Eldon Wins Despite Penalty!
Eldon Brown, a poker circuit tournament director, overcame a disastrous penalty with three players left to bull his way to a win in the fifth event of Legends of Poker 2005, $200 no-limit hold'em. He had $124,000 in chips when he blurted out, 'Let' get the f… out of here.' Blinds were $6,000-$12,000 with $2,000 antes. His opponents played nine hands in 10 minutes, and Brown had $60,000 blinded off. Returning, he immediately doubled up, played aggressively and finally got heads up with Lang Lee, holding $461,000 of the $529,000 chips in play. He offered a deal and the event was over.
Once again two players were knocked out simultaneously at the second tables as Ernest Bennett finished 11th and Dennis Waterman cashed out 10th. The final nine started with 29 seconds left and then blinds went to $3,000-$6,000 and $1,000 antes. Phillip Ragland, with $137,000, was chip leader, but lost three big pots in seven hands and finished seventh.
He took his first hit on the second hand. The flop came 5d-4h-3d. Brown had a nut flush draw with Ad-Jd and moved in for about $30,000. Ragland called with 10d-9d and Brown doubled through with ace-high. Two hands later, Ragland took another blow. Lee moved in for about $40,000. He had Ac-9c, and Ragland called with Ks-10s. Junk came, and suddenly Ragland was getting relatively low.
On the next hand, Brown moved in with A-K. Dani Pourat, a women' apparel manufacturer, made a desperation call with 10-7 with his few remaining chips. The board came A-Q-Q-5-6, and Pourat finished ninth.
On the next hand, Brendan Quinn, an Omaha player participating in his first no-limit event, moved in for $35,000 with A-Q. Ming Huang called with slightly fewer chips and turned up pocket 8s. Ming was alive until a queen hit the river, and he ended eighth.
Hand seven finished Ragland. After Frederick Arni opened for $20,000, Ragland moved in. Arni had nines, Ragland had deuces. The board missed both of them, and Ragland was out. Arni now had a commanding lead with close to $200,000.
On only the 12th hand, we lost our fourth player. Chris Cellery tried an all-in move from the cut-off seat with 5-2 and Lee picked him off with pocket 6s. As play continued, Lee took over the lead when he went all in and his Q-Q held up against Arni' K-J.
A chip count was requested. Lee had $173,000; Arni, $54,000; Quinn, $83,000; Brown, $80,000; and Bijan Ashkan, $38,500. A long and loud argument ensued before the five players agreed on a deal for most of the prize pool. Right after play resumed, Ashkan moved in with Qd-Jd. He lost to Quinn' K-Q when a king flopped, and four were left.
Then, on hand 32, Quinn took a very big hit. He had K-J and had a great flop: K-5-4. and moved in. But Arni, with K-5, had two pair, and Quinn was down to about $15,000.
By now blinds had gone up two levels to $6,000-$12,000 with $2,000 antes. Quinn quickly busted out when he moved in with Q-7 and lost to Lee' A-Q.
Brown then went on a roll, building his stacks with three uncalled all-ins in four hands. 'Ain't no strategy, just move in,' he said. But then he hit the wall with his penalty. Returning, he doubled up with 9-9 against Lee' 8-7, then kept moving up.
Right after blinds went to $8,000-$16,000 he moved in with Q-J on a flop of K-Q-8. Lee called with A-8 and went broke after a 4 and a deuce came. Brown then made his final offer, Lee accepted, and it was over. -Max Shapiro
BIOGRAPHY
Eldon Brown started as a dealer at the Bike in 1993, then at Hollywood Park, then was a floorman for 10 years. He now directs tournaments at land casinos such as the Palms and on poker cruises. He' been playing poker since he was a kid, and in casinos since 1991. He' had six major wins, the biggest being for $86,000 at the Four Queens, along with some 300 daytime wins. He said he had a premonition he would be the all-around points leader at this event, then decided not to play after a death in the family, then changed his mind again when he had a win and a cash-out just recently at the Orleans.
Tonight he was down to a $25 chip at the $300-$600 level, anted it, won the $400 in antes, and went on from there. Brown' hobbies are poker, fishing and motorcycles, and he said he'd use tonight' winnings to buy himself a Harley.
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