RENO HILTON'S
WORLD POKER CHALLENGE
Reno, Nevada...the "biggest little city in the world"...the place where tournament poker was born. The final stop on the way to the Bellagio and the WPT Championship is here. The Reno Hilton hosts the fourth annual World Poker Challenge. 342 players crammed into the Hilton and put down $5000 each to compete for the prize pool of $1.6 million. The winner will walk out with over $629,000...but, more importantly, he will be able to take that drive across the state to Vegas with the final $25,000 buy-in to the WPT Championship under his arm...where over EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS awaits him!
After three days of near non-stop poker, six have arrived at the WPT Arena and the Final Table. They are:
| PLAYER | CHIP COUNT |
| Paul "Eskimo" Clark High-stakes cash game player; originally from New Orleans | $829,000 |
| Michael Kinney "Idaho Bandit"; 36; family man; building contractor | $759,000 |
| Harry Knopp 66; retired Navy man; West Virginian | $708,000 |
| Tony Bloom "Lizard"; investment banker from London, England; former bookie | $533,000 |
| Pete Muller Singer/songwriter from Westport, CT; former Wall Street trader | $430,000 |
| Young Phan 8th in Aruba, 9th in L.A. Classic; pro player from Garden Grove, CA | $183,000 |
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 $2,000 and the blinds start at $6,000 (SB) and
$12,000 (BB).
| Harry | Pete | Young | Michael (D) | Eskimo (SB) | Tony (BB) |
| 5♦ 4♣ | A♦ J♦ | A♣ Q♥ | K♥ K♠ | K♣ 4♠ | 8♥ 2♦ |
| FOLD | Raises to $33,000 | Calls $33,000 | Raises to $150,000 | FOLD | FOLD |
| FOLD | FOLD | ||||
| WIN $246,000 | |||||
| Both Pete and Young were wise to fold; their hands were serious underdogs against Michael's "cowboys". | |||||
| Young | Michael | Eskimo | Tony (D) | Harry (SB) | Pete (BB) |
| A♣ 6♥ | 5♠ 4♣ | Q♠ 6♠ | K♠ Q♦ | K♣ J♣ | 7♦ 3♣ |
| Raises to $36,000 | FOLD | FOLD | FOLD | Calls $30,000 | FOLD |
| FLOP: 10♦ A♦ K♦ | |||||
| Young has a pair of Aces, Harry a pair of Kings and a straight draw; he needs a Queen for a "Broadway". | |||||
| CHECK | |||||
| ALL-IN $106,000 |
Calls $106,000 | ||||
| TURN: 3♦ RIVER: Q♣ | |||||
| Oooooo...Young drowned at the river! | |||||
| A♣ A♦ K♦ Q♣ 10♦ | A♦ K♣ Q♣ J♣ 10♦ | ||||
| OUT - 6th Place | WIN $308,000 | ||||
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Paul "Eskimo" Clark | $885,000 |
| Harry Knopp | $849,000 |
| Michael Kinney | $804,000 |
| Tony Bloom | $519,000 |
| Pete Muller | $365,000 |
| Pete | Michael | Eskimo (D) | Tony (SB) | Harry (BB) |
| 10♣ 4♦ | 8♠ 5♥ | Q♠ J♠ | K♦ K♣ | Q♣ 2♠ |
| FOLD | FOLD | Raises to $35,000 | Raises to $111,000 | FOLD |
| Calls $76,000 | ||||
| FLOP: A♣ 3♠ 6♦ | ||||
| CHECK | ||||
| CHECK | ||||
| TURN: 4♣ | ||||
| At this point, Eskimo is "drawing dead". | ||||
| CHECK | ||||
| CHECK | ||||
| RIVER: 8♥ COMMUNITY: A♣ 3♠ 6♦ 4♣ 8♥ | ||||
| CHECK | ||||
| CHECK | ||||
| Tony didn't bet because he thought Eskimo might have flopped a pair of Aces, which would beat his Kings; he didn't want to get suckered in by any "slow play". Eskimo, however, didn't have anything, and HE didn't want to be "slow played" either. In effect, no one bet...and Tony won. | ||||
| A♣ Q♠ J♠ 8♥ 6♦ | K♦ K♣ A♣ 8♥ 6♦ | |||
