Germans have arrived in emphatic fashion with Jorg Peisert securing the second bracelet in as many events for the European nation. The 45-year-old banker has been playing poker for just two years and won this $3000 Triple Chance No Limit Hold’em in just his second start at the WSOP, worth $506,800.

“It’s a dream come true. I am very happy. Last year, we (Germany) won three gold bracelets. This year, we waited until the last days to win,” he said.

“I will play in the Main Event. But first I am going to take a break as I have diabetes. It is sometimes hard to concentrate over three days. But after taking a break I will come back and play in the Main Event.”

Seven of the top nine finishers were professional poker players but it was an amateur who prevailed. The runner up was Jason Dewitt, from Mishawaka, Indiana. The 25-year-old poker pro was making his second final table appearance at this year’s WSOP. He finished third in the $1500 Pot Limit Hold’em event.

Jorg Peisert started play at the final table ranked sixth in chips, out of nine players. He was never in serious danger of busting out. Peisert made a major jump in the standings when play became three-handed. By the time play was heads-up, Peisert had a sizable advantage over Dewitt before taking down the final hand with pocket nines.

Former WSOP gold bracelet finishers who cashed in this event were Max Greenwood, Mike Caro, An Tran, Patrick Bruel, Antonio Esfandiari, Donnacha O’Dea, Kathy Liebert, Ivo Donev and Nenad Medic.

Caro AKA “The Mad Genius of Poker” finished in 23rd place. The Bluff Australasia columnist is highly regarded as one of the pioneers of poker strategy and statistical research. He penned a chapter in Doyle Brunson’s classic Super/System and has written and taught about poker for more than 30 years.

Donnacha O’Dea, who finished in 26th place, was one of the first international players to start coming to the WSOP every year. He is credited as one of poker’s earliest ambassadors in Europe. O’Dea’s enthusiasm for the game helped spread Hold’em throughout England and Ireland.

Re-buy tournaments were discontinued at the WSOP this year. This “Triple Chance” format, which was introduced for two Pot Limit Omaha events last year, provides players with an equal opportunity to win, irrelevant of bankroll size or level of financial commitment.

In “Triple Chance” tournaments players are given a starting stack, plus two rebuy chips. Some players chose to re-buy for the maximum number of chips immediately, preferring a large stack from the start. Others preferred to minimise the risk of going bust by using the lammers to re-enter the tournament with a new stack.

Results: Event 52 – $3000 Triple Chance No Limit Hold’em

1 Jorg Peisert (Dusseldorf, Germany) $506,800
2 Jason Dewitt (Mishawaka, IN) $313,227
3 Benjamin Gilbert (Toronto, ON, Canada) $205,180
4 Michael Noda (Philadelphia, PA) $142,035
5 Jason Somerville (Stony Brook, NY) $103,591
6 Michael Katz (Manalapan, NJ) $79,385
7 Karga Holt (Atlanta, GA) $63,781
8 William Erickson (Clifton Park, NY) $53,622
9 Warren Watson (New Brighton, MN) $47,070

• Report by Nolan Dalla, additional reporting by Sean Callander, pic: IMPDI for the 2009 WSOP