Monte Carlo - 2006 European Poker Tour
JEFF WILLIAMS WINS IT!!!!!
In a stunning run that saw the 19-year-old American storm through a field nearly 300-strong, Jeff Williams, a freshman at the University of Georgia, has won the European Poker Tour Grand Final. For his win, he takes home €900,000. Jeff's final hand was ATo versus the UK's Arshad Hussain's A8o. Williams earned his seat in the Grand Final in an online qualifer at PokerStars.com.
Seriously, is the European Poker Tour in Monte Carlo not worthy of CARDPLAYER.COM coverage? This tournament has recently been confirmed as having the biggest prize pool ever outside of the United States.
JEFF WILLIAMS WINS IT!!!!! AT vs A8 all in pre-flop.
Jeff called Arshad's all in. Arshad flipped A8o. Jeff celebrated and turned over ATo. The board came out 597/7/3. Jeff wins it!!
10:49pm--And as sure as I predict dueling poker being played, the two biggest stacks decided to hit each other with frozen ropes. Aleksander came in for a raise, Jeff came over the top, Aleksander thought for a moment and then called with K8. Jeff looked disgusted and flipped over QT. The board ran out...and spiked a ten on the river. Aleksander was eliminated in third place and earns €251,000.
10:02pm--Bad time to read Jeff for a bluff. Marc and Jeff check down the board until the river, where Jeff bets 60K. Marc calls and then mucks when he sees Jeff's jack-high flush.On the very next hand, Marc (down to 120K or so in chips) moves all in and Jeff instantly calls. Marc shows 85o. Jeff shows a pair of nines. The flop came down 574, giving Marc a pair and a gutshot draw. The turn was a deuce, giving Marc four more outs. But the river was another four and Marc has been eliminated in fouth place, earning, €195,000.
9:47pm--Marc raises to 60K, looks at the table and says, "Re-raise me." Jeff obliges and re-raises to 250K. Uh-oh. Looks like Aleksander is counting his chips. This could be a dangerous spot for Jeff. Nevermind, we're back to Marc, who looks plainly at Jeff and says, "I think you're full of it." Still, Marc could be full of it as well. The amount of time that has elapsed since the action came back to him likely tells the story. Marc isn't calling. He turns over AT offsuit and mucks.
7:47pm--Jeff Williams just loves to re-raise from the big blind. Facing a button raise to 60K from Aleksander, Jeff comes over the top for more than 150K more. In the past, Heff has folded to an all-in re-raise. Aleksander doesn't look like he can play his hand for the much. However, maybe he's just a good actor. No, in fact, he doesn't want to play.
7:17pm--Some people might start calling Jeff Williams a bully. Marc raised from the small blind and Jeff came over the top all in. Marc didn't like his hand well enough to call and laid it down.
6:44pm--With Ross and Thierry shortstacked on his left, Jeff is taking full advantage of his lead, moving all-in whenever it is only he and the others left to act.
Seat 1: Marc Karam (Canada) 231,900
Marc hails from Ottawa, Canada and in recent months has developed quite a reputation as a poker player there. After cashing in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, the well-dressed PokerStars qualifier quietly made his way to the final table in Monte Carlo
Seat 2: Marcel Luske (Holland) 486,000
A player who needs no introduction, The Flying Dutchman is famous all over the world for his stellar poker play, sharp dress, upside-down sunglasses, and table-side serenades.
Seat 3: Jeff Williams (USA) 495,700
American University of Georgia Student Jeff Williams (known online as "yellowsub86") traveled from the music capital of the Southeast, Athens, GA, to play in his first major live event. At just 19, he stands to make more money than he's ever seen. As a surprise, the Bobby Baldwin look-alike's parents just dropped in before the final table to root him on. Williams qualified on PokerStars.com.
Seat 4: Ross Boatman (UK) 119,700
Another player in need of no introduction, Ross Boatman is a member of the famous (perhaps, infamous) Hendon Mob. Boatman has been a force at the tables for years and it comes as no surprise to anyone that Boatman is here.