| WIN $244,000 | ||||
| Pete | Michael | Eskimo (D) | Tony (SB) | Harry (BB) |
| K♦ 8♥ | A♣ 3♥ | A♥ 3♠ | Q♥ 8♠ | A♥ K♥ |
| FOLD | Raises to $35,000 | FOLD | FOLD | Raises to $135,000 |
| As Michael ponders a call, Harry says, "Don't worry about the mule; just load the wagon." I...guess that's his way of saying, "Put it all in". But Michael ain't falling for it... | ||||
| FOLD | ||||
| WIN $186,000 | ||||
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Harry Knopp | $870,000 |
| Tony Bloom | $813,000 |
| Michael Kinney | $750,000 |
| Paul "Eskimo" Clark | $588,000 |
| Pete Muller | $403,000 |
| Tony | Harry | Pete (D) | Michael (SB) | Eskimo (BB) |
| 8♦ 4♦ | A♦ A♥ | Q♦ J♥ | J♦ 9♣ | Q♣ 6♣ |
| FOLD | Calls $12,000 | Calls $12,000 | Calls $6,000 | CHECK |
| At this point, Harry's a monster favorite with his "bullets". He has a 68% chance to win. Eskimo has a 13%, Mike has 10% and Pete a mere 8%. | ||||
| FLOP: 4♣ 7♣ 9♥ | ||||
| Eskimo has a flush draw...but Harry's still a 50% favorite over the other three. | ||||
| CHECK | CHECK | |||
| Bets $30,000 | FOLD | Calls $30,000 | Raises to $180,000 | |
| ALL-IN $878,000 |
FOLD | ALL-IN $494,000 | ||
| Harry's bet is lowered to match Eskimo's all-in. | ||||
| TURN: 3♦ | ||||
| RIVER: A♣ | ||||
| WHOA! Eskimo got the nut flush on the River...and that even beats Harry's Triple-A! | ||||
| A♦ A♥ A♣ 9♥ 7♣ | A♣ Q♣ 7♣ 6♣ 4♣ | |||
| WIN $1,076,000 | ||||
| Harry | Pete | Michael (D) | Eskimo (SB) | Tony (BB) |
| J♥ 3♦ | A♥ 6♠ | Q♠ 4♦ | J♦ 10♦ | J♣ 9♠ |
| FOLD | FOLD | FOLD | Raises to $35,000 | Calls $23,000 |
| FLOP: 8♥ J♠ 7♠ | ||||
| Both Eskimo and Tony have flopped top pair with a straight draw; Eskimo needs a 9, Tony a 10. Eskimo's a 78% fave. | ||||
| CHECK | Bets $41,000 | |||
| Raises to $191,000 | ALL-IN $655,000 | |||
| Calls $454,000 | ||||
| TURN: 3♥ | ||||
| At this point, Tony needs a 10 to stay alive. | ||||
| RIVER: 6♥ | ||||
| J♦ J♠ 10♦ 8♥ 7♠ | J♣ J♠ 9♠ 8♥ 7♠ | |||
| WIN $1,410,000 | OUT - 5th Place | |||
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Paul "Eskimo" Clark | $1,777,000 |
| Michael Kinney | $805,000 |
| Pete Muller | $467,000 |
| Harry Knopp | $373,000 |
| Michael | Eskimo (D) | Harry (SB) | Pete (BB) |
| 8♣ 5♣ | 9♦ 7♣ | K♠ Q♣ | A♦ J♦ |
| FOLD | FOLD | Raises to $60,000 | Calls $40,000 |
| Pete: "I gotta defend my
blinds." (That means Harry: "Just put the whole stack in...I'll go in with ya." | |||
| FLOP: K♣ 2♠ 6♦ | |||
| CHECK | CHECK | ||
| TURN: 2♦ | |||
| Bets $70,000 | Calls $70,000 | ||
| RIVER: 5♠ COMMUNITY: 2♠ 2♦ K♣ 6♦ 5♠ | |||
| ALL-IN $241,000 |
Calls $241,000 | ||
| Harry: "I love it when a plan
comes together." (Thank you, Col. Hannibal Smith.) Pete (as he calls Harry's bet): "I don't believe you." |
|||
| K♠ K♣ 2♠ 2♦ Q♣ | 2♠ 2♦ A♦ K♣ J♦ | ||
| WIN $750,000 | |||
| Pete: "Well, I played that like crap..." | |||
| Eskimo | Harry (D) | Pete (SB) | Michael (BB) |
| Q♣ 7♣ | 9♦ 6♠ | K♥ 6♣ | K♣ 10♦ |
| FOLD | FOLD | ALL-IN $92,000 |
Calls $72,000 |
| Pete's in deep trouble. He'll need four hearts or a 6 to pull this out. | |||
| FLOP: Q♥ 4♦ 7♦ | |||
| Shame...Eskimo would've flopped two pair... | |||
| TURN: 2♥ RIVER: 2♦ | |||
| 2♥ 2♦ K♥ Q♥ 7♦ | 2♥ 2♦ K♣ Q♥ 10♦ | ||
