Event 11: $1,000 No Limit Hold 'em

Players: 891
Prize pool: $891,000

MANY, MANY NEW MONEYMAKERS

The world's largest online poker event capped the eleven days of the world's largest online poker tournament series.

With the frequent player point freerolls, low cost satellites and a multi-table payout structure, literally hundreds of prizewinners became moneymakers in this tournament.

PokerStars.com has set a high standard of excellence in online poker tournament play. Undoubtedly, only PokerStars will be likely to surpass this standard next year, if not sooner.

$891,000 is the new record for a single event, $2,716,600 is the new record for a tournament. Can poker players wait 11 and a half months for a chance to break these records? We'll have to wait and see.

With a huge number of starters, it was somewhat surprising that the Final Table formed in only nine hours. Yes, it was No Limit Hold 'em, but still the play was quite aggressive to say the least.

When leela took pocket 9's up against pocket Queens and left in 10th, we were ready for the last roundup.

Final Table: 30 min. levels. 600 ante, 6k/12k blinds
Seat 1: Tiltorama (Aventura) (241,180 in chips)
Seat 2: mongeron (Helsinki) (247,450 in chips)
Seat 3: DeOhGee (Indian Wells) (181,672 in chips)
Seat 4: El Blondie (Birmingham) (186,656 in chips)
Seat 5: #1_Lucky_One (San Francisco) (277,611 in chips)
Seat 6: DOUBLEDUCE (apollo beach) (459,242 in chips)
Seat 7: 987456 (Gardiner) (180,424 in chips)
Seat 8: neg smeg (Southwick) (308,555 in chips)
Seat 9: Keyser (Jørpeland) (144,710 in chips)

With everyone having at least 12 big blinds, there were no classically 'short stacks' to speak of. Also, correspondingly, there were no favorites. Since the game was No Limit holdem, anyone could be the winner. Anyone could be first out.

That said, it was still somewhat of a surprise to see who finished ninth and how.

Hand #12 9 minutes in.

Seat 1: Tiltorama (235,180 in chips)
Seat 2: mongeron (276,850 in chips)
Seat 3: DeOhGee (217,672 in chips)
Seat 4: El Blondie (163,256 in chips)
Seat 5: #1_Lucky_One (140,211 in chips)
Seat 6: DOUBLEDUCE (644,042 in chips)
Seat 7: 987456 (203,824 in chips)
Seat 8: neg smeg (201,755 in chips)
Seat 9: Keyser (144,710 in chips)

mongeron: posts small blind 6000
DeOhGee: posts big blind 12000
El Blondie: raises 22000 to 34000
#1_Lucky_One: folds
DOUBLEDUCE: folds
987456: folds
neg smeg: raises 167155 to 201155 and is all-in
Keyser: folds
Tiltorama: folds
mongeron: folds
DeOhGee: folds
El Blondie: calls 128656 and is all-in
*** FLOP *** [6h 7d 9s]
*** TURN *** [6h 7d 9s] [8h]
*** RIVER *** [6h 7d 9s 8h] [Ah]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
El Blondie: shows [Qc Qd] (a pair of Queens)
neg smeg: shows [Ac Kh] (a pair of Aces)

El Blondie was the chip leader, or near the lead, for much of this event. She (a woman's picture, not necessarily female of course) was also, along with Big Cy earlier, one of the only 2 players to make more than one Final Table. Lastly, she was the only player left of the 67 that had generated a betting line on the net prior to this event.

But El Blondie's luck had started to go south even before the Final Table started. The Ace on the river ended her quest for the title.

Eight handed chip count.

Seat 1: Tiltorama (234,580 in chips)
Seat 2: mongeron (270,250 in chips)
Seat 3: DeOhGee (205,072 in chips)
Seat 5: #1_Lucky_One (139,611 in chips)
Seat 6: DOUBLEDUCE (643,442 in chips)
Seat 7: 987456 (203,224 in chips)
Seat 8: neg smeg (387,211 in chips)
Seat 9: Keyser (144,110 in chips)

The starting chip leader increased his lead. DOUBLEDUCE is bullying the table a little and taunting them to boot with the question..."Don't you know who I am, yet?" No one knew the answer and he wasn't telling.

Who would be next? It didn't take long to find out as this group came to gamble.

Hand #28 17 minutes in.

