John Hennigan, one of poker’s greatest gamblers and most interesting old-school players, beat David “Bakes” Baker on Friday heads-up to win the WSOP $10,000 HORSE tournament for his fifth bracelet. The win came as he was being mentioned as a longshot contender for the Poker Hall of Fame, and happened in a way that highlighted his superpower to stay off tilt.
Known as “Johnny World” around the felt, Hennigan held on to a 4-1 chip lead over Baker for a quick finale on Friday. These last two players are considered some of the best mixed-game pros in the world, so it was no surprise they finished heads-up.
On Day Three of the $10k HORSE event, however, Thursday, PokerGo livestream commentators Ali Nejad and Norman Chad were unusually critical of players at the final table, particularly Iraj Parvizi, who played reckless throughout the night.
WSOP Event #27, $10,000 HORSE Final Table Results
1 John Hennigan $414,692
2 David Baker $256,297
3 Laith Salem $179,216
4 Iraj Parvizi $127,724
5 Randy Ohel $92,808
6 Albert Daher $68,783
7 Dan Zack $52,016
8 Michael Noori $40,155
Cool Under Pressure
Parvizi, a regular in $400/$800 mixed cash games, got caught bluffing numerous times and, on a few occasions, blind raised under-the-gun — a move Nejad and Chad found unimpressive.
Hennigan, who’s poker game is fundamentally sound, has a knack for picking the right spots to bluff and knows how to get value out of his big hands. And as per usual, he didn’t allow Parvizi’s reckless play to affect his game.
Consider it a Throwback Thursday, as Hennigan’s HORSE play was reminiscent of the 2004 WSOP, when he showed how his calm, cool, and collected demeanor helped him stay off tilt and win.
It was a $5,000 limit hold’em event, and the late Elix Powers’ unpredictable style of play was irritating the table — particularly author Jim McManus, who infamously hero-called Powers on the river with queen-high only to learn his read was off as he lost a big pot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mh0gqFbj5s
Powers needled his opponent after winning the hand, laughingly crying, “he called me with jack-high! He called me with jack-high!” (It was actually queen-high, but that misread didn’t make a difference). Powers sent McManus on uber-tilt, but Hennigan was notably unfazed.
“This guy is the nuts,” Hennigan said presciently at a time when people hadn’t yet even heard of Greg Raymer, let alone Jerry Yang. “He’s good for poker.”
He would go on to win the event for his second bracelet on that day at Binion’s Horseshoe, at a time when ESPN was introducing the world to poker.
Johnny Five
John Hennigan’s Bracelet Wins
2002: $2,000 Seven Stud Hi-Lo ($117,320)
2004: $5,000 Limit Hold’em ($325,360)
2014: $50,000 Players Championship ($1,517,767)
2016: $10,000 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw ($320,103)
2018: $10,000 HORSE ($414,692)
Hennigan also won the non-bracelet $5,000 Ante Up for Africa event
in 2008, and donated his entire $136,860 prize money to charity.
What Cracked Johnny World
A former professional pool player, Hennigan is one of poker’s most legendary gamblers, on and off the felt. Not only is he a skilled mixed player, he’s also an avid prop bettor.
Years ago, Hennigan made a $30,000 bet that he could live in Des Moines, Iowa, for six weeks. Full disclosure: I spent 30 years in Des Moines, and can attest that’s not as easy as it sounds.
His original plan was to pass the time playing golf. But after just two days in a casino-less prairie town, the ever quiet action junkie paid $15,000 to buy out of the bet and return to city life in California.