Seat 5: Thierry Cazals (France) 766,650
French management consultant Thierry Cazals makes a profession of turning businesses from failing to success. Now, he has turned several near-death poker experiences into the chip lead at the final table.Seat 6: Arshad Hussain (UK) 131,600A well-known UK player with a taste for flashy cars, Arshad Hussain is an FPP qualifier on PokerStars.com. When ehads up on his PS qualifier, his opponent offered him a deal, which he refused, preferring to play in this event than take any cash. He had only 6000 in chips after day one and was feeling horrible about his chances. But in a taxi, a cameraman told him about youg Ben Grundy who last year survived on a shortstack all the way to the final table. Arshad has done the same.
Seat 6: Arshad Hussain (UK) 131,600
A well-known UK player with a taste for flashy cars, Arshad Hussain is an FPP qualifier on PokerStars.com. When heads up in his PokerStars qualifier, Arshad's opponent offered him a deal, which he refused, preferring to play in this event than take any cash. He had only 6000 in chips after day one and was feeling horrible about his chances. But in a taxi, a cameraman told him about young Ben Grundy who last year survived on a shortstack all the way to the final table. Arshad has done the same.
Seat 7: Fraser Dunphy (UK) 125,600
Fraser Dunphy is like a lot of recent graduated university students. It's been several months since he graduated. Since then, he's not found himself in a job. Nonetheless, he's found a way to pay the bills. He's beenn playing poker. He says any money he makes at this final table will be far and away his biggest win. No word on whether he'll keep looking for a job after this.
Seat 8: Aleksander Strandli (Norway) 633,500
Aleksander 'Klinsmann18' Strandli's dream was to join the Norway army equivalent of the SAS. But his nickname of Smaen, which means 'the little one' in Norwegian couldn't have been more apt. Aleksander only weighs 64kg. SAS training involves running around with a 68kg backpack on. In February, an Norwegian online company took Aleks to the EPT Deauville tournament as a blogger. While there, he entered a $500 side event, and won it for 68,000 euros. A few weeks later, he qualifies on PokerStars.com for the EPT Grand Final. And now he's on the final table as second chip leader ...guaranteed at least 84,000 euros even if he goes out in the next five minutes!
EPT Monte Carlo Final (TV) Table
Seat 1: Marc Karam (Canada) 231,900
Seat 2: Marcel Luske (Holland) 486,000
Seat 3: Jeff Williams (USA) 495, 700
Seat 4: Ross Boatman (UK) 119,700
Seat 5: Tierry Cazals (France) 766,650
Seat 6: Arshad Hussain (UK) 131,600
Seat 7: Fraser Dunphy (UK) 125,600
Seat 8: Aleksander Strandli (Norway) 633,500
11:06pm--Players are on a 15 minute break with 11 competitors remaining. Things will get interesting here, with blind going up to 5000/10000/100011:25pm--
Fresh Chip Count
BOATMAN,ROSS 140K
GRUNDY, BEN 268K
WILLIAMS, JEFF 464K
CAZALS, THIERRY 850K
LUSKE, MARCEL 379K
TELTSCHER,MARK 156K
HUSSAIN, ARSHAD 58K
KARAM, MARC 156K
WAHLROOS, THOMAS 180K
DUNPHY,FRASER 184K
STRANDLI, ALEKSANDER 160K
2:02am--31 players remain. Rob Hollink was just eliminated when his AQ ran into QQ. Alex Grishchuk was just eliminated when he pushed with KQo. Jeff Williams called with 55, flopped a set, and sent the chess champ to the rail. In other news, Greg Raymer is heads up with Per Ummer in the $20,000 sit and go.
1:25am--Jeff Williams carries on his relentless roller coaster ride taking out Paul Maxfield's big slick with a queen on the flop to supplement his QJ. Thirty-seven players remain. That means 10 until the money. By the way, about three hours ago, I said we would finish with 36 players tonight. My line may be in trouble.
