ULTIMATE BET'S
ARUBA CLASSIC

Proving that this IS an WORLD Poker Tour, the WPT travels to the tropical isle of Aruba and the Playa Linda Beach Resort for Ultimate Bet's Aruba Classic, the first of three internet-poker-sponsored tournaments this year.  Last year, the field was divided between "amateurs" and "pros".  THIS year, they're all together; a record 436 players started with a $4000 buy-in, either paid by themselves or won online.  The total prize pool: $1.695 million (hey, they can't ALL be over $3M).  The winner gets a solid half-million dollars and a seat at the WPT Championship at the Bellagio, which could be worth much, MUCH more.  After four days and nights of battling, six remain to fight in front of the cameras.  That's where I come in.  I'm a recapper.  I have a computer.

Let's take a look at the suspects for this record-breaking tournament:

PLAYERCHIP COUNT
Anthony Fagan
Irish online player; owns Chinese restaurant in Dublin (no, I'm not kidding)		$907,000
Barry Shulman
Owner and publisher of CardPlayer
magazine		$792,000
Ted Harrington
Online qualifier from Ireland;
building contractor		$763,000
Daniel Larsson
"Laptop"; online poker player from Sweden; 1st live tourney; youngest-ever WPT Finalist		$743,000
Erick Lindgren
"E-Dog"; 5th-place finisher at
WPT Paris		$633,000
Rick Casper
Vegas relator; second-ever tourney; says he'll marry fiancée if finishes in top three		$536,000

(Each started with $10,000 in chips, with some of the online winners getting bonus chips)

With Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patton ready to call the action with the WPT Cams, tourney director Jack McClelland says the magic words: "SHUFFLE UP AND DEAL!"

Antes start at $2000 and the blinds start at $6000 (SB) and $12,000 (BB).

ErickRickBarryTed (D)Anthony (SB)Daniel (BB)
5♣ 4♦ Q♦ 3♥ K♦ 2♠ 10♦ 3♠ J♦ 10♣ 5♦ 4♣
FOLD FOLD FOLD FOLD Calls $6,000 CHECK
FLOP: A♦ 6♣ A♣
CHECK CHECK
TURN: Q♠
CHECK CHECK
RIVER: J♠
COMMUNITY: A♦ A♣ Q♠ J♠ 6♣
CHECK CHECK
A♦ A♣ Q♠ J♦ J♠ A♦ A♣ Q♠ J♠ 6♣
WIN $36,000
OK, not the most EXCITING hand to start with...but would YOU bet into a pot with Aces on the Board if you had none?  Vince calls the play "tighter than a Joan Rivers facelift".


DanielErickRickBarry (D)Ted (SB)Anthony (BB)
A♣ 9♦ 5♦ 3♥ 8♠ 3♠ 5♣ 2♣ 10♥ 5♥ A♥ 10♣
FOLD FOLD FOLD Raises to $30,000 FOLD Calls $18,000
FLOP: Q♠ 10♠ 4♠
Rick would have flopped a flush had he stayed in.  Anthony is a 91%-to-4% favorite to win the hand. 
CHECK
Raises to $100,000 FOLD
WIN $178,000
Barry was obvious fronting that he had a flush.  Sensing weakness on Anthony's part, he bet big and bluffed his way to the pot. 


BarryTedAnthonyDaniel (D)Erick (SB)Rick (BB)
4♣ 2♦ J♦ 8♥ K♦ J♥ 9♠ 4♥ A♠ A♥ 4♠ 2♣
FOLD FOLD Raises to $50,000 FOLD Raises to $150,000 FOLD
Calls $100,000
You can't GET a better starting hand in Texas Hold 'Em than the "pocket rockets".  Erick's an 86% fave to win the hand.
FLOP: 3♣ 6♥ 7♥
ALL-IN
$391,000
FOLD
WIN $715,000
When Erick asks Anthony what he had, Anthony lies and says he had Ace-Queen.  You don't HAVE to show your cards when you fold. 

As stated, Rick promised that, if he makes it into the top three, he'll marry his (rather attractive) fiancée Tonya Paoni...who is in the audience watching the action.

BarryTedAnthonyDaniel (D)Erick (SB)Rick (BB)
3♣ 2♦ Q♦ 8♥ 8♦ 2♥ K♦ 7♠ K♠ 9♣ 6♣ 4♥
FOLD FOLD FOLD Raises to $30,000 Calls $24,000 FOLD
FLOP: A♠ 9♠ 3♥
CHECK
Raises to $30,000 Calls $30,000
TURN: 6♦
Daniel is drawing dead.  The only way he can win the pot is by bluffing and making Erick fold.
Bets $60,000
Raises to $160,000 FOLD
WIN $364,000
Well,...what do ya know?


