Mohsin Charania showed professional skill and calm discipline Wednesday in staging a spectacular comeback in a heads up he had started at a 7 to 1 chip disadvantage, and making the feat all the more impressive, it was against a very credible opponent who had dominated play over the previous two days.
Most observers gave Charania little chance of overcoming the crippling heads up disadvantage as he squared up to a rampant Vasili Firsau at the Bwin World Poker Tour Grand Prix de Paris this week.
Firsau had over half the chips in play and had demolished the other members of the final table after playing an outstanding tournament.
Charania was down to his last 600,000 chips, but he continued to play a cool, calm professional game and, with some good cards, reeled in his opponent and eventually took the lead and the honours.
Mohsin claimed the main prize of $469,477, leaving a disconsolate Firsau with the runner-up’s $317,867.
Other members of the final table cashed as follows:
3rd – Peter Apostolou – $204,432
4th – Elliot Smith – $151,359
5th – Christina Lindley – $113,614
6th – Kimmo Kurko – $90,845