Sam Trickett runner-up in Event #17

Poker News / Matthew Pitt / 12 June 2010 / Leave a Comment

Sam Trickett in action during Event #17

UK pro Sam Trickett became the second British player to narrowly miss out on a World Series of Poker bracelet in a week after he finished second in Event #17, the $5,000 No-limit Hold'em event.

In what has been a week of mixed emotion for the British contingent, with Praz Bansi and James Dempsey both winning bracelets whilst Neil Channing and Stuart Rutter falling at the final hurdle of Event #6 finishing second and third respectively.

The event attracted 792 players, meaning 72 places were paid between $10,497 and $818,959 and some of poker's big names made the money. Former Betfair pro Annette Obrestad finished in 72nd place, her first cash on American soil, British pros James Dempsey and Stuart Rutter busted in 69th and 61st whilst Phil Hellmuth made it to 50th before losing all his chips.

The final table was one of the toughest ever assembled at the WSOP and contained the likes of Jeff "Yellowsub86" Williams, Brunson 10 member Amit Makhija, David "Raptor" Benefield and a second Brit in the shape of Yorkshireman Paul Foltyn.

Foltyn's amazing run came to an end in eighth place when he attempted a squeeze play only to run into a pair of Aces! Jason Dewitt opened to 90,000, Peter Gilmore flat-called and Foltyn moved all-in for 650,000 in the hijack seat only to see Dewitt re-shove over the top of him. The 5c5h of Foltyn needed a lot of help against the AsAd of Dewitt but it did not arrive on a board reading Ks4d7h4c6s and Foltyn took home $79,957 for his efforts.

Slowly but surely the final table shrunk in numbers including James Carroll, who finished in seventh place, who was so unlucky to run pocket kings into Jeff Williams' pocket Aces! By the time the tournament got to the heads-up stage Sam Trickett's army of ever so slightly drunken fans were praying he could turn around the chip deficit to beat Jason Dewitt.

Despite staging a heroic comeback, Trickett just did not have that extra bit of luck required to win a large-field tournament. In the final hand Dewitt moved all-in from the button holding Td8h and Trickett looked at his cards, found he had been dealt As7d and quickly called.

An eight was the first card out on a 8d6d5c board, meaning Trickett needed an Ace, four or nine to win. It did not arrive on the turn, which was the 6c and when the river fell 5h Trickett's fate was sealed and he finished as runner-up. His friends rushed to console the talented former professional footballer but he will wake up today with 505,725 reasons to be cheerful.

Jason Dewitt was born in Indiana but now lives in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a 26-year old pro who now has seven WSOP cashes to his name, including at least one in each of the last five years at the series. With this massive $818,959 pay day, Dewitt's live tournament earnings have swelled to $1,507,706. Dewitt now has his sights firmly set on winning bracelet number two saying, "I will go for two now. The next one will be on Saturday ($1,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold'em)"

Event #17 final table results

1.) Jason Dewitt - $818,959
2.) Sam Trickett - $505,725
3.) Jeff Williams - $328,762
4.) Peter Gilmore - $241,472
5.) Amit Makhija - $179,866
6.) David Benefield - $135,718
7.) James Carroll - $103,594
8.) Paul Foltyn - $79,957
9.) Manelik Minaya - $62,350