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September 13 2011, Brett Collson, Mickey Doft

Four bracelets were awarded on Day 9 of the 2011 PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker. Among those who flirted with winning those bracelets were Joel Adam “2FLY2TILT” Gordon and Mickey “mement_mori” Petersen. Gordon, who made two final tables this WCOOP, already held the WCOOP Player of the Series lead and added to his points total. Petersen, who two days ago was announced as the newest member of Team PokerStars Online, quickly showed why he is worthy of that distinction.

Fewer than 60 players returned for Day 2 of the $215 No-Limit Hold'em Event #22 with a first prize of $254,524 up for grabs. Athanasios "Athanasios 9" Polychronopoulos, who won a World Series of Poker bracelet in July, was third in chips heading into Day 2, but the 27-year-old found trouble early on Monday and ultimately made his exit in 27th.

Other notables coming up short were Matt "ch0ppy" Kay, Jimmie "AlusivPnkBny" Guinther, and Andy "andyh26" Holman. Day 2 lacked a member of Team PokerStars, since the best finisher was Sandra Naujoks who earned $526 for her 536th place finish.

The diversity of the final table created an interesting dynamic when discussions of a deal came about. Seven countries were represented, including three players from Russia, and a translator was needed to finalize the negotiations. Here's how the final table stacked up:

Hungary's "obamaria" was the first to exit the final player after moving all-in preflop for 17 big blinds with and being called by Russia's "Gnostan," who was holding . Then, fellow Russian "borvik" moved all-in for 13 big blinds from the button with and was called by "soydelmillo", from Argentina, who held in the small blind. The board left "soydelmillo" crippled, and he was eliminated on the next hand.

Action slowed a bit before a short-stacked "OverTheTop43," from Germany shoved from under the gun with . "Borvik" found and re-shoved from late position, and his hand held up to remove "OverTheTop43" from the final table in seventh place for $36,481. The next bustout came a few hands later when "robban 28x" lost a coinflip with to the pocket queens of Russia's "BlockedWinner," who still had the chip lead to that point.

That opened negotiations for a five-way deal but a language barrier slowed the process. "Gnostan" was having difficulty understanding that he needed to type "agree" in the chat box to accept the proposed deal that would give him $169,324, but the agreement was eventually completed and play resumed.

"BlockedWinner" opened up his play after locking up $147,000 and got his remaining stack in preflop with against "Gnostan," who had . The sent the former chip leader out the door and pushed "Gnostan" into the pole position. Five hands later, "borvik" exited in fourth place when he ran into the kings of Poland's "gregor7878."

New Zealand's "prot0" had been relatively quiet at the final table but made his presence known with an impressive call against "Gnostan," when play was three-handed. With the blinds at 400,000/800,000, "Gnostan" min-raised from the small blind and "prot0" three-bet to 4 million in the big blind. "Gnostan" called and then check-called a bet of 4 million on a flop of . Both players checked the on the turn, and the fell on the river. "Gnostan" moved all-in, having the 14.3 million chip stack of his opponent covered, and "prot0" made a bold call with . "Gnostan" was bluffing with a pair of threes, and that turned out to be the beginning of his demise; the Russian player later ran into "gregor7878's" to finish his run in third place.

The heads-up match between "gregor7878" and "prot0" only lasted seven hands after a gut-wrenching river card all but ended things on the very first hand. "Gregor7878" five-bet all-in for nearly 40 million with and was snap-called by "prot0" with . The gave "gregor7878" an extra out to a straight, and sure enough the fell on the river to leave his opponent with 6.5 million. The tournament ended minutes later after "prot0" moved all-in preflop with and couldn't improve against the pocket jacks of "gregor7878," who collected $158,627 for his first WCOOP title.

*denotes five-handed deal

Notable Finishes: Athanasios "Athanasios 9" Polychronopoulos (27th - $3,954), Andy "andyh26" Holman (39th - $3,190), Jimmie "AlusivPnkBny" Guinther (53rd - $2,935), Matt "ch0ppy" Kay (59th - $2,681)

A monstrous field of 3,739 was trimmed to 131 when Day 2 of Event #22 began on Monday. As expected, several big-name players were in contention for the first-place prize of $293,512, including Kenny "LoneHixx" Hicks, Jonathan "MONSTER_DONG" Karamalikis, Mike "goleafsgoeh" Leah, Jeremy "00psiedaisy" Fitzpatrick, Steve "gboro780" Gross, and newly-minted Team PokerStars member Mickey "mement_mori" Petersen.

Only Fitzpatrick reached the final table out of that group. The prominent online grinder joined notables Torsten "jektiss" Brinkmann, Gabriel "kafelnikovz" Almeida, and Paul "pvas2" Vas Nunes in what would be a back-and-forth battle for WCOOP glory.

