POKERSTARS'
CARIBBEAN POKER ADVENTURE
The second of three internet-poker-sponsored tournaments this year is also the first of two to take place on the high seas. On the cruise ship Voyager of the Seas, 221 players started with a $7500 buy-in, either paid by themselves or won online. The total prize pool: $1.6 million. The winner gets over $455,000 and a seat at the WPT Championship at the Bellagio, which could be worth much, MUCH more.
When the dust settled after three days of poker action on the high seas, three pros and three online qualifiers made the Final Table. They are as follows:
| PLAYER | CHIP COUNT |
| Hoyt Corkins "Nightmare Corkins"; Winner of WPT Foxwoods | $611,000 |
| Daniel Negreanu Canadian-born pro-play; "Kid Poker"; WPT "Hollywood Home Game"'s "cry for help"er | $408,000 |
| Gus Hansen From Denmark, lives in Monaco now; 2-time WPT Champ last year | $317,000 |
| Michael Benedetto Online qualifier; businessman from Virginia Beach | $166,000 |
| Remco Shrijvers Online qualifier; a student from the Netherlands | $116,000 |
| John D'Agostino Online qualifier; 21, youngest WPT Finalist ever | $56,000 |
(Each player started with $7500 in chips, with some online qualifiers getting bonus chips)
With Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patton ready to call the action with the WPT Cams, it's time to SHUFFLE UP AND DEAL!
Antes start at $1,000 and the blinds start at $3,000 (SB) and
$6,000 (BB).
| Remco | Hoyt | Michael | Daniel (D) | John (SB) | Gus (BB) |
| A♠ 6♣ | 8♠ 4♥ | 10♠ 3♣ | 3♦ 2♦ | 8♥ 4♦ | A♥ A♦ |
| FOLD | FOLD | FOLD | Calls $6,000 | FOLD | Raises to $22,000 |
| FOLD | |||||
| WIN $37,000 | |||||
| Gus' "bullets" were a HEAVY favorite against Daniel's "suited connectors". They both showed their hands...and Daniel sighed in relief that he folded. | |||||
| Hoyt | Michael | Daniel | John (D) | Gus (SB) | Remco (BB) |
| K♥ K♦ | K♣ 5♥ | 9♣ 8♣ | 10♠ 8♠ | 10♣ 6♠ | J♥ 2♠ |
| Raises to $20,000 | FOLD | Calls $20,000 | FOLD | FOLD | FOLD |
| Daniel AGAIN gets suited connectors...but it's STILL a heavy underdog to Hoyt's "cowboys". By the way, Daniel has a better chance of hitting a straight than a flush with his hand. | |||||
| FLOP: 6♥ 4♠ 7♣ | |||||
| There ya go...Daniel has an open-ended straight draw, needing a 5 or 10 to finish it. | |||||
| Bets $30,000 | Calls $30,000 | ||||
| TURN: 4♥ | |||||
| Bets $80,000 | FOLD | ||||
| WIN $195,000 | |||||
| Normally, when a pair shows on the Board, the first one to bet wins the pot. Daniel didn't want to risk that much on what was a less-than-1-in-7 chance of a straight. | |||||
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Hoyt Corkins | $663,000 |
| Daniel Negreanu | $348,000 |
| Gus Hansen | $325,000 |
| Michael Benedetto | $171,000 |
| Remco Shrijvers | $103,000 |
| John D'Agostino | $62,000 |
| John | Gus | Remco | Hoyt (D) | Michael (SB) | Daniel (BB) |
| 7♠ 5♣ | A♥ Q♣ | A♦ J♥ | 7♦ 2♥ | 10♣ 5♠ | K♠ 8♥ |
| FOLD | Raises to $19,000 | ALL-IN $102,000 |
FOLD | FOLD | FOLD |
| Calls $83,000 | |||||
| Remco is a 72% to 23% underdog; one step in rank (Ace-Queen to Ace-Jack) makes THAT much difference pre-flop. | |||||
| FLOP: 9♠ 2♣ A♠ | |||||
| That's no help. Gus is now an 84%-to-12% fave. Remco needs a Jack or he's history. | |||||
| TURN: 3♣ RIVER: 4♠ | |||||
| A♥ A♠ Q♣ 9♠ 4♠ | A♦ A♠ J♥ 9♠ 4♠ | ||||
| WIN $219,000 | OUT - 6th Place | ||||
