World Series of Poker Finalist, Bahdi Bounahra, returns to the Jewel
Earlier in the week we told you about Bahdi “Bob” Bounahra, the Belizean who made waves internationally at the World Series of Poker and secured a spot among the finest players, raking in at one point nine million chips from Costa Rica’s John Hewitt. This year is Bounahra’s seventh year playing in the No Limit Hold ‘Em Championship in Las Vegas. At the start of the tournament there were over six thousand players and that has whittled down to nine, placing Bounahra among the best of the best. He returned home today in a jubilant mood but didn’t want to say much on the amount of dollars he will now add to his bank account.
Bahdi Bounahra, Finalist, World Series of Poker
“What happened I had a pocket kings and I played, he raised under the ground so I played a little trick on him so I was pretending to fold, pretending to raise but I pushed all in and everybody folded and he fall for it so I doubled up at that hand and I took almost nine million chips from him that’s where I doubled up. And he left with like three or four and two hands later another guy busted him.”
Andrea Polanco
“So this competition you’re facing players from across the world, over six thousand it started out with over six thousand players, right now, right so what’s that competition like?”
Bahdi Bounahra
“Now we’re down to the final nine in November we’re gonna decide who’s gonna be the World Champion.”
Andrea Polanco
“So do you have maybe have a standing, a ranking out of that nine?”
Bahdi Bounahra
“Number six in chips right now.”
Andrea Polanco
“Ok, so how many chips is that?”
Bahdi Bounahra
“I think its nineteen point seven million or something like that I don’t remember. I didn’t count after that once we came down to the nine everybody is equal.”
Andrea Polanco
“So, how many did you start out with?”
Bahdi Bounahra
“Thirty thousand.”
Andrea Polanco
“And now you’re nineteen…”
Bahdi Bounahra
“Point seven million.”
Andrea Polanco
“So I know that you’re in the final nine that means it translates to some big cash. You care to tell us maybe how many that would have you at this time?”
Bahdi Bounahra
“Right now I’m not looking at that. Right now I’m looking to promote Belize and all my supporters from Belize are gonna be using the Belize hat and the Belize flag. Come November we’re gonna rock that arena.”
Andrea Polanco
“So you’re going back in November, you’re expecting to take it all.”
Bahdi Bounahra, Finalist, World Series of Poker
“That’s the goal, not for me but for Belize.”
Andrea Polanco
“I know that you’re going to be here up until November and you play locally with your buddies and everything. Do you expect to be playing still leading up to November?”
Bahdi Bounahra
“My life is not gonna change. It’s gonna be the same, before November, before July and after November.”
Andrea Polanco
“Some people are saying it’s luck, others are saying it’s skills. What you think places you at this point where you are at this time?”
Bahdi Bounahra
“It has to do with both. It’s a little bit of luck, a little of skill, a little bit of good timing.”
Andrea Polanco
“So when you started out in this competition, did you expect to be in the final nine?”
Bahdi Bounahra
“I never even dreamed of that but that’s every poker player’s dream.”
Andrea Polanco
“Mr. Bob I have to ask right, people are saying this is history for Belize, you know this is really big. And at this time people are speculating saying this is close to a million dollars it has placed you?”
Bahdi Bounahra
“I always say to all the reporters that asked me, this is a life changing event. What does it mean to you? I said, at this moment I’m taking it day by day. It means nothing to me at this moment. I want to promote my country Belize and we go from there after November we will see what happens.”
Andrea Polanco
“So any final comments that you’d like to leave with the country of Belize?”
Bahdi Bounahra
“Go Belize, Go!”
Bounahra ranks at number six of the nine finalists.
He didn’t raise “under the ground” he raised “under the gun”. That means he was the first one to act. The first hand to the left of the dealer makes a forced small blind bet. That means he puts in the chips without seeing his cards. The next player puts in twice that amount, also without seeing his cards. This ensures action on every hand. Now the next player to the left looks at his hand and then he has the option to call the big blind, raise, or fold. This is the position called under the gun. In this hand he decided to raise with King high, hoping everybody else would have a poor hand and throw it away, and they all did till it came round to Bob’s turn. Bob did a great acting job with his great hand of two kings, and eventually pushed all his chips in, looking rather reluctant. This convinced the raiser to think that Bob had a smaller pair and he called the allin bet. Now the rest of the cards were dealt and Bob took the pot, doubling up his 9 million chips while the other guy’s stack went down from 13 milion to 4 million and he lost that shortly afterwards.
Well played Bob.
Yeah big up.Good tight playing and i hope the angels of poker continue to smile on you for BELIZE because we could sure use the help. Use these 3 months to make BELIZE attractive for investors, while using your influence to let gov’t do all it can to bring back investor confidence.
I am into poker so good luck and happy playing for you and Belize!
Great for Bahdi and great for Belize. I am happy to see a guy who wants to put Belize high on the international list. This is what is called NATIONALISTIC! All the best to Bob.