DeOhGee: posts small blind 6000
#1_Lucky_One: posts big blind 12000
DOUBLEDUCE: folds
987456: raises 24000 to 36000
neg smeg: folds
Keyser: raises 143510 to 179510 and is all-in
Tiltorama: folds
mongeron: folds
DeOhGee: raises 24962 to 204472 and is all-in
#1_Lucky_One: folds
987456: folds
*** FLOP *** [Jh 5h 4h]
*** TURN *** [Jh 5h 4h] [3d]
*** RIVER *** [Jh 5h 4h 3d] [4c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
DeOhGee: shows [Ks Kc] (two pair, Kings and Fours)
Keyser: shows [9s 9h] (two pair, Nines and Fours)

Pocket 9's were proving to be no good, again. They want to get heads up if there has to be a call, but not against a bigger pocket pair.

Seven handed chip count.

Seat 1: Tiltorama (256,780 in chips)
Seat 2: mongeron (269,650 in chips)
Seat 3: DeOhGee (436,782 in chips)
Seat 5: #1_Lucky_One (121,811 in chips)
Seat 6: DOUBLEDUCE (620,042 in chips)
Seat 7: 987456 (143,824 in chips)
Seat 8: neg smeg (378,611 in chips)

Here come DeOhGee and neg smeg. The leader is no longer alone at the top.

Play tightened up a bit for awhile, but when level increased to 1k ante, 10k/20k blinds, someone made a move.

Hand #62 38 minutes in.

mongeron: posts small blind 10000
DeOhGee: posts big blind 20000
#1_Lucky_One: raises 25000 to 45000
DOUBLEDUCE: calls 45000
987456: folds
neg smeg: folds
Tiltorama: folds
mongeron: folds
DeOhGee: folds
*** FLOP *** [Ac 8s Ad]
#1_Lucky_One: bets 4022 and is all-in
DOUBLEDUCE: calls 4022
*** TURN *** [Ac 8s Ad] [9s]
*** RIVER *** [Ac 8s Ad 9s] [4h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
#1_Lucky_One: shows [Qh Kh] (a pair of Aces)
DOUBLEDUCE: shows [Jc As] (three of a kind, Aces)

Most players would say that there is nothing worse than being beaten by the same person over and over again.

Not only did #1_Lucky_One finish 7th which was no doubt disappointing considering he was once chip leader. But he was eliminated by his nemesis DOUBLEDUCE who, Lucky repeatedly said, had owned him all day.

Six handed chip count.

Seat 1: Tiltorama (275,780 in chips)
Seat 2: mongeron (205,650 in chips)
Seat 3: DeOhGee (579,371 in chips)
Seat 6: DOUBLEDUCE (776,264 in chips)
Seat 7: 987456 (93,024 in chips)
Seat 8: neg smeg (297,411 in chips)

We're finally starting to see some daylight between the stacks as DOUBLEDUCE AND DeOhGee move away from the pack.

Two hands later, another one bit the dust.

DOUBLEDUCE: posts small blind 10000
987456: posts big blind 20000
neg smeg: folds
Tiltorama: folds
mongeron: folds
DeOhGee: raises 60000 to 80000
DOUBLEDUCE: folds
987456: raises 11024 to 91024 and is all-in
DeOhGee: calls 11024
*** FLOP *** [5s 8d 9h]
*** TURN *** [5s 8d 9h] [Kd]
*** RIVER *** [5s 8d 9h Kd] [4h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
987456: shows [6s Ah] (high card Ace)
DeOhGee: shows [5c As] (a pair of Fives)

The numbers guy, 987456, tossed it all-in in defense of his big blind with an A. He needed a seven on the river to stay alive when DeOhGee hit his 5 kicker on the flop. Most times you'd figure these hands would be chop the pot, but not this time.

Five handed chip count.

Seat 1: Tiltorama (273,780 in chips)
Seat 2: mongeron (203,650 in chips)
Seat 3: DeOhGee (674,395 in chips)
Seat 6: DOUBLEDUCE (780,264 in chips)
Seat 8: neg smeg (295,411 in chips)

At these low blind levels relative to the stacks, even the three little guys have plenty of ammunition if they can just catch a few hands.

But soon one of the little guys caught air in fifth.

Hand #76 47 minutes in.

