The end of the 2007 World Series of Poker H.O.R.S.E tournament was drawing near. Only three players were left at the final table of the prestigious $50,000 buy-in event. At this stage the chip leader was, according to his own description, the French ‘passionate amateur’ Bruno Fitoussi. Following close behind was the experienced Freddy Deeb. This would be Deeb’s 13th appearance at a WSOP final table, though he had not won a bracelet since 1996. John Hanson, another amateur who was just happy to have made it so far, was in third place.

Hanson went all-in against Deeb during a game of Stud Eight or Better. Hanson was down during the entire hand, after Deeb hit a pair of kings on third street. Being the experienced player that he is, Deeb figured he was ahead and forced Hanson to pay heavily for a chance at a flush draw. Deeb was still leading before the river with a two-pair, kings and sevens, against Hanson’s tow-pair of tens and eights. Hanson no longer had the flush draw, and his only hope was either a ten or an eight for a full house, or a queen or seven for a straight. Naturally, these cards would only help Hanson if Deeb’s hand would not improve. Hanson was forced to go all-in, and on the verge of elimination drew a queen, and won the hand with a straight. Hanson doubled up, while Deeb complained again about the good luck that comes to bad players.

During the next round of Hold’em, Hanson doubled-up again, but this time it was he who set the trap for French Fitoussi. Hanson had a flush draw and had paired his kings, which gave him top-pair. Fitoussi only had a pair of sevens, but he called and eventually lost. This hand also influenced Freddy Deeb, and made him the chip leader. But Hanson took a large chunk of Deeb’s chips once again, with another lucky straight draw on the river.

Deeb would get another chance to eliminate Hanson during the next round of Razz. With the highest card showing, Fitoussi paid the bring-in but quickly folded and got out of harm’s way. Hanson drew a (2-7)-8 against Deeb’s (5-2)-6. They both kept raising each other, and after a few rounds of betting Hanson was holding (2-7)-8-7-3 against Deeb’s (5-2)-6-A-J. Though he had paired his 7, Hanson was still drawing for an 8-low. Deeb had hit his Jack-low, so at that point he was ahead, and was also drawing for a 6-low. But the next card was crucial, as both players hit their draw. Deeb came up with a 4, and hit his 6-low hand. There was no way for Hanson to beat him, though he was dealt a 5 and hit his 8-low. Hanson went all-in, but this time he could not be saved, not even by a miracle river. Hanson was eliminated in third place, and won over US$850,000 after a strong and very surprising performance.

It was now down to a heads-up match between the veteran Deeb and the kind Frenchman Fitoussi. Deeb had over 12 million chips, while Fitoussi was behind with a mere 2.25 million. Fitoussi had previously won a heads-up word title, the first one to ever be held. He beat poker ledged Amarillo Slim for the title, but had never won a WSOP bracelet before. The next hand of Stud Eight or Better proved to be crucial.

Fitoussi was holding (A-4)-6-2-2-9, and was drawing for a club flush or the low-hand against Deeb’s two-pair, with a (7-5)-5-7-6-J. But on the river, Fitoussi hit the Queen of hearts, and couldn’t hide his disappointment. Deeb tried to push him all in, but Fitoussi wouldn’t call with only a pair of deuces and no qualifying low hand. He was left with less than $20,000 chips, and was forced to go all-in during the next hand. The final hand was easily won by Deeb, and Fitoussi came in second, walking away with over US$1,250,000.

Freddy Deeb became the WSOP H.O.R.S.E champion. He won his second WSOP bracelet, over US$2.2 million dollars in cash, and became the world’s best all-round poker player for the year 2007.

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