WSOP 2008 Event 48 - Alexandre Gomes wins his first WSOP bracelet

Monday, June 30, 2008 | Francis Lee

A big field of 2,317 players turned out to start the $2,000 no limit hold’em tournament, the 48th at this years World Series of Poker 2008. The total prize pool for this event rose to $4,634,000 with the first place prize amount set at $770,540.

Just 198 players survived the first days play, meaning only just 10% of the original field remained. The bubble burst late in day one, so everyone returning for day two was guaranteed to cash in. This lead to a wave of eliminations early on the scond day as the field played down to just the nine finalists. It took a total of 15 hours to complete day two and the final table official chip rankings looked as follows.

Final Table Chip Rankings

• 1st Marco Johnson $2,135,000
• 2nd Gabe Costner $1,475,000
• 3rd Kirill Gerasimov $1,145,000
• 4th Alexandre Gomes $1,075,000
• 5th Robert Brewer $1,050,000
• 6th Alan Cutler $710,000
• 7th Sverre Sundbo $685,000
• 8th Daniel Rome $650,000
• 9th Ryan D’Angelo $520,000

The first elimination on the final table came when the two short stacks clashed with Daniel Rome trying to take down the blinds, going All In with Ryan D’Angelo called from the big blind with pocket Aces and also had Rome covered in chips. No surprises came out as the Aces held up leaving Rome to head for the rail in 9th place.

We had to wait for an hour before the next elimination came about and when it did we had two players head for the rail within a 5 minute period. First of all Gabe Costner got the last of his chips in with and found himself dominated by Robert Brewer with The ten kicker proved decisive as neither player hit any piece of the board. Then moments later Sverre Sundbo moved All In with for just under $1 million in chips which was called by Ryan D’Angelo with in a dominant position. D’Angelo paired his Ace on the Flop and Sundbo was drawing dead by the time we got down to the River.

The next two eliminations again came one after another, when Kirill Gerasimov’s pocket Jacks were bettered by D’Angelo with again. This time Gerasimov was leading right down to the River card only to see D’Angelo pair an Ace. Then Alan Cutler’s elimination into 5th place was decided on the back of two very cruel hands. On the first he hit two pair on the Flop showing with against Alexandre Gomes with Gomes went on to hit runner – runner Sixes on the Turn and River to win the pot. On the very next hand Cutler went in for the rest of his chips with pocket Queens against Marco Johnson with pocket Fives. Johnson hit a set on the Flop sending Cutler to the rail.

D’Angelo continued his good run as he eliminated Robert Brewer out into 4th place. All the chips went in after the first four cards came down with Brewer having looking for a flush and straight draw and D’Angelo in the lead with pocket Kings. The completed the board sending brewer to the rail to collect $274,101 in prize money.

This was where D’Angelo’s luck ended during three handed play when going All In on a coin flip situation with Gomes. Gomes held the lead with pocket Nines against and furthered his grip on the hand, as the Flop gave him a set. D’Angelo was drawing dead after the hit on the Turn and collected the $326,812 third place prize.

This win put Gomes on $6.7 million in chips, almost treble of Marco Johnson’s $2.5 million chip stack. Heads up play lasted for nearly two hours where Gomes chipped away at Johnson. Johnson tried to make a stand with only to find Gomes sitting on The final board confirmed Gomes as the winner of the event as it came down This win pocketed Gomes $770,540 and his first WSOP bracelet.

WSOP 2008 Event 48 Final Standings

• 1st Alexandre Gomes $770,540
• 2nd Marco Johnson $491,273
• 3rd Ryan D’Angelo $326,812
• 4th Robert Brewer $274,101
• 5th Alan Cutler $223,497
• 6th Kirill Gerasimov $177,111
• 7th Sverre Sundbo $134,942
• 8th Gabe Costner $103,315
• 9th Dan Rome $71,687

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