ErickRickBarryTed (D)Anthony (SB)Daniel (BB)
K♠ 9♠ 10♥ 6♦ 5♠ 5♦ 9♣ 4♦ Q♥ 6♦ A♦ A♣
Raises to $40,000 FOLD FOLD FOLD FOLD Calls $28,000
There's "American Airlines" again...only THIS time Erick is AGAINST it.
FLOP: J♦ 3♣ 3♥
And the pair on the Flop makes Daniel a 98% fave to boot.  Erick would need running Kings to win.
CHECK
Raises to $60,000 Raises to $160,000
FOLD
WIN $318,000


CURRENT CHIP COUNT
Daniel Larsson$945,000
Anthony Fagan$839,000
Barry Shulman$838,000
Ted Harrington$826,000
Erick Lindgren$490,000
Rick Casper$436,000

Antes have gone up to $2000 and blinds are now $10,000 (SB) and $20,000 (BB).
TedAnthonyDanielErick (D)Rick (SB)Barry (BB)
K♥ 5♦ Q♦ J♠ 10♠ 6♠ 3♦ 2♥ 8♥ 5♠ Q♣ 5♣
FOLD FOLD FOLD FOLD Calls $10,000 CHECK
FLOP: Q♥ 6♦ 7♦
Barry flopped top pair...but Rick has an open-ended straight draw; a 9 or a 4 will give him a straight.  Barry, however, is still a 67%-to-30% fave right now.
Bets $50,000 Calls $50,000
TURN: 9♠
Rick has made his straight.
Bets $200,000 Calls $200,000
RIVER: 10♣
COMMUNITY: Q♥ 10♣ 9♠ 7♦ 6♦
Rick now has a HIGHER straight...while Rick just has his pair of Queens.
ALL-IN
$138,000		 Calls $138,000
10♣ 9♠ 8♥ 7♦ 6♦ Q♣ Q♥ 10♣ 9♠ 7♦
WIN $828,000



CURRENT CHIP COUNT
Rick Casper$948,000
Daniel Larsson$933,000
Ted Harrington$782,000
Anthony Fagan$731,000
Erick Lindgren$490,000
Barry Shulman$490,000


DanielErickRickBarry (D)Ted (SB)Anthony (BB)
Q♥ 6♦ K♥ 7♦ Q♦ 2♠ A♣ Q♠ 6♠ 4♥ Q♣ J♥
FOLD FOLD FOLD Raises to $80,000 FOLD Calls $60,000
Before calling, Anthony asks for Barry to count his chips.  This is usually an indication that the one asking for the count is about to set the counter all-in.  However, Anthony only calls.  Good thing;  Barry is the favorite, 72% to 26%, with his Big Chick. 
FLOP: 4♦ 7♠ K♠
CHECK
ALL-IN
$248,000		 FOLD
WIN $430,000
Before folding, Anthony says he should have gone all-in before the Flop.  After folding, he claims to have had a pair.


RickBarryTedAnthony (D)Daniel (SB)Erick (BB)
A♥ K♣ 8♦ 4♥ 10♥ 10♣ 8♠ 5♥ A♣ J♣ Q♥ 8♥
Raises to $100,000 FOLD FOLD FOLD Raises to $300,000 FOLD
ALL-IN
$755,000		 FOLD
WIN $1,087,000
Rick was a 68%-to-27% fave against Daniel with his Big Slick.  Rick wins the pot, takes the chip lead...and makes Tonya VERY happy.

Antes have gone up to $3000 and blinds are now $15,000 (SB) and $30,000 (BB).
ErickRickBarryTed (D)Anthony (SB)Daniel (BB)
A♠ A♦ K♠ K♦ J♠ 3♠ 7♥ 4♠ 9♠ 5♣ A♥ 10♣
Raises to $80,000 Raises to $300,000 FOLD FOLD FOLD FOLD
ALL-IN
$368,000		 Calls $68,000
Aces beat Kings 82% of the time.  Rick needs a King to keep Erick from doubling-up.
FLOP: 6♦ 2♥ J♣
Rick now has MORE outs.  He can still win with a King, but ALSO with two running cards for a straight.
TURN: 10♥
RIVER: 7♣
CHECK
A♠ A♦ J♣ 10♥ 7♣ K♠ K♦ J♣ 10♥ 7♣
WIN $799,000
...and Tonya starts to worry.


