WPT LADIES’ NIGHT IV
NO LIMIT HOLD’EM
$25,000 WPT CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT SEAT
6 INVITED ENTRIES
JJ Liu is WPT Ladies’ Night IV Winner
I had just witnessed the best looking WPT final table this year (trust me, there isn’t even a 2nd place in the comparison). The WPT Ladies’ Night event may be the most prestigious women’s event ever. Past winners include Clonie Gowen, Evelyn Ng, and Jennifer Tilly. Each has made a name for themselves in the world of tournament poker and some have pursued lucrative endorsement deals with on-line poker websites. By the audience reaction, local Kelli Griggs is the crowd favorite. Kelli earned her spot at the WPT final table by besting 422 women in the Legends of Poker Ladies’ Event on August 20th, 2006. Not only did Kelli win the event, but she helped raise money for The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (www.komen.org). Kelli Griggs is a 4 year cancer survivor and is using her notoriety to promote cancer prevention and donations. The Bicycle Casino and the WPT teamed up with The Susan G. Komen Foundation to bring awareness and financial support for breast cancer treatment and education.
The other five players were all top women players in the WPT Season IV events. Joanne “JJ” Liu, Vanessa Rousso, Erica Schoenberg, Anahit Galajian, Erica Schoenberg, and last year’s winner Jennifer Tilly will be up against amateur Kelli Griggs for the title.
The action started off fast and within the first several hands, Kelli Griggs bluffed her way to winning her first pot. Showing the bluff, she was telling all her opponents that she was there to win and do not try to underestimate her. Kelli, wearing an UltimateBet.net logo, has received poker coaching from UltimateBet’s spokeswoman, Annie Duke over the last week. Annie couldn’t have done it any better than Kelli so far.
The first elimination occurred when Kelli raised from the small blind for $30K and Jennifer Tilly, from the big blind, popped it up to $80K. Kelli called and the flop came down Ks-Jd-9c. Kelli checked and Jennifer pushed all-in. Kelli called and turned up Ad-Kc while Jennifer saw that she was in bad shape with Kd-Qs. The turn and river of Aces (Ac-Ah) did not help Jennifer Tilly and the 2005 Ladies’ Night III winner was the first eliminated in 6th place.
The next elimination came when Kelli Griggs raised $40K from the button. Vanessa Rousso called from the big blind and the flop came 10d-10h-6d. Vanessa pushed all-in and Kelli quickly called and showed K-10 for trip 10s. Vanessa showed Kc-6c for two-pair and needs running 6s for the win and running Kings for a chop. The turn 2s had Vanessa drawing dead (river was a Qs). Vanessa Rousso finishes in 5th place and is the second elimination for Kelli Griggs.
The next big confrontation was between Erica Schoenberg and JJ Liu. Erica raised preflop to $42K from the button. JJ called from the big blind and the flop was Kc-10c-4c. JJ checked and Erica pushed all-in for $206K. JJ called and showed her nut flush with Ac-6c. Erica revealed Ks-8s and needed running full house cards for the win. The turn 7h had Erica drawing dead and JJ Liu took the pot. Erica Schoenberg was eliminated in 4th place.
Three handed play has the button acting first before the flop and last on every street after the flop. We expect to see a lot of preflop raising from the button at a three-handed table. As expected, Anahit Gilijian, on the button, raises all-in for her last $128K. Unfortunate for Anahit, JJ Liu called from the big blind with pocket Kings. JJ is the 6:1 favorite (85%/15%) and the flop is Jc-6s-2d. Anahit needs running cards and finds one of them on the turn with the 4c. A 5 on the river would save Anahit but the river is a Js and Anahit Galajian was eliminated in 3rd place.
Heads-up play is a contest of player vs. player more than the cards that are dealt. Pots are won and lost by the contest of betting and raising rather than a showdown at the river. Kelli Griggs, who has shown aggressive betting at the table so far, will be matched with chip leader JJ Liu, no stranger to heads-up play.
Heads-up play allowed Kelli to double up her short stack within striking distance to JJ (JJ- $900K, Kelli- $600K). The last hand of the match had JJ raising from the button for $67K to go. Kelli called and the flop was Jc-7s-6h. Kelli bet $100K and JJ smooth called. The turn was an 8c. Kelli now checked and JJ bet $200K. Kelli responded by check raising all-in for an additional $182K. With a pot over $730K, JJ called and showed Ks-7d. Kelli showed a dominated Qc-7h. Kelli is looking for a Queen on the river to save her. The river was a 5d and Kelli finishes as the runner-up.
JJ Liu is the new 2006 WPT Ladies’ Night Champion winning a $25,000 seat at the WPT Championship event, and a gold ring from The Bicycle Casino.
-Jay “Bugsy” Siegel
BIOGRRAPHY
Joanne “JJ” Liu, born in Taiwan, started playing poker 10 years ago and cashed at the 1996 WSOP Limit Hold’em event in her first year. JJ has earned over $800K in tournament prize money and recently finished in 4th place at the Five-Diamond WPT Classic earning over $362,000. JJ, who always brings a sense of fashion to the table, wore an elegant dress and a non-poker smile. When the play began, the poker face came out and JJ personally (and eloquently) knocked out 3 of her five opponents.
Congrats to JJ in accomplishing one of her top poker goals: to win a WPT event. Good luck in the WPT Championship event and as attractive as JJ is, I would not want to see her at my table in any tournament.
FINAL TABLE RESULTS
1st JJ Liu Las Vegas, NV $25,000 WPT Championship Seat
2nd Kelli Griggs Folsom, CA
3rd Anahit Galajian Glendale, CA
4th Erica Schoenberg Las Vegas, NV
5th Vanessa Rousso Las Vegas, NV
6th Jennifer Tilly Harbor City, CA
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