| OUT - 4th Place | WIN $172,000 | ||
| Harry (D) | Michael (SB) | Eskimo (BB) |
| Q♥ 7♦ | K♦ 8♦ | 10♣ 9♦ |
| FOLD | Calls $10,000 | CHECK |
| Harry folded the "computer hand". It's called this because poker poker lore holds that computer analysis revealed the strength of Q-7 offsuit was the exact median of all hold 'em starting hands. | ||
| FLOP: 6♠ 8♥ K♣ | ||
| Michael flopped two pair! | ||
| CHECK | CHECK | |
| TURN: Q♦ | ||
| CHECK | CHECK | |
| RIVER: 7♥ COMMUNITY: K♣ Q♦ 8♥ 7♥ 6♠ | ||
| Bets $50,000 | Raises to $200,000 | |
| Calls $150,000 | ||
| K♦ K♣ 8♦ 8♥ Q♦ | K♣ Q♦ 10♣ 9♦ 8♥ | |
| WIN $446,000 | ||
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Paul "Eskimo" Clark | $1,955,000 |
| Harry Knopp | $812,000 |
| Michael Kinney | $655,000 |
| Harry (D) | Michael (SB) | Eskimo (BB) |
| Q♦ 8♥ | K♦ 5♦ | 4♣ 3♣ |
| Calls $20,000 | Calls $10,000 | CHECK |
| FLOP: 4♠ 3♦ K♣ | ||
| Eskimo flopped two pair. Two LOW pair...but two pair nonetheless. BUT...Michael flopped TOP pair...and needs only a King to pull ahead. | ||
| CHECK | CHECK | |
| Bets $50,000 | Calls $50,000 | Raises to $200,000 |
| FOLD | ALL-IN $560,000 |
Calls $360,000 |
| TURN: K♠ | ||
| BANG! Michael has the Orient hand! Eskimo is drawing dead; a 3 or a 4 would give him a full house...but would give Michael a BETTER full house! | ||
| RIVER: 6♦ | ||
| K♦ K♣ K♠ 6♦ 5♦ | K♣ K♠ 4♣ 4♠ 6♦ | |
| WIN $1,236,000 | ||
| Michael (D) | Eskimo (SB) | Harry (BB) |
| A♥ J♠ | 8♦ 3♦ | 8♥ 6♥ |
| Raises to $60,000 | FOLD | Calls $40,000 |
| FLOP: 2♠ J♦ J♥ | ||
| Michael flopped three Jacks! | ||
| CHECK | ||
| CHECK | ||
| TURN: J♠ | ||
| And now a FOURTH Jack on the Turn! Michael has the second best televised hand in WPT history (someone had four Kings in the Paris tournament)! | ||
| Bets $200,000 | ||
| ALL-IN $1,048,000 |
FOLD | |
| WIN $1,384,000 | ||
| Here, Michael showed his amateur ways; he sees a killer-diller hand and overbets it instead of give Harry a chance to bluff on the River. And he ADMITS that he overplayed it afterwards. | ||
| Eskimo (D) | Harry (SB) | Michael (BB) |
| Q♠ 2♣ | K♦ J♠ | Q♦ 10♥ |
| FOLD | Raises to $65,000 | Calls $35,000 |
| FLOP: K♣ Q♣ A♥ | ||
| Before betting, Harry asks Michael if he's "got anything". Michael doesn't have to tell him what he has. Michael replies, "Runner-runner to a flush (needs the Turn and River to be the same suit to make a flush)." See, he didn't tell him what he REALLY had... | ||
| Bets $30,000 | Calls $30,000 | |
| TURN: 5♠ | ||
| ALL-IN $418,000 |
FOLD | |
| WIN $617,000 | ||
| Michael (D) | Eskimo (SB) | Harry (BB) |
| K♥ 8♦ | 9♥ 7♦ | Q♣ 10♦ |
| FOLD | Calls $15,000 | Raises to $80,000 |
| Calls $50,000 | ||
| FLOP: 7♣ 7♠ 3♠ | ||
| 7-7-7! Eskimo hit the "slot machine"! Harry needs runners to make a better "trips" to win. | ||
| CHECK | Bets $175,000 | |
| Calls $175,000 | ||
| TURN: 10♠ | ||
| There's ONE runner. Harry needs one more 10 to win. | ||
| CHECK | ALL-IN $389,000 | |
| Calls $389,000 | ||
| RIVER: J♦ | ||
| 7♦ 7♣ 7♠ J♦ 10♠ | 10♦ 10♠ 7♣ 7♠ Q♣ | |
| WIN $1,297,000 | OUT - 3rd Place | |
So it's down to two players...and that, of course, means...HEADS-UP!
The "Eskimo" and "Idaho Bandit" face off for the final WPT
Championship seat and nearly two-thirds of a million dollars!