CURRENT CHIP COUNT
Daniel Larsson$1,074,000
Barry Shulman$893,000
Anthony Fagan$654,000
Erick Lindgren$629,000
Rick Casper$594,000
Ted Harrington$530,000


BarryTedAnthonyDaniel (D)Erick (SB)Rick (BB)
8♥ 5♠ A♦ 3♦ Q♣ 2♦ J♠ J♣ Q♥ 10♠ 9♠ 9♣
FOLD FOLD FOLD Raises to $80,000 FOLD ALL-IN
$591,000
Calls $511,000
Daniel is an 82% favorite to win.
FLOP: J♦ 7♥ Q♠
Daniel has three hooks now.  Rick needs two running cards to win. 
TURN: 8♦
There's one of them.  Rick need one of the three 10s left to come up on the River and make a straight.
RIVER: 2♣
CHECK
J♠ J♣ J♦ Q♠ 8♦ 9♠ 9♣ Q♠ J♦ 8♦
WIN $1,215,000 OUT - 6th Place
The BAD news is Rick only placed 6th.  The GOOD news is that Rick and Tonya got married anyway. :)


CURRENT CHIP COUNT
Daniel Larsson$1,701,000
Barry Shulman$1,031,000
Anthony Fagan$702,000
Erick Lindgren$502,000
Ted Harrington$438,000

Antes have gone up to $5000 and blinds are now $25,000 (SB) and $50000 (BB).
TedAnthonyDaniel (D)Erick (SB)Barry (BB)
J♠ 6♠ 9♠ 3♠ A♣ 3♥ A♠ A♦ 7♠ 2♠
FOLD FOLD Raises to $150,000 ALL-IN
$497,000		 FOLD
FOLD
WIN $722,000
This makes the THIRD TIME that Erick has been dealt wired Aces!  The odds of just getting it ONCE is 220-to-1.


ErickBarryTed (D)Anthony (SB)Daniel (BB)
4♣ 2♥ 6♠ 2♠ A♥ 6♥ A♦ J♣ 9♣ 8♣
FOLD FOLD ALL-IN
$243,000		 Calls $218,000 Calls $193,000
Either Anthony or Daniel COULD have raised instead of just calling Ted's all-in.  Anthony and Daniel are still live in the hand and can still bet.  If they do, a side pot will be made that only they can bet into and win.
FLOP: 4♥ Q♥ J♠
CHECK CHECK
TURN: 3♦
CHECK CHECK
Ted needs an Ace to stay alive.
RIVER: 7♠
COMMUNITY: Q♥ J♠ 7♠ 4♥ 3♦
Ted is out of the tournament.  Now...will Anthony and Daniel bet into the main pot this time?
CHECK CHECK
A♥ Q♥ J♠ 7♠ 6♥ J♣ J♠ A♦ Q♥ 7♠ Q♥ J♠ 9♣ 8♣ 7♠
OUT - 5th Place WIN $754,000


CURRENT CHIP COUNT
Daniel Larsson$1,448,000
Anthony Fagan$1,133,000
Erick Lindgren$1,017,000
Barry Shulman$776,000


AnthonyDaniel (D)Erick (SB)Barry (BB)
Q♠ 7♦ 10♥ 4♠ A♣ K♥ 10♣ 10♦
FOLD FOLD Calls $25,000 ALL-IN
$651,000
Calls $601,000
Barry is a 57% favorite...but it's still a "race" because the odds are so close.
FLOP: 9♠ K♠ K♦
Erick flopped the "Orient hand" ("We Three Kings of Orient Are").  Barry needs a 10 (for a full house) or a running Queen-Jack (for a straight) to win.
TURN: 8♥
RIVER: 9♥
K♥ K♠ K♦ 9♠ 9♥ K♠ K♦ 10♣ 10♦ 9♠
WIN $1,322,000 OUT - 4th Place




CURRENT CHIP COUNT
Erick Lindgren$1,613,000
Daniel Larsson$1,538,000
Anthony Fagan$1,223,000


Anthony (D)Daniel (SB)Erick (BB)
K♦ 10♥ J♦ 9♣ A♣ K♥
Raises to $150,000 FOLD ALL-IN
$1,603,000
FOLD
WIN $1,793,000


Erick (D)Anthony (SB)Daniel (BB)
J♦ 10♠ K♠ 10♥ 6♠ 3♠
Calls $50,000 Calls $25,000 CHECK
FLOP: 7♦ K♦ J♣
CHECK CHECK
Raises to $150,000 Calls $150,000 FOLD
TURN: 2♦
CHECK
ALL-IN
$1,558,000		 FOLD
WIN $2,023,000
Anthony correctly assumed out loud that Erick was on a flush draw.  Anthony was still a 3-to-1 favorite with his Kings, but he mucked his hand anyway.