12:30pm--Dustin Dirksen cannot be stopped. He is the clear chip leader with more than 288,000. In other news, Karin Lundberg is out. Matthew Davey has 27K. Radu Butan has 58K. Arshad Hussain has 94K. More chip counts coming after this break is over. We're heading into the final level of the night.
12:01am--Oh, the poker world can be so lonely (unless your wife girlfriend is permanently behind the ropes and therefore 100% behind you). We all need that support, not least of all Radu, who received such love from from his lovely wife girlfriend after he folded a pot he's already fed around 50k into. Jeff Williams pushed him off the pot and then rubbed salt into the sore by showing K10 offsuit with a flop of Jc2c6s. Radu said he had two pair. Williams has chipped up to more than 140K
11:18pm--Breaking side game news...Not to be outdone by the $10,000 Sit and Go from last night, players are lining up for, indeed, a $20,000 SNG. I took a quick peek at the table. I've found Greg Raymer, Patrik Antonius, Erik Sagstrom, and a few other familiar faces. So far they have nine players. If they make ten, the winner walks with $140,000.
10:04pm--BIG bust out as Nathan Hargis just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He raised, got re-raised, and pushed pre-flop with his 40k. He is immediately called by the kid, Jeff Williams, who turns over AA. Nathan rather reluctantly shows his QJ. Hargis mae his queen on the flop, but never gets better. Great sportsmanship ensues as Nathan wishes Williams well AND means it. Williams now has around 90K in chips.
2:34pm--Johan Storakers first to bust out having been on 15k overnight. His chips going to Bobby Baldwin look-alike Jeff "yellowsub86" Williams already sitting pretty with 53k Both players sat on the same table as PokerStars FPP qualifier Matthew Davey who is still holding his own.
2:52pm--Jeff Williams can't be stopped. On a board of K572K Williams came out for a 12.275k and pushes FPP-qualifier Matthew Davey off a pot already worth nearly 20k.
3:44pm--Dustin Dirksen just bubsted Anthony Lellouche. Anthony came in for a raise, Dirksen re-raised with AK, Lellouche pushed, and Dirksen called. Lellouche showed AJ.
The Big Side Game Action
There has been a tremendous amount of interest in the $10,000 Sit and Go that stretched into the early morning hours. Here was my final dispatch of the morning. Just before 4:30am, 2005 WSOP Champion Joe Hachem got heads up with online stalwart MrSmokey1 in the richest Sit&Go in EPT history, a record $10,000 per player. In the the first of the two biggest hands of heads up play, MrSmokey1 got his money in with AT versus Hachem's KQ. A queen on the river doubled Hachem up. Ultimately, MrSmokey1 picked the wrong time to make a move and pushed in his stack with 62o. Hachem looked down to see pocket aces. The bullets held up and Hachem took home the lion's share of the money. While the exact financial terms are between the players, it appeared to be a 70/30 split, which is to say, neither man walked away without some thick wads in his pocket. As I type, they are all going out for breakfast together...Hachem is buying.
Bluesqpoker.com - Unusual Suspects: "Jen Mason Leads the Field in the Pokerstars.com EPT Grand Final
Unusual Suspects winner Jen Mason is the overnight chip leader after day 1a of the Pokerstars.com EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo. Half of the 300 strong field started in what is the biggest event ever in European poker. With a prize pool that will be around the 3,000,000 mark, the first prize is likely to be almost 1,000,000 euro.
Jen started the day slowly and it was a couple of hours into the day before she managed to build her stack significantly above the 10,000 starting chips that each player received. Once she managed to get into her stride there was no stopping her.