| Gus | Hoyt | Michael (D) | Daniel (SB) | John (BB) |
| Q♣ 9♠ | 7♥ 4♦ | 10♦ 9♥ | A♦ 10♥ | J♠ J♦ |
| Raises to $19,000 | FOLD | FOLD | Calls $16,000 | ALL-IN $60,000 |
| Calls $41,000 | Calls $41,000 | |||
| John is a SLIGHT fave (49%) over both Daniel (27%) and Gus (23%). Daniel and Gus COULD have bet more and made a side pot for just the two of them...but opted to just call for now. | ||||
| FLOP: Q♠ 2♣ 6♠ | ||||
| Gus has flopped top pair. He now leads, 76% to Daniel's and John's 12% each. | ||||
| CHECK | ||||
| Bets $40,000 (Side) | FOLD | |||
| Gus has won the side pot (or, essentially, his $40G bet back). Now he and John battle for the main pot...and it does NOT look good for John. He needs a third Jack or running cards for a straight. | ||||
| TURN: A♥ | ||||
| Had Daniel not bailed. HE would be in the lead... | ||||
| RIVER: 8♦ | ||||
| ...and would have won. But, such as it is... | ||||
| Q♣ Q♠ A♥ 9♠ 8♦ | J♠ J♦ A♥ Q♠ 8♦ | |||
| WIN $185,000 (Main & Side) |
OUT - 5th Place | |||
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Hoyt Corkins | $660,000 |
| Gus Hansen | $568,000 |
| Daniel Negreanu | $279,000 |
| Michael Benedetto | $165,000 |
| Michael | Daniel (D) | Gus (SB) | Hoyt (BB) |
| 8♥ 7♥ | Q♥ 8♠ | Q♣ J♥ | 9♠ 8♣ |
| Raises to $20,000 | FOLD | Calls $17,000 | FOLD |
| Gus is a 61% fave right now. | |||
| FLOP: 10♦ 9♣ J♣ | |||
| Michael has flopped a straight! However,...Gus has an open-ended straight draw. An 8 or a King would Gus a HIGHER straight than Michael. | |||
| Bets $26,000 | |||
| ALL-IN $144,000 |
Calls $118,000 | ||
| TURN: K♥ | |||
| Gus has turned a King-high straight! However,...though Michael may not be able to BEAT Gus' hand, he can STILL tie if one of the two Queens comes on the River. This would give the BOARD a King-high straight and would split the pot. | |||
| RIVER: K♠ | |||
| J♣ 10♦ 9♣ 8♥ 7♥ | K♥ Q♣ J♥ 10♦ 9♣ | ||
| OUT - 4th Place | WIN $338,000 | ||
| Three hands...three eliminations. Such is the nature of No Limit Hold 'Em. Mike called Gus the "virus for the online players", since he knocked out EACH one of them! | |||
Well,...now that we got the online wannabes out of the way, we have a decent pro struggle going on...
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Gus Hansen | $730,000 |
| Hoyt Corkins | $644,000 |
| Daniel Negreanu | $298,000 |
| Daniel (D) | Gus (SB) | Hoyt (BB) |
| Q♥ 7♦ | K♥ 5♥ | 9♠ 6♠ |
| Calls $6,000 | Calls $3,000 | Raises to $31,000 |
| Calls $25,000 | Calls $25,000 | |
| It's pretty much neck-and-neck-and-neck right now. | ||
| FLOP: J♠ A♥ A♣ | ||
| CHECK | Raises to $25,000 | |
| Calls $25,000 | FOLD | |
| TURN: 4♦ | ||
| CHECK | ||
| Raises to $25,000 | FOLD | |
| WIN $171,000 | ||
| Gus (D) | Hoyt (SB) | Daniel (BB) |
| J♦ 7♠ | 10♥ 7♥ | J♣ 10♦ |
| FOLD | Calls $3,000 | CHECK |
| FLOP: Q♦ 8♦ 9♠ | ||
| Here we go again. Daniel flopped a straight. Hoyt can't BEAT it...but he CAN tie it if a Jack shows up. | ||
| Bets $12,000 | Raises to $32,000 | |
| Calls $20,000 | ||
| TURN: 4♣ | ||
| Bets $35,000 | Calls $35,000 | |
| RIVER: 5♦ COMMUNITY: Q♦ 9♠ 8♦ 5♦ 4♣ | ||
| CHECK | Raises to $50,000 | |
| FOLD | ||
| WIN $199,000 | ||
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Hoyt Corkins | $724,000 |
| Gus Hansen | $524,000 |
| Daniel Negreanu | $424,000 |
Antes are still $1,000 and blinds have gone up to $5,000 (SB) and $10,000 (BB).
