Andy Philachack(credit: World Series of Poker - Official Web Site)
Bodog Poker player Josh Arieh was, by far, the biggest name at the World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event championship final table. The two-time WSOP bracelet holder held a commanding chip lead as the action got underway. Near the bottom of the heap was Andy Philachack. Andy is best remembered for finishing second at the 2005 World Poker Open. He also came in second at this year’s WSOP in Event #15, the one in which Phil Hellmuth took down his record-setting eleventh bracelet.
The 33 year old chiropractor and poker enthusiast must’ve felt as if he was always destined to be the proverbial bridesmaid at the table. Despite being well behind Arieh, Philachack survived the rough early rounds. In fact, in the first orbit alone there were three all-ins and two eliminations.
On the fourth hand, Philachack called Nic Gellepis’ all-in with big slick in the hole. Philachack doubled up. On the next hand, Gellepis knocked Lou Esposito out of the tournament with ten-high. The hand after that, McCollom sent Philip Sparta to the rail. Sparta, holding the deadly A,Q, couldn’t catch a card to improve against McCollom’s pocket threes. Sparta earned $22,950 for eighth place.
McCollom claimed the next carcass as Bruce MacGregor pushed all his chips in with As,Qs. McCollom called with his nines in the hole. Again, the pocket pair held up.
Several hours would pass before the next elimination, which was a doozy. Josh Arieh knocked out two players in one hand. Nic Gellepis went all-in. Leonard Pruzansky called. Arieh also called. At this point, everyone realized that Gellepis and Pruzansky had the same number of chips. Arieh held pocket nines. Gellepis had the lead pre-flop with a pair of hooks and Pruzansky was in trouble with his A,J of spades.
The flop came down 10c,9s,3d giving Arieh a set and a big lead. The turn yielded the fourth nine, terminating Gellepis and Pruzansky who split fifth and sixth place cash, earning $42,075 each.
Andy Philachack then KO’d David Fox in fourth position, adding a nice infusion of chips to his stack. McCollom lasted all the way to three-handed play until Arieh made a full house, aces full of queens, to send him away with $76,500.
Philachack went from near-worst to first with the chip advantage as the heads-up match-up began. Arieh had lost his chip lead during the earlier rounds. On the final hand, both players made two pair, but Philachack had top pair and his opponent covered, giving him the title and $247,860 as well as the circuit ring and a seat at the 2008 WSOP Main Event.
These are the final results:
1) Andy Philachack - $247,860
2) Josh Arieh - $130,050
3) Ted McCollom - $76,500
4) David Fox -$61,200
5) Lenny Pruzansky - $42,075
5) Nic Gellepis - $42,075
7) Bruce MacGregor –$30,600
8) Philip Sparta - $22,950
9) Lou Esposito - $15,300