Tiltorama: posts small blind 10000
mongeron: posts big blind 20000
DeOhGee: folds
DOUBLEDUCE: folds
neg smeg: raises 20000 to 40000
Tiltorama: folds
mongeron: raises 126650 to 166650 and is all-in
neg smeg: calls 126650
*** FLOP *** [8h 8d 5s]
*** TURN *** [8h 8d 5s] [3d]
*** RIVER *** [8h 8d 5s 3d] [2h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
mongeron: shows [Js Qc] (a pair of Eights)
neg smeg: shows [4d Ah] (a straight, Ace to Five)

Trying to buy a small raise from his big blind, mongeron couldn't have been too happy that he was called with only Q J off. The Ace high would have been good. Considering how much money is being given away for each place upward, there has been sustaining gambling at this table.

Four handed chip count.

Seat 1: Tiltorama (261,780 in chips)
Seat 3: DeOhGee (847,395 in chips)
Seat 6: DOUBLEDUCE (708,264 in chips)
Seat 8: neg smeg (410,061 in chips)

We have a new chip leader, as DeOhGee had a run of premium pairs that he was kind enough to show the table when all folded to his hefty bets.

In another ten minutes we'd get to three handed, but not before DOUBLEDUCE retook the chip lead with over 1 million.

Hand #93 56 minutes in.

DeOhGee: posts small blind 10000
DOUBLEDUCE: posts big blind 20000
neg smeg: raises 40000 to 60000
Tiltorama: folds
DeOhGee: raises 466395 to 526395 and is all-in
DOUBLEDUCE: folds
neg smeg: calls 179562 and is all-in
*** FLOP *** [4c 4h 8d]
*** TURN *** [4c 4h 8d] [7c]
*** RIVER *** [4c 4h 8d 7c] [8s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
DeOhGee: shows [9s 9c] (two pair, Nines and Eights)
neg smeg: shows [6s 6h] (two pair, Eights and Sixes)

Short handed the temptation to raise the blinds with any good hand is overpowering. It was bad luck that neg smeg found the small blind with an overpair. Nines finally won a hand.

Three handed chip count.

Seat 1: Tiltorama (328,279 in chips)
Seat 3: DeOhGee (789,957 in chips)
Seat 6: DOUBLEDUCE (1,109,264 in chips)

Three hands later we'd go to heads up when Tiltorama, who'd never been on tilt, left in 3rd for a nice payday. He'd been patient when other may have been rash. As a reward, he climbed the money ladder.

Tiltorama: posts small blind 10000
DeOhGee: posts big blind 20000
DOUBLEDUCE: raises 40000 to 60000
Tiltorama: raises 246279 to 306279 and is all-in
DeOhGee: folds
DOUBLEDUCE: calls 246279
*** FLOP *** [4s Ac Qd]
*** TURN *** [4s Ac Qd] [8c]
*** RIVER *** [4s Ac Qd 8c] [5s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Tiltorama: shows [2d 2c] (a pair of Deuces)
DOUBLEDUCE: shows [Jh As] (a pair of Aces)

Finally a small pair gets to go against two overcards, instead of the dreaded overpair. And what happens? The Ace falls on the flop.

Heads up the starting chip count was:

Seat 3: DeOhGee (800,957 in chips) Seat 6: DOUBLEDUCE (1,426,543 in chips)

With nearly a 2-1 chip lead, DOUBLEDUCE looks to be in control, but it's No Limit Holdem and one hand could flip the leaders.

Most of the hands heads up were 'bet and take it' or 'raise and take it.'
It was rare to even see a flop.

Following are the hands where was some interaction.

Hand #101 1:05 in. The level rises. 1,500 antes, 15k/30k blinds.

DOUBLEDUCE had been trying to get a deal discussion going. In one of the strangest situations ever, DeOhGee gave DOUBLEDUCE a phone number to contact him.

DOUBLEDUCE said, "im trying tio call u"
DOUBLEDUCE said, "why arent you answering"
DOUBLEDUCE said, "i called the number you gave me"
DOUBLEDUCE said, "do you want to play?"
DOUBLEDUCE said, "do you want to do something"

After several minutes, DeOhGee came back to the table with "I'm ready" and "Deal the cards"

There would be NO deal. (I'm sure this time.)

In a few more quick hands, DeOhGee's decision was justified.

Hand #116 1:10 in.