| Hoyt (D) | Daniel (SB) | Gus (BB) |
| Q♠ Q♦ | 10♥ 2♣ | 6♣ 2♦ |
| Raises to $30,000 | FOLD | Raises to $105,000 |
| Calls $75,000 | ||
| FLOP: 3♦ 7♣ A♦ | ||
| Bets $100,000 | ||
| Calls $100,000 | ||
| TURN: Q♥ | ||
| Hoyt now has three Queens (there's a vulgar term for this...but you'll have to find out what it is yourself) | ||
| CHECK | ||
| CHECK | ||
| RIVER: 4♠ COMMUNITY: A♦ Q♥ 7♣ 4♠ 3♦ | ||
| CHECK | ||
| Raises to $200,000 | FOLD | |
| WIN $618,000 | ||
| Gus (D) | Hoyt (SB) | Daniel (BB) |
| Q♦ 3♥ | 9♠ 7♥ | A♦ 3♦ |
| FOLD | Raises to $185,000 | ALL-IN $204,000 |
| Calls $19,000 | ||
| Before going all in, Daniel mutters, "Almost Aces." He is right to go all-in here; his hand's a SLIGHT favorite over Hoyt's. | ||
| FLOP: 8♦ K♠ 2♣ TURN: J♣ RIVER: Q♠ | ||
| K♠ Q♠ J♣ 9♠ 8♦ | A♦ K♠ Q♠ J♣ 8♦ | |
| WIN $411,000 | ||
| That's right; Daniel doubled-up...with KING-HIGH! | ||
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Hoyt Corkins | $781,000 |
| Gus Hansen | $510,000 |
| Daniel Negreanu | $381,000 |
| Gus (D) | Hoyt (SB) | Daniel (BB) |
| 6♥ 5♦ | J♣ 10♦ | K♦ Q♠ |
| Raises to $31,000 | FOLD | Calls $21,000 |
| Daniel is a 62% fave to win the hand. | ||
| FLOP: 9♥ 4♦ 6♣ | ||
| Gus flopped middle pair and is now a 76% fave to win. | ||
| CHECK | ||
| Raises to $30,000 | Calls $30,000 | |
| TURN: J♦ | ||
| CHECK | ||
| CHECK | ||
| RIVER: 4♣ COMMUNITY: 4♦ 4♣ J♦ 9♥ 6♣ | ||
| Bets $50,000 | ||
| Calls $50,000 | ||
| 6♥ 6♣ 4♦ 4♣ J♦ | 4♦ 4♣ K♦ Q♠ J♦ | |
| WIN $230,000 | ||
| Gus actually bluffs a raise before calling by nearly putting a big stack of chips in. Betting in poker is like chess; it doesn't count until the hand leaves the chips. Still, it's poor etiquette to do something like that. | ||
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Gus Hansen | $753,000 |
| Hoyt Corkins | $746,000 |
| Daniel Negreanu | $173,000 |
| Daniel (D) | Gus (SB) | Hoyt (BB) |
| Q♣ 9♣ | J♠ 7♦ | K♣ 9♠ |
| Raises to $42,000 | FOLD | Calls $26,000 |
| FLOP: 6♥ 8♦ 7♠ | ||
| Bets $100,000 | ||
| ALL-IN $119,000 |
Calls $19,000 | |
| TURN: 3♠ | ||
| CHECK | ||
| RIVER: 7♥ COMMUNITY: 7♠ 7♥ 8♦ 6♥ 3♠ | ||
| CHECK | ||
| 7♠ 7♥ Q♣ 9♣ 8♦ | 7♠ 7♥ K♣ 9♠ 8♦ | |
| OUT - 3rd Place | WIN $336,000 | |
| Behold the power of the kicker. Both had a pair of 7s, but Hoyt's next highest card was a King, whereas Daniel's was a Queen. | ||
It's down to two - the "Cowboy" and "Gatlin Gun Gus" - and
that means...HEADS-UP! The GOOD news is that, just for making it to
the final two with Hoyt, Gus has already won. Since Hoyt already HAS a
buy-in to the WPT Championships, Gus gets the buy-in whether he wins the 450
"large" or not. But I'm sure he wouldn't mind a third WPT title
to go on his mantle. So let's SHUFFLE UP AND DEAL!
