Zal Irani Wins World Series of Poker Circuit Horseshoe Southern Indiana for $106,103
The fourth stop on the 2013/2014 World Series of Poker Circuit schedule wrapped up its $1,675 Main Event on Monday night at the Horseshoe Southern Indiana. The tournament attracted 301 entries, and after three long days of play Zal Irani emerged victorious to capture the $106,103 first-place prize and secure a spot on the season-ending National Championship.
In addition Irani's victory, Patty Till qualified for the National Championship after winning racking up 120 points (a ring win in a $365 No-Limit Hold’em event; two fourth-place finishes; and a 10th-place finish) to capture the Casino Championship title.
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Zal Irani | $106,103 |
| 2nd | Michael Hahn | $65,603 |
| 3rd | Sean Lippel | $47,647 |
| 4th | Ryan Jones | $35,194 |
| 5th | Nick Phillips | $26,422 |
| 6th | Robert Geith | $20,150 |
| 7th | Robert Georato | $15,608 |
| 8th | Allan Vrooman | $12,272 |
| 9th | Donald Crabtree | $9,793 |
According to the WSOP live blog, final table action began in Level 22 (6,000/12,000/2,000) and the short stack, Donald Crabtree, was the first to go. It happened when he got all in for 115,000 or so holding the 4♣4♦ and was racing against the A♥10♥ of Irani. Crabtree got it in good, but he was sent packing in ninth place for $9,793 after Irani spiked a ten.
In Level 23 (8,000/16,000/2,000), Irani raised from the button and then called when Allan Vrooman moved all in for 200,000 from the big blind.
Irani: 7♠7♣
Vrooman: K♣5♣
Vrooman was behind, and things only got worse when the 8♠7♦5♦ flop delivered Irani a set. The 10♥ turn left Vrooman drawing dead, and after the A♠ was put out on the river, he made his way to the payout desk in eighth place for $12,272.
After Robert Georato, who had begun the final table as chip leader, was eliminated in seventh place for $15,608, Robert Geith followed him out the door in sixth. It happened in Level 24 (10,000/20,000/3,000) when Geith was all in preflop for approximately 330,000 holding the 9♦9♠ only to run into the A♠A♥ of Irani. The aces held after the board ran out 7♦7♣3♦Q♠6♦, and Geith took home $20,150 for his efforts.
Nick Phillips was the next to go in fifth place for $26,422 after his 9x9x fell to Sean Lippel’s QxQx, and then Ryan Jones fell to Lippel in fourth. It happened when Lippel raised to 70,000 and Jones three-bet to 160,000. Lippel responded by four-betting to 300,000 and then snap-called off for 1.425 million when Jones moved all in.
Lippel: K♣K♦
Jones: 4♦4♥
Once again Lippel held a big pocket pair, and once again it held as the board ran out Q♦9♥5♣6♦10♠. Jones was left with half a big blind and was eliminated on the very next hand.
With three players left, a controversy erupted in Level 28 (25,000/50,000/5,000). The situation began when Lippel opened for 100,000 on the button, Irani called from the big blind, and the flop fell 7♠6♦5♥. Irani bet 100,000, Lippel called, and the dealer burned and turned the 2♠. Irani check-called a bet of 175,000 and the 8♠ completed the board on the river. Irani then announced that he was all in, and Lippel uttered something that both Irani and the dealer heard as “Call.”
Lippel then flashed the J♣J♦ and Irani tabled the 9♥5♠ for a straight. That is when Lippel claimed that he had in fact said, “I can’t call.” A long argument ensued before Tournament Director Charlie Ciresi was called over to make a ruling. He declared that since both the dealer and Irani had heard “call” it would stand as such. Irani had moved all in for 1.22 million, and Lippel only had 1.2 million, which meant he was eliminated in third place for $47,647.
The heads-up match between Irani and Michael Hahn was a back-and-forth affair with each player holding the chip lead at one point or another. Eventually things came to a head in Level 30 (40,000/80,000/10,000) when Hahn, who had been crippled after Irani doubled through him, got the last of his chips all in preflop and was called by Irani.
Irani: A♦J♠
Hahn: Q♠J♥
According to the PokerNews Odds Calculator, Irani was a 71.63% favorite to win the tournament, but Hahn would come from behind 26.91% of the time. The 8♦5♣3♦ flop saw Irani’s chances jump to 87.27%, and the 3♣ turn bumped it up to 93.18%. Irani just needed to dodge a queen on the river, which would come a mere 6.82% of the time. The dealer burned for a final time and put out the 8♥. Hahn had to settle for a $63,928 consolation prize while Irani became the WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Southern Indiana champion.
The next stop on the 2013/2014 WSOP Circuit schedule will be at Horseshoe Hammond from October 17-28, 2013, and you can find an event recap right here on PokerNews.com upon its completion.
Photo courtesy of WSOP.com.
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