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In the final tournament before the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, two PocketFivers stood out from the rest. Josh brikdog24 Brikis and Faraz The-Toilet Jaka took second and third, respectively, in the $5,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em Six-Max event, earning a combined $1 million. The tournament was one of the most lucrative so far by members of the online poker community, who have piled up a record 13 gold bracelets and earned just over $20 million. On Friday, the 2009 WSOP Main Event kicks off from inside the Amazon Room at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas with the first of four starting days. All of the action can be found on PocketFivesLive.com, your source for WSOP coverage of online poker players.

It took four hands of heads-up play for the tournament’s eventual winner, Hawrilenko, to defeat PocketFiver and earn a colossal $1 million for first place. In the final pot, Brikis (pictured at left) pushed all-in over the top of a raise by Hawrilenko with A-9 of diamonds. However, Hawrilenko called and flipped up pocket jacks. The flop came 2-8-8 rainbow, preserving Hawrilenko’s lead in the hand, and a three on the turn and 10 on the river sealed his fate. Brikis earned a $619,000 consolation prize from the $5,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em Six-Max event, which generated a staggering field of 928 runners.

PocketFivesLive.com Tournament Reporter Rich Ryan took some time out from ogling Mike Tyson in the Ante Up for Africa event to comment on Brikis’ runner-up performance: “Brikis battled all of Day 2. He was fortunate enough to hit a two-outer early on and parlayed his run-good into a final table performance. Brikis grabbed an early chip lead after knocking out two opponents, but was behind Hawrilenko when it got to heads-up play. Second place is always frustrating, but nothing can be taken away from him, especially the $619,609 he earned for his performance.” Entering heads-up play, Brikis was a 9:5 chip underdog.

Taking third in the $5,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em Six-Max event was Faraz The-Toilet Jaka (pictured at right), who found himself in a classic race situation with his tournament life hanging in the balance holding pocket queens against Hawrilenko’s A-K. Sure enough, Hawrilenko spiked an ace on the flop and never looked back. Jaka earned $400,000 for his efforts, his fourth cash of the 2009 WSOP. Ryan noted, “He can sometimes be over-aggressive, but it was his aggressiveness that allowed him to make a deep run in Event #56. Jaka had no fear at the final table, always pushing the action and applying pressure on his opponents. In the end, he was unlucky and lost a flip, but I doubt this will be the last time we’ll see him at a WSOP final table.”

Meanwhile, the $5,000 buy-in Ante Up for Africa tournament brought out Hollywood’s heavy hitters and poker’s elite all with one goal in mind: raising money for several worthwhile charities. PocketFivers turned out in droves for the gala, which is hosted by Annie Duke. Those in attendance included Jason treysfull21 Mercier (pictured at left), Matt mattg1983 Graham, and Jeff yellowsub Williams. Others who hit the felts included Tyson, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Brad Garrett, Jason Alexander, and rapper Nelly.

Ryan, who worked the red carpet in the hours leading up to the start of the charity tournament, recalled, “Ante Up for Africa is a great event. You can tell that the pros and celebrities are happy to be able to come play poker with no stress attached. Plenty of online guys including Shaun shaundeeb Deeb, Mike SowersUNCC Sowers, and Adam Roothlus Levy showed their support. This kind of event sheds a positive light on the world of poker, which is always beneficial during a time of political difference.” The Ante Up for Africa event raised over $360,000 for several charities, including the ENOUGH Project, Refugees International, and the International Rescue Committee. It will air on ESPN on Tuesday, August 11th.

Friday marks Day 1A of the 2009 WSOP Main Event. The $10,000 buy-in tournament features four starting days and will play down to its final table on July 15th. Then, the action will pause until November. PocketFivers already spotted in the Amazon Room to begin their quest for poker immortality include Steve thorladen Weinstein, Steve MrTimCaum O’Dwyer, Chris moorman1 Moorman (pictured at right), Jason JP_OSU Potter, Jamie pokerjamers Armstrong, Jon sketchy1 Eaton, and Michael Gags30 Galgliano.

Will a PocketFiver win the Main Event? It all starts on Friday with Day 1A! Check out PocketFivesLive.com for WSOP coverage of online poker players.