Two hands in a row saw John Kabbaj increase his lead significantly. In the first one he completed with the showing and then bet fourth, fourth and fifth to enforce a fold from his opponent on fifth.
Kabbaj then completed with the showing and three bet to 120,000 after the raise of Thomas Keller. Kabbaj called the 40,000 on fourth and then led fifth, sixth and seventh for 80,000 each. Keller called with an ace showing and ultimately had a pair of kings.
Keller: /
Kabbaj: /
The two pair of Kabbaj scooped the whole pot in the very last hand of level 27.
John Kabbaj brought it in with the and then called when Thomas Keller completed to 50,000. Kabbaj then check-called a bet on fourth before leading out on fifth. Keller called and then bet on sixth when Kabbaj check. Kabbaj announced a check-raise to 200,000, Keller called, and it was off to seventh.
John Kabbaj completed to 50,000 and called the three bet to 100,000 with the showing. Him and Thomas Keller got all single bets until fifth in and Keller only had 35,000 left, Kabbaj put him all in and Keller called off.
The 2014 World Series of Poker Event #25: $2,500 Omaha/Seven-Card Stud Hi-Low began with 470 players, but after 28 levels of play it was England’s John Kabbaj that emerged as the last man standing. Kabbaj, who won the 2009 WSOP Event #45 $10,000 World Championship Pot-Limit Hold’em for $633,335, captured his second gold bracelet and a $267,327 first-place prize.
The third and final day saw 18 players return to action, and it didn’t take long for the field to be cut in half. Within the first four hours nine players hit the rail including Matt Glantz (18th - $7,784), who was the short stack at the start of play; Michael Roeseler (17th - $7,784); WSOP bracelet winners Konstantin Puchkov (16th - $9,462), Owais Ahmed (15th - $9,462), Allyn Jaffrey Shulman (14th - $11,676), and Robert Mizrachi (13th - $11,676); seven-time WSOP Circuit ring winner Chris Reslock (12th - $14,605); online pro Andrey “gigaloff” Zhigalov (11th - $14,605); and the Day 1 chip leader Fu Wong (10th - $18,519).
The final nine players combined to the unofficial final table, and then that bubble burst in Level 24. It happened in stud hi-lo when Joe Tehan completed for 20,000 and Marks called. Erik Seidel raised to 40,000 and both opponents called. On fourth, Seidel bet 40,000 and Tehan called. Marks moved all in for another 24,000 and both opponents called. Sixth and seventh were completed and the players turned over their cards.
Tehan: / /
Marks: / /
Seidel: / /
Seidel had a six-high straight and low draw but could not get there. Marks was hoping for the low as well, but ultimately failed. Tehan scooped the pot with two pair and entered the official final table as the chip leader.
From there, Tom Schneider and Mike Leah bowed out in eighth and seventh place respectively after an active round of Omaha hi-low, and then Seidel followed them out the door in fifth after getting it in against Thomas “Thunder” Keller in a hand of stud hi-low.
Kabbaj began heads-up play with a more than 2-1 chip lead over Keller, and it didn’t take long for him to seal the deal. Kabbaj won two big stud hi-low hands to cripple Keller and then finished him off in a hand of O8.
Congratulations to John Kabbaj on winning Event #25: $2,500 Omaha/Seven-Card Stud Hi-Low for his second gold bracelet and $267,327 in prize money.