Famous celebrities, professional poker players, and four lucky contest winners all gathered at the largest poker room in the world, the beautiful Commerce Casino in Los Angeles. The final six were:
In Seat 1 Joe Cassidy, with $315,000.
In Seat 2 Antonio Esfandiari with $200,000.
In Seat 3 Phil Laak, with $110,000.
In Seat 4 Humberto Brenes, with $325,000.
In Seat 5 John Juanda, with $770,000.
In Seat 6 Harry Demetriou, with $275,000.
Esfandiari moved all in with A K. Laak, with pocket T’s, called. The flop came J 6 4 rainbow, the turn was a 2d, the river came a 9c, Laak had knocked Esfandiari in 6th place worth $8,000.
Demetriou with Ks Ts, raised $35,000. Cassidy, with As Jd, made it $85,000 to go, Demetriou then went go all-in. Cassidy, pot-committed, called the $117,000 bet, the flop came Qc Jh 3c, giving Demetriou a few more outs, but the board went 8c, 8h, and Demetriou was sent to the rail, with a $10,000 5th place finish.
Cassidy, on the button with 5h 5d, went all-in $262,000, perhaps not wanting a caller. He found a quick one in Laak, with As Td. The flop came Kd Qh 7d, giving Laak the inside straight draw, then 6d at the turn suddenly opened up the backdoor flush draw. 8d on the river gave Laak the fluch, crippling a disbelieving Cassidy.
Next hand, Cassidy was blinded all-in $17,000 with Qs 4s. Brenes, with A 9 offsuit, and Juanda, with 6d 4d, both called. They checked the board down, and when it went Kh 6s 5h Td 7s, Juanda picked up the pot, knocking Cassidy out in 4th place, with $14,000.
Laak bet $100,000. John Juanda looking down to find Ac 4d, went all-in over the top for $307,000. Laak, felt like gambling and called with Kh Qh, and the flop came Qs 3s 2d, giving him top pair, the turn and river came 7d, 4s, Juanda left in 3rd place, with an $18,000.
Brenes went all-in for $765,000 on Js 2d. Laak, with big slick Ac Kc, quickly called. Flop came Q 9 4 rainbow. Turn came 4h. When the river paired Laak’s K, he had won, Brenes went home in 2nd place, $38,000 richer. Laak, took home the title, a $100,000 check, and a $25,000 seat at the WPT Championship.
- Thomas Hardy
