Fish Tales: A Cinderella story

Ingram - Chris Ba. defeated opponent Nick G. in an intense head's-up battle to claim victory in this season's Qualifier Saturday night and secured the 9th and final seat in this season's Championship event!

The cards flew just after 7:30 P.M. with the following players, positions and chip stacks:

Chris Ba. (Dealer) 128,000
Lolly O. 121,500
Jason Tr. 129,500
Sean O. 121,500
Fran D. 131,000
Angie S. 128,000
Jim O. 125,500
Anita G. 113,500
Nick G. 128,000

The players played through the first 3 levels and into the dinner break without anyone being eliminated. This continued through level 7 where blinds reached 5k/10k/1k.

Ironically, last season's Qualifier winner Fran was the first player to hit the rail after he moved his short stack all-in with K-J with blinds at 7k/15k/2k. Anita made the call with A-7. A king and a 7 both appeared on the flop which put Fran in the lead. Unfortunately for Fran, another 7 turned putting Anita in the lead with trip 7's. The river missed and Fran was out.

Jim O. followed Fran in the same level when he called Chris' all-in with pocket deuces. Chris showed A-Q and Jim was ahead by a slim margin. The double-king flop gave Jim two-pair however a river 10 double-paired the board with kings and tens counterfeiting his holdings. Chris' ace played and Jim was out.

Last season's POTY Jason Tr. was out next after failing to find the answer to his recent card deadness in the form of Old Milwaukee Light. After action folded to him in the SB with blinds at 10k/20k/3k, he pushed his short stack all-in blind praying Sean in the BB would fold. Unfortunately for Jason, Sean looked down at A-J and made the quick call. Jason revealed Kd-4d and prayed for diamonds. An ace hit the flop, not enough diamonds came and Jason was gone.

Angie was eliminated in 6th place after calling Nick's PF all-in with Jh-8h. Nick's ace-high took the hand. Anita followed Angie (both victim's of the huge blinds and dwindling M) after moving with Q-7 and running into Lolly's A-K.

Sean O. managed to build up his stack and actually held the chip lead for a brief amount of time before going card dead and bleeding chips. Short-stacked and desperate, Sean made a move with pocket deuces and got a caller in Chris who tabled A-4. Sean lead until the river brought an ace sending him out in 4th place.

Lolly was out next after calling Nick's all-in with A-9 and initially leading after Nick showed J-10. The flop brought both a jack and a ten giving Nick a leading two-pair. The turn and river brought no help for her and she was out in 3rd place.

Head's-up play between Chris and Nick started in the 20k/40k blind level with Nick having a 4:1 chip advantage over his opponent. Over the course of several hands, Chris was able to chip away (pun intended) at his opponent's giant stack.

But the tables turned on the most pivotal hand of the tournament after Chris raised in the BB with the 8d-3c. Nick called and the flop brought the 3d-Jd-9h. Chris bet and Nick announced all-in. Chris called and Nick turned over 9c-10s for middle pair for a 77.4% to 22.6% lead. The 7d came on the turn keeping Nick in front 70.5% to 29.5% and on the brink to a Championship berth. But the 2d fell on the river giving Chris the winning flush and crippling his opponent.

Just a few hands later, the final hand of the tournament was dealt. With blinds at 25k/50k, Nick was all-in and Chris called. Chris revealed Ks-9d and Nick showed the Kd-Jc which dominated his opponent and poised him for a much needed double-up. But tragedy struck in the form of the 9c on the 3d-7c-9c flop giving Chris the lead. The Qc turn gave Nick a straight and flush draw but kept Chris ahead. But it was not to be for Nick (again) as the river brought the 4d and gave Chris the 9th and final seat in this season's Championship!