Seat 3: DeOhGee (740957 in chips)
Seat 6: DOUBLEDUCE (1486543 in chips)
DOUBLEDUCE: posts small blind 15000
DeOhGee: posts big blind 30000
DOUBLEDUCE: raises 30000 to 60000
DeOhGee: calls 30000
*** FLOP *** [4s Js Ks]
DeOhGee: checks
DOUBLEDUCE: checks
*** TURN *** [4s Js Ks] [4c]
DeOhGee: checks
DOUBLEDUCE: checks
*** RIVER *** [4s Js Ks 4c] [9c]
DeOhGee: bets 120000 DOUBLEDUCE: raises 120000 to 240000 DeOhGee: calls 120000
*** SHOW DOWN ***
DOUBLEDUCE: shows [7d 9h] (two pair, Nines and Fours)
DeOhGee: shows [As Ad] (two pair, Aces and Fours)

The nine on the river, after two checks, sealed DOUBLEDUCE's fate. The flush board and a pair were too scary for DeOhGee to bet into until the river, but not scary enough to call a raise with pocket Aces.

Seat 3: DeOhGee (1,042,457 in chips)
Seat 6: DOUBLEDUCE (1,185,043 in chips)

It was just about even now, but the momentum had changed.

On the next hand our winner was, for all intents and purposes, decided.

DeOhGee: posts small blind 15000
DOUBLEDUCE: posts big blind 30000
DeOhGee: calls 15000
DOUBLEDUCE: raises 90000 to 120000
DeOhGee: raises 920957 to 1040957 and is all-in
DOUBLEDUCE: calls 920957
*** FLOP *** [7h Ad 8c]
*** TURN *** [7h Ad 8c] [6h]
*** RIVER *** [7h Ad 8c 6h] [Jd]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
DOUBLEDUCE: shows [Ts Tc] (a pair of Tens)
DeOhGee: shows [9d Ah] (a pair of Aces)

In hindsight, DeOhGee is taking a lot of heat on the net for playing A 9 off so forcefully. Under the circumstances with only two players, since DeOhGee made the giant bet first, it doesn't appear that much criticism is justified. If he has to CALL an all-in bet with A 9 that would probably have been a little harder to do.

The new chip count tells the story.

Seat 3: DeOhGee (2,084,914 in chips)
Seat 6: DOUBLEDUCE (142,586 in chips)

Although DOUBLEDUCE fought back bravely, the margin was just too much to overcome.

Hand #134 1:23 in. This is it, we have a champion.

Seat 3: DeOhGee (1,880,914 in chips)
Seat 6: DOUBLEDUCE (346,586 in chips)

DOUBLEDUCE: posts small blind 15000
DeOhGee: posts big blind 30000
DOUBLEDUCE: raises 60000 to 90000
DeOhGee: raises 1530000 to 1620000
DOUBLEDUCE: calls 255086 and is all-in
*** FLOP *** [Kd 6h Qh]
*** TURN *** [Kd 6h Qh] [7c]
*** RIVER *** [Kd 6h Qh 7c] [Td]
DOUBLEDUCE said, "good game"
*** SHOW DOWN ***
DeOhGee: shows [Kh Jh] (a pair of Kings)
DOUBLEDUCE: shows [Ah 5c] (high card Ace)

If the Ace holds up, DOUBLEDUCE doubles up and the result might have been different, but the King fell on the flop.

DeOhGee has won $222,750, the biggest prize in the history of online poker.

Congratulations to him and all of the many, many new moneymakers on PokerStars.