Jeremy "00psiedaisy" Fitzpatrick

Short-stacked "lachanin" of Spain doubled early when he made quad queens against Paul "pvas2" Vas Nunes' but was the first to say goodbye at the final table. Following a preflop min-raise from "Mad4it4life" on the button, "lachanin" moved all-in for 14.5 big blinds with , and "Mad4it4life" called quickly with . The left the Spaniard with little hope, and he failed to improve, making his exit in ninth place.

Romania's "TheUrsaraie" began Day 2 with the chip lead and was in front again going into the final table. However, his fortune ran dry when he lost with pocket jacks to the pocket kings of Fitzpatrick to lose the overall lead. Then, he rivered a queen-high flush but was bested by the ace-high flush of Van Nunes to bow out in eighth place.

That began a flurry of action spearheaded by Van Nunes, a former PokerStars Sunday Million winner. He eliminated Gabriel "kafelnikovz" Almeida and Torsten "jektiss" Brinkmann in seventh and sixth place, respectively, to collect nearly half the chips in play. Then, after Fitzpatrick was sent to the rail by "Mad4it4life," Russia's "Flying Smile" got involved by eliminating "IbABzuSPkR" when his pocket sevens held up against the Swiss player's .

The final three players discussed a potential deal for more than 20 minutes but couldn't come to an agreement. After picking up a few pots, Van Nunes led the way with 25 million of the 38 million chips in play, but momentum shifted when he doubled "Flying Smile" with to .

"Mad4it4life" built his stack from just over 2 million to 13 million, but his tournament ended when his couldn't improve against the pocket eights of Van Nunes. That gave the Brit a 6-to-1 lead over "Flying Smile" — but it didn't last long. The Russian player went on a rush that saw him win four massive pots over the course of 10 hands to take the lead. Van Nunes had dwindled down to just 8.5 million when the last hand took place: With the blinds at 80,000/160,000, Flying Smile raised his button to 400,000, Van Nunes re-raised to 1.28 million and Flying Smile called. On the flop, Van Nunes led out for 1.12 million and "Flying Smile" called. The hit the turn and Van Nunes check-called a tiny bet of 212,124, leading to the falling on the river. Van Nunes moved all-in for 5.8 million and "Flying Smile" called instantly with for a straight. Van Nunes had rivered a set of jacks, but it was second best as he took home $218,731 his biggest score since winning the Sunday Million for $234,000 in August 2010.

"Flying Smile," meanwhile, earned $293,512 and his first WCOOP bracelet.

Jeremy "00psiedaisy" Fitzpatrick

Notable Finishes: Ken "kleath" Leathart (15th - $8,413), Kenny "LoneHixx" Hicks (26th - $4,767), Joao 'joaoMathias' Mathias Baumgarten (33rd - $4,206), Mike "goleafsgoeh" Leah (39th - $3,832), Jared "jvengrin" Vengrin (40th - $3,832), Steve "gboro780" Gross (46th - $3,552).

The lone 4-max event on the WCOOP schedule kicked off with a two-day no limit hold'em event on Monday. After 11 hours of play, only seven of the 2,622 entrants remained as the final table would have to wait until Tuesday.

Team PokerStars member Randy "nanonoko" Lew had a large following as he made a deep run in the event. The multi-tabling cash game specialist had a chance to enter the final day among the chip leaders, but he lost a crucial coin flip during the final hour to end his tournament in 10th.

With the blinds at 6,000/12,000, Lew min-raised on the button and Germany's "Da3dalus" three-bet to 58,146 from the small blind. Lew then four-bet to 135,000, and "Da3dalus" fired back with a five-bet to 213,417. Lew shoved for 862,982 and his opponent snap-called, and the cards were revealed:

"Da3dalus:"
Lew:

The gave the German player a winning full house and Lew exited with $6,424 in prize money. "Da3dalus" entered Day 2 as the chip leader with nearly 4 million. Here's how the remaining seven stacked up when play resumed at 1100 ET (1600 BST) on Tuesday:

Fresh off of a 70th-place finish in Event #22 for $3,178.15, Mickey "mement_mori" Petersen not only final-tabled Event #24 but was chip leader going in.

“Hood_Ace” began the final table on the short stack and was the first to bow out. All-in on fifth street with /, “Hood_Ace” looked to pair a big card to best “SebbyGl's” /. Unfortunately for “Hood_Ace,” the on sixth street followed by the on seventh street was not enough to defeat the buried jacks of “SebbyGl.” Those chips didn't last long in “SebbyGl's” stack, though, because a big hand against “Big_Nemo” changed the tide of the final table.

“SebbyGl:” //
“Big_Nemo:” //

“SebbyGl's” flush draw turned into kings up, but “Big_Nemo's” split nines eventually became a full house to double up, leading to “SebbyGl's” elimination in seventh place the following hand. “Operga” was felted next, starting the hand with split queens. “TIETYMM”, though, held buried aces. The rest of “Operga's” chips made it into the pot on fifth street and by the time seventh street was dealt, “TIETYMM” had improved to aces up. In need of a queen on seventh street to survive, “ Operga” made an inferior two pair and was out in sixth place. Saying goodbye next was “caprioli,” all-in on third street with /. “TIETYMM” held a measley /, but got there on fifth when the fell. No more pairs came for “caprioli,” leaving only four players in the field.