Anthony (D)Daniel (SB)Erick (BB)
J♥ 6♥ J♣ 8♣ 7♥ 4♦
FOLD Calls $25,000 CHECK
FLOP: A♥ 7♣ 4♣
Erick flopped two pair.  Daniel has a flush draw.
CHECK Raises to $150,000
Calls $150,000
TURN: A♦
Erick STILL has two pair, only it's Aces and sevens now.
CHECK CHECK
Once again, Aces on the board makes for timid gameplay.
RIVER: 9♥
COMMUNITY: A♥ A♦ 9♥ 7♣ 4♣
Bets $200,000 Calls $200,000
A♥ A♦ J♣ 9♥ 8♣ A♥ A♦ 7♣ 7♥ 9♥
WIN $815,000


CURRENT CHIP COUNT
Erick Lindgren$2,478,000
Daniel Larsson$1,163,000
Anthony Fagan$773,000

Antes have gone up to $10,000 and blinds are now $40,000 (SB) and $80,000 (BB).

What follows is a number of hands where one person goes all-in and

everyone else folding because they don't have a good enough hand to call it with.  But, as Mike Sexton always says, "That strategy works all times...but one."

Anthony (D)Daniel (SB)Erick (BB)
J♥ 6♥ 10♥ 6♦ A♣ K♥
ALL-IN
$783,000		 FOLD Calls $703,000
And THAT was Erick's third Big Slick.  The chances of getting Ace-King off-suit even ONCE is 110-to-1.  Still, he's only a 64% favorite.
FLOP: 9♣ 7♣ 4♣
So much for that.  Erick has a nut flush draw and is an 86% fave now.
TURN: 4♠
Anthony's only hope is to catch a Jack or a six that's not a club to win, a total of five outs.
RIVER: 7♠
COMMUNITY: 7♣ 7♠ 4♣ 4♠ 9♣
7♣ 7♠ 4♣ 4♠ J♥ 7♣ 7♠ 4♣ 4♠ A♣
OUT - 3rd Place WIN $1,636,000
Behold the power of the kicker.  They both have two pair, but Erick's Ace as a high card beats Anthony's Jack.


And we're down to two...and that, of course, means...HEADS-UP!  The "American Idol" and the Swedish internet player wil goo one-on-one for the half-million bucks and the WPT Championship seat!

CURRENT CHIP COUNT
Erick Lindgren$3,651,000
Daniel Larsson$723,000


Erick (D) (SB)Daniel (BB)
8♥ 8♠ Q♠ 5♠
ALL-IN
$3,641,000		 FOLD
WIN $3,741,000
Once again, the strategy comes into play.  But, if you have a good hand, like Erick's "snowmen", why NOT? 

Several similar hands later...

Daniel (D) (SB)Erick (BB)
A♠ K♠ Q♦ 3♦
Calls $40,000 ALL-IN
$3,853,000
ALL-IN
$465,000
Erick's bet is lowered.  Daniel is a 2-to-1 favorite to win.
FLOP: Q♠ 7♥ 4♥
Erick "outflopped" Daniel.  He's a 73% to 22% underdog now.  His best bet is to get an Ace or a King.
TURN: 3♣
The tournament is over!  Erick has two pair and Daniel is drawing dead.
RIVER: 8♥
A♠ K♠ Q♠ 8♥ 7♥ Q♦ Q♠ 3♦ 3♣ 8♥
OUT - 2nd Place TOURNAMENT WINNER!


1ST ERICK
LINDGREN		 $500,000
2nd Daniel Larsson $300,745
3rd Anthony Fagan $194,230
4th Barry Shulman $112,780
5th Ted Harrington $68,920
6th Rick Casper $43,860

So the "American Idol" has avenged his 5th place in Paris by winning another overseas tournament.  Aside from the half-million in cash, he also gets the $25,000 seat at the WPT Championship.  But I'd say the BIG winners were Rick and Tonya.  Obviously, love was in the cards for them.