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Paul "Eskimo" Clark | $2,295,000 |
| Michael Kinney | $1,127,000 |
| Michael (D) (SB) | Eskimo (BB) |
| K♥ K♦ | Q♠ 2♠ |
| Raises to $75,000 | Calls $45,000 |
| FLOP: 6♥ 4♦ Q♥ | |
| CHECK | |
| Bets $150,000 | ALL-IN $2,552,000 |
| ALL-IN $984,000 |
|
| Eskimo's bet is lowered to match Michael's all-in. Eskimo needs a Queen or two deuces to win the tournament. | |
| TURN: A♥ RIVER: 10♦ | |
COMMUNITY: 6♥ 4♦ Q♥ A♥ 10♦ | |
| K♥ K♦ A♥ Q♥ 10♦ | Q♠ Q♥ A♥ 10♦ 6♥ |
| WIN $2,124,000 | |
| And, with that double-up, Michael takes the chip lead! Observe... | |
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Michael Kinney | $2,102,000 |
| Paul "Eskimo" Clark | $1,320,000 |
| Michael (D) (SB) | Eskimo (BB) |
| 3♦ 2♣ | 8♦ 5♥ |
| Raises to $70,000 | Calls $40,000 |
| FLOP: 4♣ 4♦ 5♣ | |
| CHECK | |
| CHECK | |
| TURN: Q♥ | |
| CHECK | |
| Bets $80,000 | Raises to $180,000 |
| Calls $100,000 | |
| RIVER: 9♣ COMMUNITY: 4♣ 4♦ Q♥ 9♣ 5♣ | |
| CHECK | |
| Bets $350,000 | FOLD |
| WIN $856,000 | |
| The third club probably scared Eskimo out. Michael was bluffing a flush, even though all he had was a busted straight. | |
| Eskimo (D) (SB) | Michael (BB) |
| A♦ 5♣ | A♥ 8♥ |
| Raises to $70,000 | Calls $40,000 |
| FLOP: 5♦ Q♦ 3♥ | |
| Bets $80,000 | |
| Calls $80,000 | |
| TURN: K♥ | |
| CHECK | |
| CHECK | |
| RIVER: 6♦ COMMUNITY: K♥ Q♦ 6♦ 5♦ 3♥ | |
| CHECK | |
| CHECK | |
| 5♣ 5♦ A♦ K♥ Q♦ | A♥ K♥ Q♦ 8♥ 6♦ |
| WIN $306,000 | |
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Michael Kinney | $2,665,000 |
| Paul "Eskimo" Clark | $755,000 |
| Michael (D) (SB) | Eskimo (BB) |
| K♥ 9♠ | K♦ Q♣ |
| Calls $25,000 | Raises to $130,000 |
| Calls $80,000 | |
| FLOP: A♥ 6♥ 8♥ | |
| CHECK | |
| CHECK | |
| TURN: 7♦ | |
| CHECK | |
| CHECK | |
| RIVER: 5♠ COMMUNITY: A♥ 8♥ 7♦ 6♥ 5♠ | |
| CHECK | |
| ALL-IN $2,530,000 |
FOLD |
| WIN $2,800,000 | |
| Michael did it again; he bluffed having a straight when he had nothing...and Eskimo was scared out of the pot. And to think Michael said he's not a bluffer... | |
Time passes...
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Michael Kinney | $2,705,000 |
| Paul "Eskimo" Clark | $715,000 |
| Michael (D) (SB) | Eskimo (BB) |
| J♠ 6♥ | K♦ 10♠ |
| ALL-IN $3,175,000 |
ALL-IN $225,000 |
| Eskimo is a decent favorite to win... | |
| FLOP: 6♦ 9♥ 4♥ | |
| ...until THAT! Michael has a pair. BUT...a King or 10 will keep Eskimo alive. | |
| TURN: 7♠ RIVER: 2♣ | |
| 6♥ 6♦ J♠ 9♥ 7♠ | K♦ 10♠ 9♥ 7♠ 6♦ |
| TOURNAMENT WINNER! | OUT - 2nd Place |
| 1ST | MICHAEL KINNEY |
$629,469 |
| 2nd | Paul "Eskimo" Clark | $310,403 |
| 3rd | Harry Knopp | $155,202 |
| 4th | Pete Muller | $98,022 |
| 5th | Tony Bloom | $73,517 |
| 6th | Young Phan | $57,180 |
So Michael Kinney, the amateur from Idaho, becomes the final owner of a $25,000 buy-in to the WPT Championship! He will join the likes of Phil Laak, Phil Gordon, Antonio Esfandiari and Hoyt Corkins - along with hundreds of others who will actually BUY their seat - for the biggest payout in WPT history!