Kirk Conrad Earns H.O.R.S.E. Title
Event #20 of the Deepstack Mini Series was the second, and more expensive of the two H.O.R.S.E. events. 103 players created a prize pool of $19,982 and first place $7,387. The final table was set with the final eight players at 4:30am.
RAZZ 3K 5K/15K
Hand #9 had four-way action until 6th street where it dropped off to heads-up play. At showdown, Boris Kolas showed his best five card hand of 10-9-8-5-4 to Kevin McGuinness’s Q-9-6-X-A after double pairing his Aces and Queens. Kevin McGuinness was eliminated in 8th place and collected $500.
Hand #17 had Robert Cramer against short stack Hamid Mohammadi. Robert had (A-3) 2-5-J-5 (8) for a 8-5-3-2-A. Hamid held (A-4) 9-3-A-7 (x) and mucked his last card without showing after seeing he was beat. Hamid was eliminated in 7th place and collected $800.
STUD 5K 5K/20K
Hand #23 had three-way action to fifth street and then Robert Cramer dropped out. The heads-up battle ending up having Abraham Edusma all-in showing (K-9) 8-4-A-5 (X). He was bested by Billy Alicante’s (8-2) 8-Q-6-X (X) pair of 8s. Abraham Edusma was eliminated in 6th place and collected $800.
Hand #35 was the last hand of the Stud level with both Boris Kolas and Edward Sirakovit. Boris showed (A-A-8) A-Q-4-4 for Aces full of fours. Edward also had a full house (7-7-J) J-3-9-7 but not a winning full house. Edward Sirakovit finished in 5th place and collected $1,000.
STUD Hi-Lo 5K 10K/30K
Hand #46 had Robert Cramer all-in battling heads-up with Kirk Conrad after Billy Alicante got out of the way on fifth street. At showdown Robert showed a pair of deuces with no low (A-3-6) 10-2-K-2. Kirk had a spade flush and no low (As-8s-x) 5s-K-10s-Qs. Robert Cramer was eliminated in 4th place and collected $1,200.
It was close to 6:20am when the last hand of the final table played out. Hand #49 was a three-way battle with Billy Alicante all-in. At showdown Billy showed (A-K-9) 3-6-3-J for a missed low and a pair of 3s. Kirk Conrad showed the winning hand of (K-4-4) J-9-4-10 for a full boat. Boris Kolas had two pair (Q-5-5) 2-J-2-10 and lost a sizable side pot to Kirk. This hand not only knocked out the 3rd place player but gave Kirk enough chips to take the lead by two 5,000 chips and take the lead.
The two remaining players were close to even in chips and made a quick deal. The tournament ended and Kirk Conrad added another tournament title to his lengthy poker resume.
-- Jay “Bugsy” Siegel
BIOGRAPHY
Kirk Conrad has a spectacular tournament record with 4 big titles in both California and Nevada. Kirk rarely goes a major tournament series without a big cash and/or a title. I have witnessed many of Kirk’s final table appearances and he is a master at determining the strength (and weakness) at the table and working it to his advantage. He is a very versatile player and proved that by adding his first H.O.R.S.E. mixed game title to his record. Kirk is playing next at the 2009 WSOP Main Event.
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