Poker Tournament Results

Legends of Poker/ WPT Event Season 5

Joe Pelton

Tournament Report

Joe Pelton Wins Legends of Poker/WPT Title The $10,000 buy-in Legends of Poker Championship even crowned Joe Pelton, from Newport Beach, California, the latest of WPT millionaires and title holders. He is in good company along with two of his final table opponents Scotty Nguyen (1 championship title and 7 final table appearances) and Hoyt Corkins (1 championship and 4 final table appearances). The final table of 10 will be playing down to the final six. These six players will return the following day for filming of the WPT final table which will be aired on the Travel Channel. The first elimination of the final table occurred on hand #3, when Frankie O’Dell raised and Mike Heintschel re-raised all-in with his short stack. Frankie was isolated with Mike and called for a few more chips. Mike showed A-Q but Frankie had Mike dominated with his A-K. The board was 9-J-5-6-J. Frankie’s kicker plays and Mike Heinstschel was eliminated in 10th place earning him $48,800. Then next elimination occurred just four hands later when Kevin O’Donnell, a business owner in mortgages and restaurants, raised preflop and was re-raised by short stack James Van Alstyne, a pro player from Las Vegas. Kevin calls and showed A-10. James had Kd-Qd and the board was J-8-2-J-10. Kevin lead the entire way and James Van Alstyne was eliminated in 9th place and added $66,540 to his bankroll. Play continued for another 10 hands until John Juanda raised all-in for his last $80,000 and was called by chip leader, Hoyt Corkins. Hoyt showed Q-10 and John was in the lead with A-K. The flop was K-J-5 which gave John top pair and Hoyt the gutshot. The turn Ace filled the gutshot for Hoyt and John went from leader to drawing dead. The river was an inconsequential 6h. John Juanda was eliminated in 8th place and earned $88,730. The remaining players were relieved to have John, arguably the toughest No Limit tournament player at the table, short stacked and eliminated. Play continues with 7 players. This is the WPT TV bubble. The next player eliminated will NOT be playing on television for the $1,577,170. I don’t want to say that play has tightened up but we only saw 3 flops in 35 consecutive hands (raise-fold-fold-fold, repeat). There was an occasional “re-raise-fold-fold-fold” for variety but it’s clear that no one wants to be the next one out. Eventually, someone has to put it on the line, and that was David Daneshgar, who was short stacked and finally had to make a move. David limped in from the small blind with 10h-5h and Kevin O’Donnell checks his big blind with 10d-7d. The flop was 10c-9c-8h. Kevin bet $100,000 and David raises all-in for his last $460,000. Kevin called and the turn 3h gives David the flush draw for the win and many cards for the chop. The river 4c was not one of David’s many outs and David Daneshgar was eliminated in his 2nd final table appearance at the Legends of Poker. David finished in 7th place and earned $110,910. The WPT Final table is set. All players return on Wednesday for WPT interviews, hair & make-up and one tough final table playing for over $1.5M and a World Poker Tour title. Play begins cautiously, although these players have been playing with each other for at least 50 hands already, no one wants to be the first eliminated in front of millions of WPT viewers. On hand #68 (started WPT final table at hand #51), short stacked Scotty Nguyen raised all-in preflop for his last $247,000. Hoyt took a minute and finally called Scotty. Hoyt showed A-7 and Scotty had the dominating hand of A-K. The flop of 10-2-8 extended Scotty’s lead but the turn 7h pairs Hoyt’s kicker. Scotty needs a King to win and the river is a Jack and Scotty is eliminated in 6th place and earned $133,095. Scotty, disappointed by the loss, shows his true professionalism and congratulates the final 5 competitors and thanks the audience for their support. Scotty’s a champion and a gentleman in my book. Play usually speeds up after the first elimination of the WPT table and this was no exception. On the very next hand, Randy Holland re-raised Joe Pelton all-in for his last $424,000 and was called by Kevin O’Donnell in the big blind. Joe folded and there was heads-up action to the flop. Randy showed A-3 and was dominated by Kevin’s Ad-Qd. The board was 10-J-2-7-8. Kevin’s Ace high/Queen kicker won and Randy finished in 5th place earning him $177,460. Hand #84, had Kevin O’Donnell raising all-in preflop with a 6d-7c, hoping to pick-up the blinds and antes, but he ran into Frankie O’Dell’s A-Q. Frankie called and the flop was Q-J-4. Frankie hit his Queen and Kevin is way behind needing runner-runner. The turn was a 6 providing a little hope but the river 9 does not do it and Kevin O’Donnell finished in 4th place for $226,260. Once, 3-handed, play was fast, there were many flops although betting didn’t usually get beyond the flop. On hand #105, Joe Pelton raised to $250,000 under-the-gun AND on the button (3-handed blind configuration). Frankie folded and Hoyt re-raised all-in for $1M more from the big blind. Joe went into the tank for several minutes and just as it looked like he would fold, he called, and the audience immediately jumped to their feet. Joe showed Jh-10c, and some of the audience winced. Hoyt showed his pocket 3s and the race was on. The flop was Jd-9-2 and Kevin took the lead leaving Hoyt with a two-outer or running diamonds. The turn 5s and river Ac was no help to Hoyt and he was eliminated in 3rd place and earned $381,540. Hoyt, the consummate gentleman and professional, wished everyone good luck and thanked the WPT crew and The Bike’s tournament staff. Heads-up play got underway with Joe Pelton and his $3,570,000 and Frankie O’Dell and his $5,670,000. Frankie took the first pot down by flopping top 2-pair and getting Joe to check-call on every street and increasing his stack by about $900,000. Joe mucked his hand and we’ll have to wait for the TV broad cast to see his holdings. Joe won the next four out of five hands. On hand #112, Joe limped on the button to Frankie who checked his big blind. The flop was Qd-Qh-4d. Joe bet, Frankie raised, Joe re-raised to $750,000 and Frankie declared all-in. Joe called and Frankie knew what that call meant. Joe showed his Q-8 and Frankie shoed his Jh-4h. The turn was a 10s the river was another 10, which filled up Joe. Joe now had a 2:1 chip lead on Frankie. On the final hand of the event, #119, Joe raised from the button/small blind for $400,000. Frankie pushed all-in and Joe went into the tank. Joe called and showed Ac-7c to Frankie’s pocket sixes. It’s a 53%-47% race until the flop brings an Ace (A-J-3). The turn and river are 2c and Qs and Frankie O’Dell finished in runner-up position and earned $776,385. Joe Pelton is the newest WPT millionaire ($1,577,170 to be exact) and Legends of Poker Champion. -Jay “Bugsy” Siegel BIOGRAPHY Joe Pelton, 29 year old, from Newport Beach, CA said he felt good about the structure of this tournament. “$20,000 in starting chips and 90 minute rounds gave me a lot of time to find good spots and play hard.” said Pelton. He thought the tournament was run very smoothly and felt comfortable playing the long hours. Joe noted that he was fortunate to get good hands and good flops at the final table. Perhaps he was being a little too humble, I think he played some aggressive/winning poker and that, combined with some good cards and flops, won him the championship. Joe has not decided yet what he would do with all the money. He was just focused on winning a tournament, not thinking about the money until I just asked. He appeared well-focused throughout the entire final table. Congrats to Joe and we’ll see you at the WPT Championship Event at Bellagio where you just won a $25,000 entry on top of the $1.5M+ prize money.