Allyn Jaffrey-Shulman has finally scored a World Series of Poker (WSOP) victory for women after a terrible recent run at the Las Vegas festival.
Allyn Jaffrey-Shulman has finally scored a World Series of Poker (WSOP) victory for women after a terrible recent run at the Las Vegas festival.
Allyn Jaffrey-Shulman has finally scored a World Series of Poker (WSOP) victory for women after a terrible recent run at the Las Vegas festival.
The former criminal defence lawyer picked up $603,713 for taking down the $1,000 buy-in Seniors No-Limit Hold’em event #29 for the first female victory in an open event since Vanessa Selbst secured the $1,500 buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha event #19 back in 2008.
That streak lasted saw an incredible 249 straight male gold bracelet winners – excluding the Ladies World Championship – before solicitor, writer and consultant Jaffrey-Shulman outlasted 4,127 rivals to claim her first WSOP victory.
Vegas-based Jaffrey-Shulman – who had to battle back from a 5 to 1 chip deficit during her heads-up clash with 2009 main event third place finisher Dennis Phillips – headed an exceptional final table that also included players such as two-time bracelet winner Hoyt Corkins (fourth for $199,023).
What is even more amazing, though, is Jaffrey-Shulman’s victory – after several deep runs, cashes and final table spots – follows on from her husband Barry Shulman taking eighth in the $1,500 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em event #19 and stepson Jeff finishing in third at the $5,000 buy-in Limit Hold’em event #20 to ensure that, for the first time ever, three members of the same family made final table appearances at the same series.
The seniors event was extended into a fourth day to accommodate the final four, with Jaffrey-Shulman starting as the short stack. However, she was in no mood to give up and battled hard throughout, scoring a few well-timed double-ups and even hit a runner-runner straight at one point during her heads-up with Illinois’ Phillips to regain the momentum at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino’s Amazon Room.
Alabama’s Corkins was the first player to hit the rail on Day 4 in fourth place for $199,023, when losing out to Bob Phelps, of Ohio.
Action folded to small blind Corkins and he shoved all-in for about 1.4 million. Big blind Phelps took a few moments but made the call to put the two-time WSOP champ at risk.
Corkins showed A♦ 2♥ to be behind the 8♠ 8♣ of Phelps and in serious need of some help. However, the 10♠ 8♥ 6♥ flop handed Phelps trip eights, leaving Corkins needing runner-runner hearts to take down the pot or runner-runner straight cards for the chop. But the Q♣ turn confirmed Corkins’ exit, even before the meaningless 7♥ came on the river.
Phelps was the next elimination in third place for $270,727. Jaffrey-Shulman, on the button, raised to one million, only for small blind Phelps to shove for about 3.5 million. Big blind Phillips folded, while Jaffrey-Shulman swiftly called to reveal Q♥ Q♣ and find herself up against Phelps’ 6♥ 6♠.
The J♦ 8♦ 4♠ flop kept Jaffrey-Shulman in front, while the 2♦ turn and 5♠ river changed nothing as Phelps hit the rail in third place.
Jaffrey-Shulman actually started her 70-minute heads-up encounter with Phillips holding a 9,570,000 to 2,820,000-chip lead, although that all changed quickly enough.
However, as with all events, the final hand had to arrive. Both players were happy with their starting hands so we see them all-in pro-flop, with Phillips holding the A♦ 6♥ to find himself dominated by Jaffrey-Shulman’s A♣ 10♦.
The Q♣ 10♠ 2♥ flop handed Jaffrey-Shulman a massive lead with her tens, while the 5♥ turn and J♥ river only served to confirm her as champion – although it was so tight that an official chip count was required. In the end, though, Phillips pocketed $372,895 for his runner-up spot.
1. Allyn Jaffrey Shulman (USA) – $603,713
2. Dennis Phillips (USA) – $372,895
3. Bob Phelps (USA) – $270,727
4. Hoyt Corkins (USA) – $199,023
5. Bill Stabler (USA) – $147,605
6. Stuart Spear (USA) – $110,416
7. William Thomson (Canada) – $83,332
8. Martin Fitzmaurice (USA) – $63,418
9. Harold Lilie (USA) – $48,669
10. Carolyn Tulloch (Canada) – $37,672