Her stack slowly but steadily grew from 15,000 to 22,000 to 28,000, but in the last couple of hours of play she managed to win a couple of big pots to take her overnight chip count to 62,500. Jens total was the largest of the 66 remaining players and she now has a rest day while the second half of the field get underway. "
In a stunning run that saw the 19-year-old American storm through a field nearly 300-strong, Jeff Williams, a freshman at the University of Georgia, has won the European Poker Tour Grand Final. For his win, he takes home €900,000. Jeff's final hand was ATo versus the UK's Arshad Hussain's A8o. Williams earned his seat in the Grand Final in an online qualifer at PokerStars.com.
Seriously, is the European Poker Tour in Monte Carlo not worthy of CARDPLAYER.COM coverage? This tournament has recently been confirmed as having the biggest prize pool ever outside of the United States.
JEFF WILLIAMS WINS IT!!!!! AT vs A8 all in pre-flop.
Jeff called Arshad's all in. Arshad flipped A8o. Jeff celebrated and turned over ATo. The board came out 597/7/3. Jeff wins it!!
10:49pm--And as sure as I predict dueling poker being played, the two biggest stacks decided to hit each other with frozen ropes. Aleksander came in for a raise, Jeff came over the top, Aleksander thought for a moment and then called with K8. Jeff looked disgusted and flipped over QT. The board ran out...and spiked a ten on the river. Aleksander was eliminated in third place and earns €251,000.
10:02pm--Bad time to read Jeff for a bluff. Marc and Jeff check down the board until the river, where Jeff bets 60K. Marc calls and then mucks when he sees Jeff's jack-high flush.On the very next hand, Marc (down to 120K or so in chips) moves all in and Jeff instantly calls. Marc shows 85o. Jeff shows a pair of nines. The flop came down 574, giving Marc a pair and a gutshot draw. The turn was a deuce, giving Marc four more outs. But the river was another four and Marc has been eliminated in fouth place, earning, €195,000.
9:47pm--Marc raises to 60K, looks at the table and says, "Re-raise me." Jeff obliges and re-raises to 250K. Uh-oh. Looks like Aleksander is counting his chips. This could be a dangerous spot for Jeff. Nevermind, we're back to Marc, who looks plainly at Jeff and says, "I think you're full of it." Still, Marc could be full of it as well. The amount of time that has elapsed since the action came back to him likely tells the story. Marc isn't calling. He turns over AT offsuit and mucks.
7:47pm--Jeff Williams just loves to re-raise from the big blind. Facing a button raise to 60K from Aleksander, Jeff comes over the top for more than 150K more. In the past, Heff has folded to an all-in re-raise. Aleksander doesn't look like he can play his hand for the much. However, maybe he's just a good actor. No, in fact, he doesn't want to play.
7:17pm--Some people might start calling Jeff Williams a bully. Marc raised from the small blind and Jeff came over the top all in. Marc didn't like his hand well enough to call and laid it down.
6:44pm--With Ross and Thierry shortstacked on his left, Jeff is taking full advantage of his lead, moving all-in whenever it is only he and the others left to act.
Seat 1: Marc Karam (Canada) 231,900
Marc hails from Ottawa, Canada and in recent months has developed quite a reputation as a poker player there. After cashing in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, the well-dressed PokerStars qualifier quietly made his way to the final table in Monte Carlo
Seat 2: Marcel Luske (Holland) 486,000
A player who needs no introduction, The Flying Dutchman is famous all over the world for his stellar poker play, sharp dress, upside-down sunglasses, and table-side serenades.
Seat 3: Jeff Williams (USA) 495,700
American University of Georgia Student Jeff Williams (known online as "yellowsub86") traveled from the music capital of the Southeast, Athens, GA, to play in his first major live event. At just 19, he stands to make more money than he's ever seen. As a surprise, the Bobby Baldwin look-alike's parents just dropped in before the final table to root him on. Williams qualified on PokerStars.com.
Seat 4: Ross Boatman (UK) 119,700
Another player in need of no introduction, Ross Boatman is a member of the famous (perhaps, infamous) Hendon Mob. Boatman has been a force at the tables for years and it comes as no surprise to anyone that Boatman is here.