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Gus Hansen | $839,000 |
| Hoyt Corkins | $833,000 |
| Gus (D) (SB) | Hoyt (BB) |
| J♦ 10♣ | 10♥ 8♥ |
| Raises to $48,000 | Raises to $391,000 |
| FOLD | |
| WIN $443,000 | |
| In heads-up, you don't HAVE to have the best hand to win pots...just a lot of guts. | |
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Hoyt Corkins | $993,000 |
| Gus Hansen | $679,000 |
| Hoyt (D) (SB) | Gus (BB) |
| 8♥ 7♥ | K♣ 6♥ |
| Raises to $43,000 | Calls $27,000 |
| FLOP: 5♠ 5♦ 9♥ | |
| Hoyt flopped an inside straight draw. | |
| CHECK | |
| CHECK | |
| TURN: 6♠ | |
| And there's the "bingo" card. Hoyt has a straight and is a 91% fave. Gus has two pair, so he can STILL get a 6 or a 5 on the River to make a full house and win...a total of four outs. | |
| CHECK | |
| Raises to $60,000 | Calls $60,000 |
| RIVER: 2♣ COMMUNITY: 5♠ 5♦ 9♥ 6♠ 2♣ | |
| Gus failed to make the "boat"...but if YOU had two pair heads-up, would YOU fold?! | |
| CHECK | |
| Raises to $140,000 | Calls $140,000 |
| 9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♠ 5♠ | 6♠ 6♥ 5♠ 5♦ K♣ |
| WIN $490,000 | |
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Hoyt Corkins | $1,253,000 |
| Gus Hansen | $419,000 |
| Hoyt (D) (SB) | Gus (BB) |
| K♥ 10♦ | Q♥ 7♦ |
| Raises to $43,000 | Calls $27,000 |
| FLOP: 8♠ 8♣ 2♥ | |
| CHECK | |
| CHECK | |
| TURN: K♣ | |
| CHECK | |
| CHECK | |
| RIVER: K♠ COMMUNITY: 8♠ 8♣ K♣ K♠ 2♥ | |
| CHECK | |
| Raises to $40,000 | Calls $40,000 |
| K♥ K♣ K♠ 8♠ 8♣ | K♣ K♠ 8♠ 8♣ Q♥ |
| WIN $170,000 | |
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Hoyt Corkins | $1,320,000 |
| Gus Hansen | $352,000 |
| Hoyt (D) (SB) | Gus (BB) |
| A♣ 9♣ | 10♦ 9♦ |
| Raises to $43,000 | ALL-IN $350,000 |
| Calls $307,000 | |
| FLOP: Q♠ 3♠ 9♠ | |
| Hoyt went from a 66% fave to an 80%. But Gus STILL has outs... | |
| TURN: 10♣ | |
| ..and that's one of them. Gus has two pair and Hoyt needs an Ace to win the tournament. | |
| RIVER: 2♣ COMMUNITY: Q♠ 3♠ 9♠ 10♣ 2♣ | |
| CHECK | |
| 9♣ 9♠ A♣ Q♠ 10♣ | 10♦ 10♣ 9♠ 9♦ Q♠ |
| WIN $704,000 | |
| With that gutsy call by Gus, the two are back to relatively-equal amounts of chips. It's turned into a whole new poker game! And Hoyt knows it, saying, "We're back to square one." | |
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Gus Hansen | $986,000 |
| Hoyt Corkins | $686,000 |
Some hands later...
| Hoyt (D) (SB) | Gus (BB) |
| 9♦ 4♦ | 7♦ 3♣ |
| Calls $8,000 | CHECK |
| FLOP: 5♦ 7♠ K♣ | |
| Bets $30,000 | |
| Calls $30,000 | |
| TURN: 3♦ | |
| CHECK | |
| With two pair (albeit low), Gus checks to trap Hoyt into betting big, hoping he's on a straight draw or flush draw...which Hoyt is. | |
| Raises to $100,000 | ALL-IN $1,000,000 |
| ALL-IN $576,000 |
|
| Gus' bet is lowered to match Hoyt's all-in. Hoyt still has eight outs. Any remaining diamond would give him a flush. | |
| RIVER: 3♠ | |
| 3♦ 3♠ K♣ 9♦ 7♠ | 3♣ 3♦ 3♠ 7♦ 7♠ |
| OUT - 2nd Place | TOURNAMENT WINNER! |
| 1ST | GUS HANSEN |
$455,780 |
| 2nd | Hoyt Corkins | $290,065 |
| 3rd | Daniel Negreanu | $192,270 |
| 4th | Michael Benedetto | $132,600 |
| 5th | John D'Agostino | $99,450 |
| 6th | Remco Srijvers | $74,530 |
So Gus Hansen wins his third World Poker Tour tournament, making him the all-time WPT title winner. He already HAD the $25,000 buy-in for the WPT Championship in his pocket, but "Gatlin Gun Gus" is ALWAYS happy to take a title.