PokerStars Tournament #106368, No Limit Hold'em
Buy-In: $1000.00/$50.00
891 players
Total Prize Pool: $891000.00
Tournament started - 2003/08/17 - 15:00:00 (EST)
Tournament finished - 2003/08/18 - 01:28:35 (EST)
1: DeOhGee (Indian Wells), $222750.00 (25%)
2: DOUBLEDUCE (apollo beach), $124740.00 (14%)
3: Tiltorama (Aventura), $80190.00 (9%)
4: neg smeg (Southwick), $57915.00 (6.50%)
5: mongeron (Helsinki), $48114.00 (5.40%)
6: 987456 (Gardiner), $39204.00 (4.40%)
7: #1_Lucky_One (San Francisco), $30294.00 (3.40%)
8: Keyser (Jørpeland), $21384.00 (2.40%)
9: El Blondie (Birmingham), $13810.50 (1.55%)
10: leela (Los Gatos), $8910.00 (1%)
11: Kahlan (Mississauga), $8910.00 (1%)
12: adegel (Greenville), $8910.00 (1%)
13: AnJLEYES (Baltimore), $8910.00 (1%)
14: steyr_aug (gothenburg), $8910.00 (1%)
15: hockeycoach (ventnor), $8910.00 (1%)
16: Lucky007 (santa ana), $8910.00 (1%)
17: gaffel (oslo), $8910.00 (1%)
18: pokerfriend (Fislisbach), $8910.00 (1%)
19: TheHood (Sydney), $4900.50 (0.55%)
20: StaffHigh (Bronx), $4900.50 (0.55%)
21: zippo44 (Honolulu), $4900.50 (0.55%)
22: tigerma (S EL MONTE), $4900.50 (0.55%)
23: jumper17 (Henndorf), $4900.50 (0.55%)
24: Waterracer (Costa Mesa), $4900.50 (0.55%)
25: bulletproof (naples), $4900.50 (0.55%)
26: BIGSLICKNG (CINCINNATI), $4900.50 (0.55%)
27: gherick (Frisco), $4900.50 (0.55%)
28: MxdMeta4 (Los Angeles), $3564.00 (0.40%)
29: F-18 (Sherman Oaks), $3564.00 (0.40%)
30: midvalley (surrey), $3564.00 (0.40%)
31: PatronAnejo (Phoenix), $3564.00 (0.40%)
32: soni (Bloomington), $3564.00 (0.40%)
33: henry147 (worcester), $3564.00 (0.40%)
34: Eraserhead (Stockholm), $3564.00 (0.40%)
35: PLANET5 (miami), $3564.00 (0.40%)
36: plumberpat (dublin), $3564.00 (0.40%)
37: Victor V (West Hartford), $2673.00 (0.30%)
38: Demokritos (Delft), $2673.00 (0.30%)
39: curtains (Brooklyn), $2673.00 (0.30%)
40: apostrophe (Chagrin Falls), $2673.00 (0.30%)
41: ROJAN (Wilmington), $2673.00 (0.30%)
42: Mr. Lashapal (white rock), $2673.00 (0.30%)
43: timber (Gamehenge), $2673.00 (0.30%)
44: Rabscuttle (richmond), $2673.00 (0.30%)
45: entonces... (San Jose), $2673.00 (0.30%)
46: omaha kid (port orange ), $2227.50 (0.25%)
47: marcelka (Frankfurt), $2227.50 (0.25%)
48: Muller (bodø), $2227.50 (0.25%)
49: MightyOgre (Cleveland), $2227.50 (0.25%)
50: Lecktor (Escazu), $2227.50 (0.25%)
51: HansH (Bergen), $2227.50 (0.25%)
52: Tin_Knocker (Whippany), $2227.50 (0.25%)
53: ratster (Adrian), $2227.50 (0.25%)
54: Luckyliu (NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE), $2227.50 (0.25%)
55: BENSON (Martinsburg), $2227.50 (0.25%)
56: amishdriveby (Martinsburg), $2227.50 (0.25%)
57: w59cb83x (Vernon), $2227.50 (0.25%)
58: thedonator (boca raton), $2227.50 (0.25%)
59: Linden_Arden (Shrigley), $2227.50 (0.25%)
60: caiman (Denver), $2227.50 (0.25%)
61: MRPASTA (Tucson), $2227.50 (0.25%)
62: GLADI8R (Mt. Horeb), $2227.50 (0.25%)
63: Gin Tonic (Vienna), $2227.50 (0.25%)
64: 4Sticks (Katonah), $1782.00 (0.20%)
65: Tom McEvoy (Las Vegas), $1782.00 (0.20%)
66: sellshort (davie ), $1782.00 (0.20%)
67: gandalf80 (brownsville), $1782.00 (0.20%)
68: austinm (las vegas), $1782.00 (0.20%)
69: axekick (azilda), $1782.00 (0.20%)
70: rik14 (exmouth), $1782.00 (0.20%)
71: Came2Play (Mesa), $1782.00 (0.20%)
72: slavik (brooklyn), $1782.00 (0.20%)
73: ZZSER (Oulu), $1782.00 (0.20%)
74: huber14 (Eureka), $1782.00 (0.20%)
75: benalexandme (London), $1782.00 (0.20%)
76: smokeyal (east brunswick), $1782.00 (0.20%)
77: JWalkerF (Clinton), $1782.00 (0.20%)
78: SNAP (COVINGTON), $1782.00 (0.20%)
79: Utaa (Weilheim), $1782.00 (0.20%)
80: Kirk Land (Kirk land), $1782.00 (0.20%)
81: osten (el segundo), $1782.00 (0.20%)

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