Unlike the focal point of the popular Rolling Stone’s number, this guy certainly requires no introduction, Dave ‘Devilfish’ Ulliott being one of Europe’s (and the World’s, for that matter) most renowned players.However, it’s been an entire decade since his last bracelet win, plagued with a host of ‘so near yet so far’ runner-up spots thereafter. This year, although not a second place finish, seems to be following a familiar pattern with the Hull pro being forced to settle for a third place spot in Event 7’s $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha rebuy.
Whether you love or loathe him, it’s hard not to sympathise with the now iconic figure of the ‘Fish, his unfortunate exit hand seeing him hit the rail as a 71% favourite, even though he was behind on the Flop. With all his chips in on an 8c-6s-2s board with Js-Th-9d-7s in his hand, Devilfish’s monster flush and straight draw (not to mention the overcard) could hardly miss against Erik Cajelais’ paltry Ad-Jd-Tc-8h, but somehow it did, the Turn and River bringing ineffective blanks.
Although not bearing a wrist trophy, Devilfish departed with $331,582 in spondoolies, leaving Henderson’s Burt Boutin to defeat a stomach churningly tough final table to take home a first prize of $825,956.
Fending off the likes of Devilfish, Minh Ly, John Juanda, Humberto Brenes and Robin Keston, not to mention Robert Williamson III, Andy Black, Chip Reese, Dustin Woolf, Mike Sexton and Hoyt Corkins who also cashed, the lesser known Boutin (right) overturned a clear chip disadvantage to defeat Eric Cajelais heads-up, his two pair (A-Q-8-7) on an A-J-7-5-4 board just pipping Eric’s A-Q-T-3 to the post. With this victory, Boutin became the World Series’ 77th millionaire, his other bracelet victory in 2001, which, coincidentally, saw Devilifish finish in second, being enough to launch him over the 1 million mark. A 39-year old stock trader with three kids, Boutin later commented, “This bracelet means more. They are both special in their own way, but to win this one versus such a tough field, well that is something that really will stay with me for a long time. I do not think I will be able to sleep tonight.”
In other events, Europe found her first winner in EPT regular Alex Kravchenko, the Russian beating Bryan Andrews heads-up to win Event 9’s $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo Freezeout.
A 36-year old business man originally from Archangel, USSR, Alex has been playing poker for 8 years, racking up a decent set of smaller, yet consistent results in the process. Surpassing a field of 690, which was 20 more than last year’s turnout, Kravchenko took away $228,446 to become his nation's first ever bracelet winner still living in Russia.Meanwhile, Gary Styczynski, a 42-year old consultant/poker player from Pearl River, won the $1,500 Limit Freezeout, whilst Michael Chu (left), a 27-year old stock trader from Los Angeles (although originally from Seoul, South Korea), took home $585,774 worth of bacon, the final table playing host to Tommy Vu (2nd), Shane ‘Shaniac’ Schleger (5th), Maciek Gracz (6th), Amir Vahedi (7th) and Germany’s Jan Von Halle (9th).
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Bottom two images courtesy of Imagemasters Photography.