|
Event 16 - $2 000 Omaha Hi/Low Split - recorded an entry field of 553 players that included Greg Raymer, Ted Forrest, Kristy Gazes, Alan "Chainsaw" Kessler, Barry Greenstein, Justin Bonomo Layne Flack, Max Pescatori, Mel Judah, Barny Boatman and many other stars and topped the previous year's attendance. A well supported and at  times noisy contingent from Australia were tough competitors.
Eight levels of play and a day later, only 169 players remained to fight it out for final table positions, with Josh Arieh, David Williams and Scott Clements all doing well. The second day of the match proved inadequate to reach a final 9 players, and the 18 survivors were given a further day of action to make the cut, with Soheil Shamseddin in the lead at that point.
The last day saw the formation of a final table comprised of Andrew Brown, Ted Forrest, Jim Pechac, Soheil Shamseddin, Kia Hooshmand, Ralph Perry, Scott Clements, Allan Enciso and James Fricke.
It looked as if Ted Forrest was going to take the honours as the game culminated in a heads up between him and Andrew Brown, a relatively unknown 26 year old player, but the veteran was eliminated at the critical point by an opponent who managed to come back from what looked like certain defeat.
Brown took the bracelet and the main prize of $226 483, leaving Forrest with a second place and $143 420.
The victor told reporters that in his assessment Barry Greenstein, Phil Ivey and Ted Forrest are probably the three best poker players in the world, which made his tournament experience one to remember. "I was looking forward to playing Ted Forrest heads-up," Brown said. "He's amazing. We had a see-saw battle. It was a great heads-up match."
|
