Park Woods Dr. - Keith K. outlasted head's-up opponent Jason Ta. and went on to capture his first career regular season victory in the early morning hours Sunday to claim the 10th Event of Season 5's Fish 'N' Chips Poker Tour!
Park Woods Dr. became the 6th venue to host a FNCPT event. Nineteen of the league's twenty regular players reserved a seat for the much anticipated no-ante event. Marc H. opted out and was replaced by none other than Sean O. The opening deals went out just after 7 P.M.
In the first 80 minutes of play, rebuys were purchased by Anita G, Eric W. and Mike T. After the dinner break and shortly into level 5, Jim O. became the evening's first elimination when his pocket ace's were cracked by Eric W's flopped trip 10's. Bill B. followed Jim in 19th place when his two-pair of jacks and tens were torched by Chris Ba's and John M's straights which chopped the pot.
Jim H. and Anita G. were eliminated on the same hand (out 18th and 17th respectively) courtesy of Mike M's river flush which scooped the pot.
Mike T's dismal night finally ended after his suited K-9 failed to outdraw John M's pocket 10's thus sending him to the rail in 16th place. Sean followed Mike in 15th place after his A-10 failed to outdraw Tom W's pocket kings.
Angie S. bowed out in 14th place after she pushed all-in with pocket 9's PF and got a caller in Fran's pocket 10's which held up.
Shortly after moving to the blue table, Keith looked down at A-4 and min-raised to 300 with blinds at 75/150. Nick G. called for his last 300. An ace hit the flop and to add insult to injury, another ace came on the river. Nick mucked his cards and was out in 13th place. Keith then bounced Mike M. out in 12th place with J-10 after Mike "got-it-in-good" holding A-K.
The evening's 10th elimination came courtesy of Kevin A. whose normally loose, super-ultra-aggressive style of play wore a muzzle on this night. Kevin's A-J bettered John M's A-8. Kevin stated he "toned down" his playing style a little this evening strictly for league points which are now at a premium.
Desperately needing a strong finish and a cash, Eric W. found himself all-in after pairing his ace on the flop holding A-7. Unfortunately for Eric, Keith looked him up with A-8. No help came on the turn and river for him and he was out in 10th place thus forming the final table.
Fran D. was the first elimination from the final table after moving all-in for 825 ahead of Chris S's raise of 625 and Chris Ba's flat call. The 5-8-4-K-10 board was checked down and Chris S. revealed K-J for top pair. Fran (J-10) and Chris Ba. mucked their holdings.
Short-stacked, Lolly found herself all-in with the Qc-3c and a caller in Keith with A-4. Running ace's on the flop and turn sent her to the rail in 8th place.
Chris Ba. was out next after finding himself all-in in a three-way pot which ended up being claimed by Keith's club flush. Chris S. followed Chris Ba. when his A-10 ran into Kevin's A-Q (all-in PF) on a board of rags.
Tom W. was eliminated on the bubble after moving-in PF with A-6. Kevin called him with J-10 and the K-Q-8-6-A board gave Kevin a rivered straight.
Four-handed play between Keith, Jason Ta, Jason Tr. and Kevin started with Keith holding a sizeable chip lead with blinds at 200/400. Kevin and Jason Tr. manned the short stacks.
Just a couple of hands into four-handed play, Kevin was all-in holding A-J and Keith called with A-K. The K-Q-5 flop put Keith into the lead with a pair of kings. Kevin needed a 10 for a straight or running jacks. The 8 turn was no help. Kevin was down to a 10 for a win. He'd done it an elimination earlier to Tom. But it wasn't meant to be as a 9 appeared instead and Kevin was out in 3rd place.
Jason Tr. desperately needed a deep run Saturday night and he'd accomplished just that with only 3 players remaining. But he was short-stacked and out of options. He took a stand with 7d-8d against Keith's Kh-10s. The 10s-2h-6d flop immediately put Keith in front with a pair of 10's but a glimmer of hope appeared for Jason in the form of running diamonds or a 9 for a GSSD. The 2h turn eliminated the flush possibility leaving him drawing to a four-outer. The 7s river card ended Jason's night and the tournament went head's-up.
Keith and Jason Ta. played head's-up through the 300/600 level and into the 500/1,000 level. Both players battled back and forth and Keith held a 2.5-1 chip lead over his opponent when the final hand of the tournament was dealt.
On the final hand, Keith raised to 3,000 and Jason called in the BB. The Qh-Jh-9c flop was dealt and Jason moved all-in. Keith snap called and revealed the Ah-6h while Jason turned over the Qd-9h for two-pair and the lead. Keith needed any heart, running aces or 6's for the win. The 7h arrived on the turn giving Keith the lead with an ace-high flush. Jason needed a queen or a 9 to play another hand. But the 7s came instead and Keith had his first FNCPT win!
This is Keith's first FNCPT regular season win! He has finished runner-up four times. The fifth time was a charm!
Congrats Keith on your first win and thanks to everyone who came out for S5E10!
~Jason Tr.
April 8 Update
The top five players in the overall standings remained unchanged at the conclusion of E10.
With his 2nd place E10 finish, Jason Ta. moved from 8th place to 6th place overall. With his E10 victory, Keith re-entered the A8 in 7th place overall with 35.52 points. In the process, Keith bumped Jim O. down to the final spot and Chris S. to the outside looking in at 9th place. However, Chris is just 0.47 points out of the final spot.
Only 1 event remains! Here is the updated "April 8" through 10 events:
- Bill B. (63.20 points)
- Sean O. (49.86 points)
- Fran D. (41.98 points)
- Jim H. (39.70 points)
- Nick G. (39.66 points)
- Jason Ta. (39.04 points)
- Keith K. (35.52 points)
- Jim O. (34.43 points)
With a 4th place E10 finish, Kevin remained 11th in the overall standings at 28.80 points and 5.63 points out of 8th place.
Behind Kevin, the point differential increases to Marc H. in 12th place at 9.47 points out of the 8th spot.
But E11 is anticipated to fill at 20 players. If it does, first place will reward a whopping 17.32 points! With 20 players, second place is worth 11.55 points and 3rd place would be worth 8.66 points!
With this amount of points up for grabs, anything can happen!
Good luck to everyone in the Season 5 regular season finale!
