Lindgren breaks his WSOP bracelet drought

06/06/2008

Full Tilt Poker star Erick Lindgren has won or played in a host of major championships and amassed professional earnings of more than $6 million in a sparkling poker career, but until this week one of the coveted World Series of Poker bracelets has eluded him. His delight at winning Event 4 in the 39th WSOP in Las Vegas can therefore be well appreciated.

Playing in the $5 000 buy-in Mixed Hold'em event this week he faced a final table that included both land and online poker aces like Justin Bonomo, Howard Lederer, David Williams and Isaac Haxton. In the end it was a heads up between him and 22-year-old Internet whiz kid Bonomo for the main $374 505 prize...and he was victorious at last.

Internet player Haxton was first to be eliminated at the final table when he fell victim to some shrewed play by Lindgren, heading for the rail and a $35 109 payday. Eighth placing went to Pat Pezzin, who was bundled out by Internet pro Andre Robl for $46 812.

David Williams took the exit door in seventh place for $58 515, despatched by David Rheem. Some time later a clash developed between veteran Howard Lederer and Bonomo that saw the former headed for the rail and a $74 119 sixth placing. Dave Rheem was the next victim, eliminated by European pro Roland de Wolfe in fifth place and pocketing $93 624.

Then it was de Wolfe's turn, ejected with substantial profit by Bonomo in fourth place and collecting the first of the six-figure paydays in the game at $117 030.

With Bonomo holding the chip lead, three handed play commenced involving survivors Bonomo, Lindgren and Robl, and it was a full hour before the next departure, which came when Robl and Bonomo clashed and the former lost - taking the exit route and collecting a handsome third place payout of $144 337.

After that the game was decided after an hour long 40 hands of heads up action between Lindgren and Bonomo, with the Internet ace holding a small chip lead at the beginning. Both players were clearly intent on winning their first WSOP bracelet and showed some talented poker moves in a tense finish.

Only one could win, and on this occasion it was Lindgren, who took the bracelet and the main prize, leaving Bonomo with the second prize of $230 259.

Another Full Tilt Poker player at the Las Vegas spectacular, David Singer, also won his first WSOP bracelet this week when he was truimphant in a heads up with Jacobo Fernandez in Event 3 - the $1 500 Pot Limit Hold'em tournament.