FTOPS XI Event #9, $500+35 NL Hold'em Heads-Up: 'Luie Sojo' Victorious

Mickey Doft Live Reporter

Feb 09, 2009 3 min read

FTOPS XI Event #9, $500+35 NL Hold'em Heads-Up: 'Luie Sojo' Victorious 0001

Event #9 of the eleventh Full Tilt Online Poker Series (FTOPS XI) was a $500+35 no-limit hold'em heads-up special. 1,332 participants entered to create a total prize pool of $666,000, with the winner taking home $115,884. Notable showings included those of Christian "charder30" Harder in 14th spot ($9,990), Dan "Wretchy" Martin in 15th ($9,990), Johan "busto_soon" Van Til in 16th ($9,990), Ryan Daut in 18th ($5,328), Carter "ckingusc" King in 23rd ($5,328), Mike "SowersUNCC" Sowers in 26th ($5,328) and Chad "jse81" Batista in 31st ($5,328).

The remaining players started their matches with 3,000 in chips, with these the Elite Eight matchups:

Cappruccio816 vs. Jake "Plz_Stop_Lookin" Nelson

Mario "Pokerccini" Puccini vs. Luie Sojo

yahueyu vs. Casey "bigdogpckt5s" Jarzabek

William "hickey987" Hickey vs. rivercrime

Elite Eight

Jake "Plz_Stop_Lookin" Nelson defeats Cappruccio816

Jake "Plz_Stop_Lookin" Nelson took it down at the 20/40 level. Cappruccio816 opened to 120 and Nelson called, bringing a 6♠4♠10♣ flop. Cappruccio816 200, Nelson check-raised to 600, and Cappruccio816 shoved for 2,245. Nelson called with K♣10♠ and led Cappruccio816's 9♥9♣. The turn and river came J♦2♥ as Cappruccio816 collected $18,648 for finishing in eighth place.

Luie Sojo defeats Mario "Pokerccini" Puccini

Luie Sojo got the best of Mario Puccini at 30/60. Holding a 3:1 chip lead, Luie Sojo min-raised to 120 and Mario Puccini shoved for 1,205. Luie Sojo called with A♠J♣, to lead Puccini's A♦9♠. The board ran out 7♣10♦J♠10♠9♣ and Mario "Pokerccini" Puccini was out in seventh place for $18,648.

Casey "bigdogpckt5s" Jarzabek defeats yahueyu

In a back-and-forth match, Jarzabek emerged victorious at 40/80. Jarzabek took a 5:1 chip lead at one point, but yahueyu clawed back to nearly square the match. On the final hand, Jarzabek raised to 190 and yahueyu called. The flop came 4♦6♥2♥ and yahueyu check-called Jarzabek's 200 bet. The K♣ landed on the turn, and this time yahueyu check-raised all in for 2,555 after Jarzabek bet 455. Casey quickly called with K♥6♠, which led yahueyu's 8♥7♥. The river was the 10♣ and yahueyu finished in sixth place for $18,648.

rivercrime defeats William "hickey987" Hickey

The match went to rivercrime when, on the final hand, William Hickey's 8♦7♦ came up short against rivercrime's Q♣9♥. The board came K♥6♦J♥4♠6♠ and William "hickey987" Hickey finished fifth for $18,648.

Final Four

Jake "Plz_Stop_Lookin" Nelson defeats Casey "bigdogpckt5s" Jarzabek

Jake Nelson notched the victory at 15/30. Casey Jarzabek opened to 70 and Nelson popped it to 210. Jarzabek called and the flop came 5♥2♥10♥. Nelson led out 270 and Jarzabek raised to 740. Nelson wasted little time before going all in and was called by Jarzabek, who held top two pair with 10♠5♠. However, Nelson tabled TcTd for top set. The turn and river came 9♣Q♦ as Casey "bigdogpckt5s" Jarzabek took fourth place for $35,298.

Luie Sojo defeats rivercrime

Luie Sojo had built a 3:1 lead by the 15/30 level. In the final hand, he opened to 90. Rivercrime re-raised to 270 and was called. The flop came J♥A♦K♣ and rivercrime checked to Luie Sojo, who bet 300, only to see rivercrime go all in. After a few seconds Luie Sojo called with A♣10♣, but it trailed rivercrime's A♠Q♥. Everything changed when the Q♠ landed on the turn to give Luie Sojo a straight. Rivercrime's redraw ace or queen failed to appear, but the J♠ hit the river instead. The third-place finish earned rivercrime $35,298.

Championship Match:

Luie Sojo defeats Jake "Plz_Stop_Lookin" Nelson

Luie Sojo built up an early 2:1 chip lead at the 25/50 level before finishing off the win. First to act, Luie Sojo raised to 150 and Jake "Plz_Stop_Lookin" Nelson went all in for 1,815 holding 8♦8♣. Luie Sojo called instantly with K♥K♦ and won the tournament when the board ran out 4♥10♠10♣6♦7♦. Jake "Plz_Stop_Lookin" Nelson finished as runner-up and took home $69,264, with Luie Sojo claiming $115,884 for winning FTOPS Event #9.