Wsop Event 52

With the end of the individual tournaments in the 39th World Series of Poker now in sight, Event 52 - the $1 500 No-Limit Hold'em contest - commanded attention as Californian pro Dave Daneshgar truimphed over a field of 2 693 to take his first WSOP bracelet and the main prize of $625 443 after a tough heads up with Scott Sitron.

The win significantly boosts Daneshgar's career winnings of $1.6 million in some 50 cashes, and he was delighted to hold the hitherto elusive jewelry after a tough, 50 hand heads up challenge from the Wisconsin player.

Corwin Cole held an almost 200 000 chip lead over his closest rival, Matt Matros, at the start of the final table, with Daneshgar around the mid-point in chips, but with skill and not a little aggression the Californian pro worked his way up the pack after four eliminations and 6 hours of play. At that point Sitron had a commanding lead of over a million chips over Daneshgar, Dan Heimiller, Farzad Rouhanik and Corwin Cole in that order.

Soon after, Cole and Rouhani were sent to the rail in quick succession, falling victim to Sitron and departing the table with checks for $189 311 and $231 584 respectively.

Three handed play continued with Sitron holding on to a considerable lead, chased by Daneshgar and previous WSOP bracelet winner Heimiller, and both with well over a million in chips. Heimiller fell only eight hands into post-dinner break play, another victim of Sitron's stylish play, but earned $275 695 in third place prize money.

Going into heads-up play, Sitron had 4 874 000 in chips - a 1.6 million advantage over Daneshgar, and it looked like Sitron was going to take the game as play progressed for the next 40 hands. Then a series of moves went in favour of the tenacious Daneshgar, giving him 5.6 million chips against Sitron's 2.4 million.

Daneshgar skilfully exploited his advantage and ten hands later it was all over; Daneshgar took the $625 443 main prize and the bracelet, leaving his opponent with a second placing check of $385 974.

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