Seat 5: Thierry Cazals (France) 766,650
French management consultant Thierry Cazals makes a profession of turning businesses from failing to success. Now, he has turned several near-death poker experiences into the chip lead at the final table.Seat 6: Arshad Hussain (UK) 131,600A well-known UK player with a taste for flashy cars, Arshad Hussain is an FPP qualifier on PokerStars.com. When ehads up on his PS qualifier, his opponent offered him a deal, which he refused, preferring to play in this event than take any cash. He had only 6000 in chips after day one and was feeling horrible about his chances. But in a taxi, a cameraman told him about youg Ben Grundy who last year survived on a shortstack all the way to the final table. Arshad has done the same.
Seat 6: Arshad Hussain (UK) 131,600
A well-known UK player with a taste for flashy cars, Arshad Hussain is an FPP qualifier on PokerStars.com. When heads up in his PokerStars qualifier, Arshad's opponent offered him a deal, which he refused, preferring to play in this event than take any cash. He had only 6000 in chips after day one and was feeling horrible about his chances. But in a taxi, a cameraman told him about young Ben Grundy who last year survived on a shortstack all the way to the final table. Arshad has done the same.
Seat 7: Fraser Dunphy (UK) 125,600
Fraser Dunphy is like a lot of recent graduated university students. It's been several months since he graduated. Since then, he's not found himself in a job. Nonetheless, he's found a way to pay the bills. He's beenn playing poker. He says any money he makes at this final table will be far and away his biggest win. No word on whether he'll keep looking for a job after this.
Seat 8: Aleksander Strandli (Norway) 633,500
Aleksander 'Klinsmann18' Strandli's dream was to join the Norway army equivalent of the SAS. But his nickname of Smaen, which means 'the little one' in Norwegian couldn't have been more apt. Aleksander only weighs 64kg. SAS training involves running around with a 68kg backpack on. In February, an Norwegian online company took Aleks to the EPT Deauville tournament as a blogger. While there, he entered a $500 side event, and won it for 68,000 euros. A few weeks later, he qualifies on PokerStars.com for the EPT Grand Final. And now he's on the final table as second chip leader ...guaranteed at least 84,000 euros even if he goes out in the next five minutes!
EPT Monte Carlo Final (TV) Table
Seat 1: Marc Karam (Canada) 231,900
Seat 2: Marcel Luske (Holland) 486,000
Seat 3: Jeff Williams (USA) 495, 700
Seat 4: Ross Boatman (UK) 119,700
Seat 5: Tierry Cazals (France) 766,650
Seat 6: Arshad Hussain (UK) 131,600
Seat 7: Fraser Dunphy (UK) 125,600
Seat 8: Aleksander Strandli (Norway) 633,500
11:06pm--Players are on a 15 minute break with 11 competitors remaining. Things will get interesting here, with blind going up to 5000/10000/100011:25pm--
Fresh Chip Count
BOATMAN,ROSS 140K
GRUNDY, BEN 268K
WILLIAMS, JEFF 464K
CAZALS, THIERRY 850K
LUSKE, MARCEL 379K
TELTSCHER,MARK 156K
HUSSAIN, ARSHAD 58K
KARAM, MARC 156K
WAHLROOS, THOMAS 180K
DUNPHY,FRASER 184K
STRANDLI, ALEKSANDER 160K
2:02am--31 players remain. Rob Hollink was just eliminated when his AQ ran into QQ. Alex Grishchuk was just eliminated when he pushed with KQo. Jeff Williams called with 55, flopped a set, and sent the chess champ to the rail. In other news, Greg Raymer is heads up with Per Ummer in the $20,000 sit and go.
1:25am--Jeff Williams carries on his relentless roller coaster ride taking out Paul Maxfield's big slick with a queen on the flop to supplement his QJ. Thirty-seven players remain. That means 10 until the money. By the way, about three hours ago, I said we would finish with 36 players tonight. My line may be in trouble.
