The "Become a Poker Pro" Final Table (Part 3)

I didn't eat much during the dinner break.  To be honest, I don't even remember what was served.  All I was really hungry for was the $250,000 endorsement package.  I made it deep enough into the tournament that I could taste it, and when the tournament resumed in Level 7 (500a/3k/6k blinds), I was eager to make a move.

From Left:  HustlerPoke, rufebert and JDTrojan3

Seat 1 - Dustin "HustlerPoke" Goff - 120,000

Seat 3 - Ryan "rufebert" Rufe - 102,000

Seat 4 - Jim "JDtrojan3" Davenport - 184,000

Seat 10 - Bill "BillyBluff13" Pero - 282,000

Since BillyBluff13 had 41% of the chips in play, I expected him to play "big stack poker," you know, raise a lot, especially when he had the Button (during which I would be BB).  More often than not, however, he'd just fold, which allowed HusterPoke to raise my BB instead from the SB.  He did this often - at least 3 or 4 times in a row - and since the blinds were eating away at my stack, I needed to make a stand.  Sure enough, the next time it was folded to HustlerPoke in the SB, he bumped it again to 24k.  I looked down at K9o, shot him a glare, and confidently announced "All-In."  HustlerPoke hadn't been forced into many tough decisions in the tournament and it seemed he was seriously considering calling.  I, on the other hand, buried my head into my arms on the poker table in front of me - not because I was trying to hide any potential tells, but because I was literally sea sick from the cruise ship rocking back and forth.  Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, HustlerPoke said "I called, man. Whaddya got?"  I about shit myself, not wanting to turn over my K9, but a smirk and a laugh from HusterPoke made it evident that he, in fact, folded.

With HustlerPoke off my back, I watched as he fell victim to his own aggression in Level 8 (1000a/4k/8k blinds) - in a blind vs. blind confrontation with BillyBluff13.  To make a long story short, HustlerPoke (AJ) and Billy (AT) got their chips in the middle pre-flop, with HustlerPoke at risk.  HustlerPoke had him dominated, but Billy spiked a Ten to eliminate him in 4th place.  Similar to MarvinGarden's elimination, I genuinely felt bad for HustlerPoke.  I was happy to get to know Dustin, but at the same time, from a poker perspective, I was really glad that he got knocked out.  Not only was HustlerPoke a tremendous poker player, his elimination meant I was an inch closer to winning the endorsement package.  Even a 2nd place finish would award me PokerRoom's consolation prize of a trip and entry into the 2006 WSOP Main Event.  All I had to do was outlast one more player.

*cue Data's obligatory bubble announcement*

Of course, that task would be easier said than done.  With 3 players remaining, I was the clear short stack with 75k while JDTrojan3 and BillyBluff13 both had around 300k apiece.  Short-stacked since Level 4, I desperately wanted to show what I could do with more chips.  One double up was all I needed to stay ahead of the blinds and have enough chips to potentially make a few moves.  Until then, however, my plays were limited to "All-In" or "Fold."

With a scheduled 15 minute break approaching, we didn't see many Flops after 3-handed play began.  The pressure and tension was so high at that point that I think Billy, Jim and I were hesitant to do much of anything - at least, initially.  As such, we passed our blinds around, giving each other walks until time ran out in Level 8 and it was time for the break.  As we stood up from the table, JDTrojan3 and I shared a brief "whoa, this is big" look with each other before stepping away to meet up with our respective guests.  Brandon had been quiet, yet supportive of me all tournament and seemed to believe that I still had a chance to win despite being the short stack.  Jim was also fortunate to have Kim in his corner.  At the time, she was a freelance writer for People magazine and turned down a gig covering the Oscars to support him on the "Become a Poker Pro" cruise.  Oddly enough, People assigned Kim to cover the World Poker Tour Celebrity Invitational tournament a year later (in 2007), and she is now the anchor of the WPT.  It's weird, because every time I see on her on TV, I'm reminded of the "Become a Poker Pro" tournament.  Anyway...

I was still hovering around 75k when we returned to the table for Level 9 (1000a/6k/12k blinds).  Given my stack and the significant jump in blinds, this was it.  I couldn't sit back and wait for a hand any longer.  Any face card, suited connector, or obvious pushing hand and my chips were going in the middle.  Needless to say, I was thrilled to pick up 77 in one of my BBs.  JDTrojan3 had raised to 35k from the Button and I pushed All-In for a little over 35k more, hoping for a race.  When Jim called and turned over JJ, my heart sank.  Our goal from the beginning was to be the last 2 players standing, to play each other heads up for the endorsement package.  We both wanted that, and now Jim was the one that had me on the brink of elimination (to no fault of his own, as BillyBluff13 had been sitting back trying to coast into the "money").  It was a bittersweet moment, to be sure - especially for me since I was a 4-1 dog in the hand.  With all eyes in the room focused on the table, the Flop presented itself with 3 hearts.  Fortunately, I had the 7h in my hand, but Jim held the Jh to deny me any chance of a suck-out.  But wait... a fourth heart on the Turn improved us both to a flush... and gave me an open-ended straight flush draw for a nice little sweat on the River.  I had 2 outs - the 8h and 3h.  Man what a beat that would be if either one of them peeled off!  I shot a smile to Jim, who looked like he was about to vomit, especially when the River fell... ... a blank.  His Jacks held, and I was eliminated from the "Become a Poker Pro" tournament in 3rd place.

Sure, it sucked to see my chance at becoming a sponsored poker professional go down the drain, but I honestly wasn't that upset.  Jim and I had become great friends since the 2005 WSOP and I was genuinely happy for him.  Better my chips go to my friend in his quest to win the biggest freeroll prize in online poker history than the other guy.  Anyway, I had all the confidence in the world that he could take BillyBluff13 heads up.  He had the chip lead (401k vs. 287k) and momentum on his side, and when he asked me what I thought about checking a monster in heads-up play, I told him he should go for it.  He ended up taking my advice after only a few hands.

With AQh, JDTrojan3 checked his BB and checked again on the Ad Js 7c Flop, slow-playing his top pair.  BillyBluff13 walked right into the trap and moved All-In, only to find his Q7d (bottom pair) was behind.  When the Ac fell on the Turn, BillyBluff13 was drawing dead and Jim "JDTrojan3" Davenport became PokerRoom.com's first-ever sponsored professional!

Pictured from Left: mdjohnny, rufebert, mav98911, Glenn Cadematori  (PokerRoom.com spokesperson), JDTrojan3, BillyBluff13, KMO28, MarvinGarden, HustlerPoke, arttu5, Dragon2

The tournament ended at 9:20pm, and after congratulations and a check presentation, everyone gathered in a different area of the ship for a long night of partying.  Stay tuned for details and my closing thoughts on the "Become a Poker Pro" cruise/tournament in my next blog.