Michael Keohan
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Keohan Reigns Range
By Steven E. Way
Day two of the $1,080 Limit Texas Hold 'em event here on Veterans Day at Foxwoods Resort Casino brought some of the best players on the east coast back for the final table and a chance at winning the championship. On this slightly overcast day, with a jammed up room full of high limit live action play, the tournament area was the place to be for satellite action, and for the finale.
With two hour limits built into the structure, the pace was measured, each player maneuvering for a better finishing position. The short stacks would of course be subject to attack, which of course led to the dismissal of Anthony Giannone of West Hempstead, New York after he went all-in with two pair on the board holding a Jack for the kicker, but would see the pot awarded to Jim Boyd of Martinsburg, West Virginia who held a Queen.
Not too much later, the second short stack of Bill Tracy who hails from Glen Cove, New York would be all-in against Boyd who played a 7, 3 off suit on his big blind and made trips to snap Tracy and his King, Queen.
Seventh place would be claimed by Alfred Matthews of Peabody, Massachusetts who also played King, Queen and made a four flush but ran into the 9's full held by Michael Keohan of West Orange, New Jersey.
The next two players were eliminated on back to back hands. First, Stavros Karabinas of Austin, Texas would be eliminated when he went all-in with an Ace, Queen flush draw and got beat by the pocket Jacks of Boyd.
Then, Brett White of Greensboro, North Carolina would try his Ace, Trey when the flop brought another Ace. Unfortunately for White Kenny Chanthamala of nearby East Lyme, Connecticut would use the river to make a straight and take the pot.
Four handed play lasted nearly an hour until Boyd got eliminated by playing King, 8 on a blind all-in. Jim Bucci, Sr. of Hollywood, Maryland would take the opportunity to play his Ace, 4 and win with just that.
Then came the tightest play so far in the World Poker Finals. The remaining three players battled for over three hours before finally ousting Bucci. With a straight on board Keohan held the higher end and took the pot.
Heads up at $4,000-8,000 would then take it's toll on Chanthamala as he would burn off chips until finally going all-in against Keohan with Ace, Queen of clubs verses Keohan's 9, 6 off suit. Keohan made two pair, taking the pot and the title.
A round of applause please for Mike Keohan, the latest champion!
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