November 6, 2005

I have good news - and even better news! The good news is that Poker Superstars has been renewed for a third season. The better news is that by the time you are done reading this, we'll know who both people that will be in this year's finals will be!

The matches are -
Johnny Chan Vs. Scotty Nguyen
and
Carlos Mortenson Vs. Todd Brunson

It's a 2 out of 3 match. Whoever wins 2 matches goes to the finals.We start with Chan Vs. Nguyen.

Match #1

Round #1

Hand #1 - Nguyen has Big Slick, but it's Chan with a 9/7 ? that raises. Nguyen re-raises to $210,000 and Chan folds.

Hand #2 - Nguyen limps in with an A ? 6 ?. Chan raises with a Q ? J ? and Nguyen calls. The Flop - 9 ? 10 ? 5 ?. They both check, but Chan will bet with a J ? on the turn. That pairs Chan's Jacks and Nguyen, sensing that, folds.

Hand #3 - Chan has Cowboys and raises. Nguyen calls with a J ? 10 ?. The Flop is a 7 ? 8 ? 2 ?. That's a straight draw for Nguyen who bets at it. Chan goes All-In and Nguyen, who doesn't want to risk everything to try to catch a 9, folds.

Hand #4 - Chan raises with a A ? 6 ?. Nguyen has pocket Jacks and reraises. Chan senses that something is up and folds.

Hand #5 - Nguyen has a pair of 5's and raises. Chan has nothing (5 ? 4 ?) and calls. The FLop - Q ? A ? 7 ? and with 3 overcards on the 5's, Chan bets. Nguyen folds, despite having the better hand.

Hand #6 - Chan, with a 7 ? 3 ?, gets a free look at the Flop - 10 ? Q ? 7 ?. Chan gets 2 pair with a 3 ? on the river and bets at it. Nguyen has nothing and folds.

Hand #7 - Chan has a 10 ? 2 ? and limps in to Nguyen's Q ? J ?. The Flop - 4 ? 2 ? 7 ?. They both call and onto the Turn - Q ?. That pairs Nguyen's Queens and he bets. Chan calls to the River - 10 ? Chan now has 2 pair and bets at it. Nguyen calls and pays Chan off.

Hand #8 - Nguyen has a 9/4 ? and limps in. Chan has...K/Q ?. Uh-oh. Chan raises to Nguyen, who calls. The Flop - K ? Q ? 4 ?. Chan has the Top 2 pair and bets at it. Nguyen caught nothing on the Flop and folds to Chan.

Hand #9 - Chan has a J ? 8 ? and bets at it. Nguyen, with a K/6 ?, goes All-In. Chan doesn't call and Nguyen takes some blinds.

Hand #10 - Nguyen folds out to Chan's A/Q ?.

Hand #11 - Chan has a Q ? 10 h and calls. Nguyen has a Q h/ J ? and raises. Chan reraises to put Nguyen all-in and he calls. The Flop - 10 ? 2 ? 9 ? and Nguyen is in a big hole. The Turn - 3 ? which is no help. The River - 10 ?. That gives Chan three 10's and he wins the first round.

Round #2

Hand #1 - Nguyen has a 7 ? 4 ? while Chan has a K ? 6 ?. The Flop - 7 ? 2 ? 2 ? and Nguyen hits the 2 pair. Nguyen bets and Chan folds.

Hand #2 - Nguyen limps in with a A/10 ?. Chan calls with a 10/9 ?. The Flop - 3 ? K ? Q ?. Nguyen has a flush and bets at it. Chan folds again.

Hand #3 - Nguyen has a Q ? 3 ? as Nguyen limps in. Chan checks the A ? 10 d to the Flop - 9 ? 2 ? 5 ?. Nguyen bets and Chan calls. The Turn - a 3 ? and Nguyen has 3's. He bets and this time, Chan folds.

Hand #4 - Chan has more 10 ? 8 ? junk, but so does Nguyen with a 9 ? 6 ?. They check on the Flop (A ? 4 ? 5 ?) but the Turn, with an A ?. gets bet on by Chan. Chan folds and Nguyen wins the hand.

Hand #5 - Chan goes all in with a Q/J ? and Nguyen wants nothing to do with that.

Hand #6 - Nguyen has an A / 2 ? and limps in. Chan goes all-in with a K ? J ? and Nguyen folds again.

Hand #7 - Nguyen has 9's and just calls, Chan has pocket 8's and raises. It's time for fireworks. Nguyen goes all-in and Chan calls. The Flop - 5 ? J ? J ?. The Turn - 7 ? and only a 8 will end the match. The River...3 ?, and Nguyen doubles up AND takes the chip lead.

Hand #8 - Chan has pocket Jacks and raises. Nguyen has a K ? J ? and...goes All-in? Chan calls and only a King will help Nguyen. The Flop - 7 ? 9 ? 8 ? and that's not a King. The Turn - a J ?. The River - 6 ?. Chan doubles up and takes the chip lead back.

Hand #10 - Nguyen calls with a 7/5 ?. Chan has...8's and goes all-in. Nguyen folds it.

Hand #11 - Chan calls with a 9 ? 7 ?. Nguyen's cards? Big Slick of Diamonds and he goes all-in. Chan says he can't beat it and give his chips to Nguyen.

Hand #12 - Nguyen has 3's and goes all-in. Chan has a Q ? J ? and fold it, giving Nguyen some more blinds. Chan still holds the chip lead.

Hand #13 - Chan has an A ? 9 ? and calls. Nguyen has an A/6 ? and goes all-in. This time, Chan calls and we have a race. The Flop - 4 ? 5 ? 2 ? and Chan is clearly in the lead. The Turn - J ? and Nguyen needs a 3, 6, or diamond, The River - A ? and Chan gets the win. With that, he wins the match 2-0 and advances into the finals.

But we have another semi-final match-up to see...

Todd Brunson Vs. Carlos Mortenson

Match #2

Round #1

Hand #1 - Mortenson has an A / 8 ? and raises. Brunson has an A ? K ? and reraises. Mortenson goes all-in and Brunson calls. The Flop - 4 ? J ? Q ? and Mortenson needs some help. He's not going to get it with a 2 ? on the Turn or a 5 g; on the River, and Todd Brunson wins the first round..in a hand.

Round #2

Hand #1 - Mortenson has A ? K ? and raises. Brunson, with nothing, folds.

Hand #2 - Brunson limps in with A ? 7 ?. Mortenson checks with a 5/6 ?. The Flop - a ? A ? 6 ?. The Turn - A ?. Mortenson bets and Brunson raises it. Mortenson calls. River - 5 ? and Mortenson now has 2 pair, Brunson though has 3 Aces and bets. Mortenson calls and he is in trouble early.

Hand #3 - Mortenson has 7's and raises. Brunson has...pocket rockets and raises a little more. Mortenson reraises and Brunson goes all-in. Mortenson calls and sees that he needs a 7 or the match is over. The Flop - 5 ? Q ? 9 ?. The Turn - 2 ?. The River - 2 ?. Brunson wins the round and wins the match, also by a 2-0 score.

One of the finalists was to be expected - Johnny Chan. The other semi-finalist, Todd Brunson? Not so much, but they are both there, and they are your finalists.

Next Week - The Grand Finale. Someone is walking off with $400,000. Join us next week to find out who.