Jon Peck Wins Mariani/Buss No Limit Hold'em
The Mariani/Buss No Limit Hold'em, attracted 166 players who paid $1,500 into the prize pool of which $150 went to the Laker Youth Foundation. The total prize pool was $249,000 and $24,900 was designated for the foundation. A top-shelf cocktail party preceded the tournament. Fresh sushi, crab legs, shrimp, and tables full of assorted food was served. The dessert table had a vast assortment of bite size treats, so one could indulge in several goodies to top off the meal. Enough of food and drink, let's get down to poker.
'The structure on this event is great!' said one player who had amassed the chip lead with four tables to go. Unfortunately, I didn't get his name, thinking he would be a shoe in for the final table. He tried to extend his lead, several times actually, and in No Limit Hold'em, that can have disastrous consequences if all does not go right. The event's biggest fan busted out with three tables to go. I didn't approach him this time for two reasons: 1) I don't want to hear another bad beat story that typically isn't a bad beat and 2) If I got another quote from him, the language would probably not be suited for print.
The 10-handed final table got underway at 2am. The players were in the middle of Level 9, with an ante of $200 and blinds of $600/$1,200. It took exactly four hands before our first player of the final table was eliminated.
On hand #4, John Hearn, Jr. raised $8,000 preflop and got re-raised $20,000 more from Gioi Luong. John went all-in and Gioi, having John covered called. John showed an A-Q and Gioi had John dominated with A-K. The flop was 3-10-K and Gioi increased his lead. The turn 6 and river 10 did not complete John's straight and Gioi took the pot. John Hearn, Jr. finished in 10th place and earned $3,365.
On the very next hand, hand #5, Jon Peck raised preflop and Alan Daniels, frequent cash game player and regular on 'Live at the Bike', re-raised all-in for his last $12,700. John called and showed Ks-Q. Alan, who picked his spot with two black 5s, was the slight favorite going into the flop. The flop was 2s-9s-Qs, Alan lost the lead and needed to hit his two-outer to win. The turn was the Ace of spades and Alan was drawing dead. The river was an inconsequential offsuit 3. Alan Daniels finished in 9th place and earned $3,920.
The last hand of the match was hand #14, when Jon Peck raised preflop and Candice Vaughn called from the button. The flop was 6-7-Q and Jon fired out $5,500, Candice minimum re-raised to $11,000, Jon called. The turn was a 6 and the action went check-check. The river King got all the money in, and Candice showed her A-K for top pair-top kicker but Jon flipped his pocket 6s. Jon turned QUAD Sixes and takes down the pot. Candice Vaughn finished in 8th place and earned $4,480.
That was the last hand at that level as the blinds and antes increase, the remaining 7 players discuss a chip count deal. The chip count calculation came back and the negotiations were in full gear. Jon Peck, an internet business owner, took control of the negotiations and Spiderman, identifying the opportunity, squeezed the table for additional cash. After about 20 minutes without consensus, Jon tried again to find terms that everyone could agree on. When it looked futile, he somehow got everyone to agree and the event ended. Jon Peck was declared the winner. To Jon's credit, it was obvious that Jon was more interested in getting cash equity for the 7 remaining players (including himself), and was not concerned about locking up the win. Each player was eventually satisfied with the payout in the end. If I ever need a contract negotiator in the future, I'm getting Jon on my team. Good work Jon and congrats to all 7 of the final table players for making a very profitable deal.
-Jay 'Bugsy' Siegel
BIOGRRAPHY
Jon Peck has been playing poker for 15 years but has played serious poker for the last 3 years. John owns an internet-based business and uses his business skills at the poker table and his poker skills in the boardroom. Jon is originally from South Africa but grew up in Southern California. Jon's most recent win, prior to the Legends, was at Bellagio in Las Vegas where 1st place paid $21,535. Jon also placed 4th in the Mini Series here at The Bicycle Casino, in 7-Card Stud. Jon wants to personally thank Frank Mariani and Jerry Buss for making this a charity event and Jon has played in this event for 2 years now and plans on playing it as long as it continues. He is proud to support the Lakers Youth Foundation and encourages other organization to combine poker with charity.
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