12:30pm--Dustin Dirksen cannot be stopped. He is the clear chip leader with more than 288,000. In other news, Karin Lundberg is out. Matthew Davey has 27K. Radu Butan has 58K. Arshad Hussain has 94K. More chip counts coming after this break is over. We're heading into the final level of the night.
12:01am--Oh, the poker world can be so lonely (unless your wife girlfriend is permanently behind the ropes and therefore 100% behind you). We all need that support, not least of all Radu, who received such love from from his lovely wife girlfriend after he folded a pot he's already fed around 50k into. Jeff Williams pushed him off the pot and then rubbed salt into the sore by showing K10 offsuit with a flop of Jc2c6s. Radu said he had two pair. Williams has chipped up to more than 140K
11:18pm--Breaking side game news...Not to be outdone by the $10,000 Sit and Go from last night, players are lining up for, indeed, a $20,000 SNG. I took a quick peek at the table. I've found Greg Raymer, Patrik Antonius, Erik Sagstrom, and a few other familiar faces. So far they have nine players. If they make ten, the winner walks with $140,000.
10:04pm--BIG bust out as Nathan Hargis just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He raised, got re-raised, and pushed pre-flop with his 40k. He is immediately called by the kid, Jeff Williams, who turns over AA. Nathan rather reluctantly shows his QJ. Hargis mae his queen on the flop, but never gets better. Great sportsmanship ensues as Nathan wishes Williams well AND means it. Williams now has around 90K in chips.
2:34pm--Johan Storakers first to bust out having been on 15k overnight. His chips going to Bobby Baldwin look-alike Jeff "yellowsub86" Williams already sitting pretty with 53k Both players sat on the same table as PokerStars FPP qualifier Matthew Davey who is still holding his own.
2:52pm--Jeff Williams can't be stopped. On a board of K572K Williams came out for a 12.275k and pushes FPP-qualifier Matthew Davey off a pot already worth nearly 20k.
3:44pm--Dustin Dirksen just bubsted Anthony Lellouche. Anthony came in for a raise, Dirksen re-raised with AK, Lellouche pushed, and Dirksen called. Lellouche showed AJ.
The Big Side Game Action
There has been a tremendous amount of interest in the $10,000 Sit and Go that stretched into the early morning hours. Here was my final dispatch of the morning. Just before 4:30am, 2005 WSOP Champion Joe Hachem got heads up with online stalwart MrSmokey1 in the richest Sit&Go in EPT history, a record $10,000 per player. In the the first of the two biggest hands of heads up play, MrSmokey1 got his money in with AT versus Hachem's KQ. A queen on the river doubled Hachem up. Ultimately, MrSmokey1 picked the wrong time to make a move and pushed in his stack with 62o. Hachem looked down to see pocket aces. The bullets held up and Hachem took home the lion's share of the money. While the exact financial terms are between the players, it appeared to be a 70/30 split, which is to say, neither man walked away without some thick wads in his pocket. As I type, they are all going out for breakfast together...Hachem is buying.
Bluesqpoker.com - Unusual Suspects: "Jen Mason Leads the Field in the Pokerstars.com EPT Grand Final
Unusual Suspects winner Jen Mason is the overnight chip leader after day 1a of the Pokerstars.com EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo. Half of the 300 strong field started in what is the biggest event ever in European poker. With a prize pool that will be around the 3,000,000 mark, the first prize is likely to be almost 1,000,000 euro.
Jen started the day slowly and it was a couple of hours into the day before she managed to build her stack significantly above the 10,000 starting chips that each player received. Once she managed to get into her stride there was no stopping her.
Her stack slowly but steadily grew from 15,000 to 22,000 to 28,000, but in the last couple of hours of play she managed to win a couple of big pots to take her overnight chip count to 62,500. Jens total was the largest of the 66 remaining players and she now has a rest day while the second half of the field get underway. "
posted by PokerBlog at 3:28 PM
0 comments
