Ivey Misses Out Yet Again
It is perhaps one of the greatest ironies of the World Series of Poker Main Event that, try as he might, Phil Ivey seems unable to ever reach the final table. The legendary bracelet winner again got close to the prize in 2005, two years after Chris Moneymaker rivered him just before the final table. Ivey finished in 20th place in 2005, for a score of $304,000, great money, but once again, no glory for the man known when young as ‘No Home Jerome’ such was his dedication to the game of poker.
English players John McGrane (18th for $350,000) and Tiffany Williamson, the last woman standing (15th for $400,000), bowed out before Northern Ireland’s Conor Tate finished 12th for $600,000. As the nine-handed final table began, there was another player from those shores, as the Republic of Ireland’s Andy Black, while not British, came with just as much support as any of the British players, if not more. Irish players have long been one of the most popular player nationalities, bringing to poker an infectious enthusiasm, and Black, nicknamed ‘The Mad Monk’, was no different.
First to go at the final table was Mike ’The Mouth’ Matusow, who cashed for a million dollars. After he was followed from the felt by Brad Kondraki (8th for $1,150,000) and Swedish player Daniel Bergsdorf (7th for $1.3m), Scott Lazar was the player who just missed the final five, winning $1.5m instead.
With five players left, Aaron Kanter had 18,610,000 chips and a big lead over John ‘Tex’ Barch (12.5m) and Andy Black on 12 million chips. Steve Dannenmann (8,080,000) and Joe Hachem (5m) were miles behind, but as had happened so often before in WSOP Main Event history, the tournament, like no other, had a sting in the tail.
Dannenmann Denied as Hachem Heroics Preserve Short Stack
Andy Black is probably still asking himself to this day how he managed to go from third in chips to on the rail in fifth place in the 2005 Main Event. On a flop of 9-6-5, Black correctly committed his chips with nine-ten against Steve Dannenmann’s ace-six.
“Are you worried?” asked Dannenmann. “It’s been fun, man.”
Andy Black’s expression was intense and captivating as he looked back at his at-risk opponent. To his horror, the very safe three of clubs was followed by an ace on the river. Dannenmann, a 12% shot to survive the hand on the river, took three-quarters of Black’s stack. If Dannenmann thought he could get lucky each time, he was wrong. He shortly doubled up Joe Hachem when the Australian’s pocket sevens held against the American’s ace-jack.
Watch the 2005 Final Table at the World Series of Poker Main Event
“Let me win a race. Either way mate, good luck,” said Hachem, and he survived to the roar of “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi, oi!” coming from the rail.
The Irishman Black, still devastated from the previous loss, was soon out, his pocket tens losing to Dannenmann’s ace-king as the board brought a flop of 8-3-2, but a king on the turn and a blank river sent Black home with $1.75 million. Just a few hands later, the field of four should have become three. Kanter’s short stack committed with ace-seven against the ace-queen of Barch. But a board of T-7-7-A-6 doubled up Kanter.
As lucky as Kanter felt in that hand, he was about to feel the wrath of the Poker Gods. All-in with the superior pocket nines, he doubled up Joe Hachem when the Aussie’s queen-high paired with a lady on the flop.
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!
Kanter saw his hopes go up in smoke soon after that painful defeat with the nines. All-in with ace-nine pre-flop, he lost to Barch’s pocket jacks as a nine on the flop wasn’t enough, and Barch ended the hand making a full house on the river. Kanter cashed in fourth for $2m.
A pivotal hand came soon after, Barch all-in with ace-six. Dannenmann (pocket sevens) and Hachem (pocket jacks) both called, and a board of T-3-2-Q-9 fell to take out Barch, Hachem going into the final duel with a chip lead of 2:1 as Barch headed home with $2.5m, the same amount Chris Moneymaker claimed when he won the Main just two years earlier.
It was a sensational hand that ended the Main Event. Hachem still had the lead when a flop of 6-5-4 fell. Perfect for the Australian’s seven-three as he flopped a straight. Dannenmann held ace-three, and an ace on the turn saw the American move all-in. Hachem called and flipped over the leading hand with a 97% chance of becoming champion.
Oi! Oi! Oi!
Only a seven could deny Hachem as his crowd surged forward. Hachem, respecting that Steve Dannenmann was still in with a chance, asked his supporters to be quiet.
“Please… there’s one more card.” He said. The seven didn’t come for Dannenmann. Instead, a four landed to hand Hachem the victory and $7.5m, the biggest top prize in WSOP Main Event history.
“Thank you everybody, thank you so much.” said Hachem to the crowd, now yelling ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!’ to which the crowd replied ‘Oi, oi oi!’
“A million dollars changes my life, let alone $7.5m. Everything’s going to change.’
“Wake up, Australia. Your boy is coming home a multi-millionaire!” said Lon McEachern, and it was true. One of the most popular winners in Main Event history and the first and only Australian to scoop the World Championship, Joe Hachem was a memorable winner of the WSOP Main Event.
In 2006, the biggest prize in half a century of Main Events would be won, but who would grab the Gold?
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Joe Hachem | Australia | $7,500,000 |
| 2nd | Steve Dannenmann | United States | $4,250,000 |
| 3rd | Tex Barch | United States | $2,500,000 |
| 4th | Aaron Kanter | United States | $2,000,000 |
| 5th | Andy Black | Ireland | $1,750,000 |
| 6th | Scott Lazar | United States | $1,500,000 |
| 7th | Daniel Bergsdorf | Sweden | $1,300,000 |
| 8th | Brad Kondracki | United States | $1,150,000 |
| 9th | Mike Matusow | United States | $1,000,000 |
2005 WSOP Main Event – Part 1 2006 WSOP Main Event – Part 1
About the Author: Paul Seaton has written about poker for over 10 years, interviewing some of the best players ever to play the game such as Daniel Negreanu, Johnny Chan and Phil Hellmuth. Over the years, Paul has reported live from tournaments such as the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas and the European Poker Tour. He has also written for other poker brands where he was Head of Media, as well as BLUFF magazine, where he was Editor.