BY TOM SOMACH

It’s a lot easier facing your foes’ flushes and straights than their bullets and bombs, just ask Qushqar “Sonny” Morad of Afghanistan.

He’s away from his war-torn homeland, participating in the 2007 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas, trying to duplicate his success of the past.

At the 2002 WSOP, Morad won a gold bracelet in a seven-card stud event, and has been vying for bracelet No. 2 ever since.

He almost came close, but was nipped at the wire by Alan Smurfit, who has won ‘07 WSOP Event #33, a $1,500 buy-in, pot-limit Omaha tournament with 293 entries and a total prize pool of $1,684,305.

For his winning effort, Smurfit, of Miami, Fla., USA, takes homes $464,867.

The runnerrup money wasn’t bad, either, as Morad scoops up $279,595.

Later, in Event #34, 296 participants vied for part of the $816,960 prize pool in a $3,000 buy-in, limit Texas hold ‘em tourney.

The event was won by Alex Borteh of Columbus, Oh., USA, who earned $225,483 for the win.

Coming in second was Brandon Wong of Fresno, Calif., USA, who garnered $135,615.

Event #35 was a $1,500 buy-in, no-limit Texas hold ‘em tourney with 2,564 entrants and a total prize pool of $3,468,465.

It was won by young Ryan Young, a 23-year-old diaper dandy from Torrance, Calif., USA, who copped $615,955 for the victory.

The runnerup was Dustin Dirksen of Iowa City, Ia., USA, who snagged $381,381.

Event #36 was a $5,000 buy-in, Omaha high-low, eight or better tournament with 280 entrants and a total prize pool of $1,300,000.

The winner was John Guth of Vancouver, Wash., USA, who is $363,216 (minus taxes) wealthier than he was before the event.

Finishing in second was Robert Stevanovski of Charlotte, N.C., USA, whose take was $218,456.

It was the fourth career WSOP cash-out for Stevanovski, who moneyed once at the 2005 WSOP, once at the 2006 WSOP and once previously this WSOP.

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)