Norborne - Season Five kicked off with a bigger buyin doublestack that left four players fighting it out until the wee hours of the morning. As it got down to heads up, Bill and Sean agreed to chop the prize money, but they fought it out on the felt for the points. When it was all said and done, Bill was the last man standing, starting Season Five the same way he ended Season Four: on top.
All twenty seats were full for a short period of time, with Sean O. filling in the last seat. A cancellation early in the week was unfilled and the event kicked off with 19 players. Players were late to arrive and the event got start about 15 minutes later than scheduled.
Tom was the first player to hit the rail, when he out-flopped Lolly. Holding TJ,Tom made it 12k to go when the flop came out TJ7. After Lolly re-popped him, Tom shoved and Lolly called, revealing AA and finding herself a 3:1 dog. But a 7 on the turn gave Lolly a better two pair and the ace on the river just added insult to injury. Frustrated, Tom headed for the door.
Season Four's Player of the Year was not Player of the Night: Jim H. followed Tom out the door with an 18th-place finish. Keith was the next one down when he put all of his chips at risk with TT versus Kevin's AQ. Kevin took the pot down when an ace fell on the river.
In similar fashion, Chris S. put his tournament-life at risk with JJ and was called by Sean's AK. Sean won the coin flip when a king came on the river and Chris headed home in 16th place.
The next elimination came when Chris S. and Jason Ta. tangled in a pot. Preflop, Jason raised to 50k holding QQ and Chris shoved for his last 132k. Jason insta-called and was quickly behind on the 9K3 flop, giving Chris top-top with his AK. Chris was in the driver's seat until a queen fell on the river, giving Jason the pot.
Angie aggressively bet when she flopped top pair, but unfortunately for her, the flop hit Jason Tr. too. Jason's set of 7's held up, sending Angie home in 14th place.
Lolly pushed all in holding AJ only to have Eric come over the top,isolating Lolly when the rest of the table folded. Eric revealed KK for a sizeable lead, but the flop gave Lolly an inside straight draw. A harmless deuce and trey completed the board and Lolly was eliminated in 13th place.
As the number of players dwindled, Nick started playing more aggressively. He raised to to 60k with 55 and was re-raised by John for 84k allin. Without fold-equity, Nick called and found himself ahead in the coin flip. John missed the board and Nick's pocket fives took down the pot, sending John home in 12th place.
The longer blind levels allowed for more play through the critical stages of the tournament and as both tables played short-handed, the short stacks tightened up and the smart players started stealing. Mike pushed all in with QJ and Anita called with Q5. Everything looked great for Mike as it appeared his aggression would pay off in the form of a double up. But his hopes were dashed when a 5hit the river, giving Anita the pot and sending Mike home in 11th place.
It was bubble-time. The final table bubble burst when Jim O. was eliminated in 10th place. The April 8 bubble burst when Eric re-raised Sean's 90k preflop bet to 165k allin. Eric KQ was ahead of Sean's KT until a Q hit the river, giving Sean a straight. The remaining players (Bill, both Jasons, Kevin, Anita, Nick and Sean) would all start the season as part of the April 8.
The first April 8'er to fall was Anita. Jason shoved 235k in the pot with TT and Anita called with K9. But without help from the board, Anita lost the pot and hit the rail in 8th place.
Nick had built a healthy stack from his previous aggressive play, but he was doubling-up the short stacks on the regular, putting him in a bad spot. With the blinds at 20k/40k Nick put the last of his chips at risk with K9 -- the same hand that eliminated his better half. Unfortunately for Nick, the results were also the same as the board brought him no help and Sean's A7 ws good enough to win the pot.
In the same blind level, Jason Ta. put his chips at risk with AQ. Sean's no-brainer call with QQ had Jason dominated and his hand held up, eliminating Jason Ta. in 6th place.
The 20k/40k blind level may be the level where champions are made under the new structure. The level claimed its third victim on the money bubble. Sean remained involved in the pots, bumping the preflop bet to 175k. Jason Tr. applied maximum pressure from the big blind, re-raising to 270k. Not going anywhere, Sean called and eliminated Jason, guaranteeing himself (and the other three players at the table) a payday.
Get to the choppa! With the elimination of Marc H. and Kevin A., play advanced to headsup play; Bill and Sean agreed to chop the prize money, but the players traded blows for quite awhile before the final hand of the night. Around 2:00 am, Sean was willing to risk all of his chips holding AT, and the KQ5 flop gave him an overcard and an inside straight draw. But the flop hit Bill for second pair and a dry turn and river gave the victory to Bill.
John claimed the $50 River Jackpot with the deuce of spades on the river. Thanks to everyone who came out for Event 1 and congrats to Bill on the victory!
~ Eric W.
