Navy Mom Debbie Knight Attacks Final Table
The 2008 Winnin' o' the Green continued with Event #4, a $97+$3+$25 No Limit Hold'em LIPS Tour event in the 'Luck Be a Lady' series. The final table was set and two players had busted out when the final table reporting began. On the other end of the room was the final table open No Limit Hold'em Bounty event and your favorite reporter was bouncing between both tournaments. Just for the record it's like multi-tabling in on-line poker—you get all the action and a little of the details.
The third elimination occurred on hand #19 when Celia Aragon pushed all-in on the button and was called by Victoria Krapivkin in the big blind. The board A-Q-7-J-10 gave Celia's A-4 top pair but the river 10 completed Broadway for Victoria's K-Q. Celia Aragon finished in 7th place and earned $375.
On hand #27 Chellie Campbell was all-in holding Ad-3d but ran into Debbie Knight's pocket Kings. The board was A-10-7d-2d-K. Chellie became the strong favorite until the offsuit river King won Debbie the pot. Chellie Campbell was eliminated in 6th place and took home $525.
Hand #30 had Lulu Cabot all-in after her raise from the button and Victoria Krapivkin called. Lulu held A-K and had a slight preflop lead against Victoria's 9d-10d. The flop changed the lead with a 10-7-5 and the turn 6 & river 5 did not improve Lulu's hand. Lulu took 5th place and received $675.
Hand #39 was the typical position confrontation, Victoria Krapivkin raised from the button with 'Presto!' (pocket 5s). Lily Kajioka called all-in from the small blind with A-K and the big blind got out of the way. The board was J-3-2-4-6 and Victoria made her straight but had the lead the whole way. Lily Kajioka ended her tournament in a respectable 4th place and added $900 to her bankroll.
On hand #52 Debbie Knight took all but 1,500 in chips from Danette Bernard. Debbie held Kd-Jh and Danette was dominated with Kc-10s. The board was 8-5h-2h-Kh-8h and Debbie made her flush while Danette handed over 95% of her chips. Hand #53 had Debbie Knight all-in with a K-10 against short stacked Danette Bernard with an 8-6. This time Debbie was holding the K-10 (Danette's holdings last hand). The board was Q-9-5-2-2 and the King kicker was good enough to win the small pot and eliminate Danette Bernard in 3rd place for $1,430.
Heads-up play began without any discussion so far at this final table about a deal. The action was a lot of raise-fold with an occasional flop-bet-fold. Nine hands into the final table Victoria, who was short stacked for a few hands, got it all-in with Ad-6d against a dominating Ac-Qs of Debbie Knight. The board manages to miss both players with a K-8-3-2-9 and Debbie's Queen kicker took down the pot and the tournament. Victoria Krapivkin of Irvine, CA finished runner-up and collected $3,005. A very enthusiastic Debbie Knight got a trophy, a Legends of Poker Ladies event seat, and $5,862 in cash.
-- Jay 'Bugsy' Siegel
BIOGRAPHY
Debbie Knight is a stay-at-home mom who is very proud of her children. Her two sons are enlisted in the Navy and her daughter is an EMT. Debbie has been playing poker for over 20 years and she is a former shift manager here at The Bicycle Casino and at Crystal Park Casino. She loves to play tournaments and plays many open tournaments as well as the LIPS Tour events. Debbie plays an aggressive style of poker and admitted she got to the final table by doing a lot of 'robbing' of the blinds and small pots along the way. Debbie wants to dedicate this win to her husband Kurt Knight, former kicker for the Washington Redskins, for his support, teachings, and character. | 