Despite notching the previous two eliminations, “TIETYMM” succumbed to a fourth-place finish. After the betting between “TIETYMM” and “Bilybob88” was capped on third street, the remainder of “TIETYMM's” chips were in the middle on fourth street.

“TIETYMM:” //
“Bilybob88:” //

While “TIETYMM” hoped to catch spades, it would be jacks up on sixth street that emerged. Facing “Bilybob88's” split nines, “TIETYMM” fell when “Bilybob88” pulled trips on sixth street to win the pot. “Big_Nemo” began to pull away when action was three-handed, and after severely denting Mickey Petersen's stack, it was all but over. This is how their boards looked at the end of the hand:

“Big_Nemo:” //
Petersen: //

Petersen raised “Big_Nemo's” completion on third street and followed that with bets on fourth and fifth. “Big_Nemo” raised on fifth, following that with bets on sixth and seventh. The spades never got there for “Big_Nemo” but a pair of kings did on seventh street. Petersen couldn't beat it and busted the following hand, leaving “Big_Nemo” with a nearly 12:1 chip lead against “Bilybob88” heads-up. One hand was all it took as on fifth street of hand No. 1, “Bilybob88” was all in.

“Big_Nemo:” /
“Bilybob88:” /

A on sixth street was all it took, locking up the WCOOP bracelet and $19,461.91 first-place prize for “Big_Nemo.”

Notable Finishes: Dan "djk123" Kelly (15th - $1,364.85), Humberto Brenes (17th - $985.72), Søren "Kongsgaard" Kongsgaard (19th - $985.72), Amanda "ROXY24" Thomas (22nd - $985.72)

For the third time in less than a week, Joel Adam "2FLY2TILT" Gordon final-tabled a WCOOP event. Gordon is certainly showing a very impressive all-around game, as all three final tables have been in different forms of poker. His win in Event #8 was in triple stud, and his second final table appearance in Event #17 was in no-limit 2-7 low-ball single draw. How would he fare in the $200 Pot-Limit Omaha Turbo 1R1A? He began the final table third in chips.

The first bust came in the form of a double elimination. Action folded to “asik17” in the cutoff who raised the pot. On the button “MiPwnYa” re-raised all-in and from the small blind, “joejoe1337” called all-in. The big blind folded, leading “asik17” to call all in as well. Cards on their backs:

“asik17:”
“MiPwnYa:”
“joejoe1337:”

The board came down , making the nut flush for “MiPwnYa” to score the double KO. Hitting the rail shortly thereafter was “tbac1,” busting at the hands of Joel Adam “2FLY2TILT” Gordon. With , “tbac1” faced the of Gordon. An board made aces up for Gordon to leave six players remaining.

A second double elimination took place two levels later with “L0ve2playU” earning the spoils. After “zwacke” opened with a pot-sized raise from the hijack, “L0ve2playU” re-raised pot from the button. A short-stacked Joel Adam Gordon called all-in from the big blind and “zwacke” called all-in, as well.

“zwacke:”
“L0ve2playU:”
Gordon:

The flop fell giving “zwacke” top set, but “L0ve2playU” flopped Broadway. The turn and river secured the pot for “L0ve2playU” who at this point held a commanding chip lead. “Schermanator” fell next, also to “L0ve2playU.” Holding , “Schermanator” got it in against “L0ve2playU's” . The board ran out to give “L0ve2playU” queens and sevens to knock out yet another opponent. Just a few hands later, “L0ve2playU” kept it going with against “sllvllasH's” . “L0ve2playU” hit the board hard as it came down to give “L0ve2playU” a straight.

Even though “L0ve2playU” held greater than a 3:1 chip lead to start heads-up play, “MiPwnYa” rallied to take it down. On the final hand with , “MiPwnYa” slightly trailed “L0ve2playU's” . The flop fell , giving “L0ve2playU” top-two (even three) pair. The turn made it four pairs, but it didn't matter when the landed on the river. “ MiPwnYa” made Broadway to seal the deal and win the WCOOP bracelet.

Notable Finishes: Chris "Bushman" Bush (14th - $3,132), Jonathan "MONSTER_DONG" Karamalikis (19th - $1,753.92), Luke "LukeFromB13" Staudenmaier (20th - $1,753.92), Jonas "Telefonkiosk" Lindlof (21st - $1,753.92), Thierry "BOKPOWER" van den Berg (27th - $1,753.92)

*Event #25 data obtained from PokerStarsBlog.com

We will be providing in-depth daily recaps of all WCOOP final tables, so be sure to keep it here at PokerNews to stay up to date on all of the exciting action as it occurs.

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