Cash-Game Pro Danny Walker, 23, Wins
Circuit Event #2, $500 No-Limit Hold'em
Council Bluffs, IA--Danny Walker, a 23-year-old professional poker player from Omaha, won the second event of the WSOP Circuit at Horseshoe Council Bluffs, $500 no-limit Omaha. He came to the final table with the chip lead, lost it and got it back a couple of times, finally making a straight to beat his last opponent, John Kurtenbach. Holding a good chip lead, he made a deal when he was heads-up, but the two then played through for the title and championship ring, as required by Iowa law. First place paid an official $34,608.
Walker, an English major before playing full time, specializes in cash games such as $5-$10 no-limit. He's played in about 10 Circuit events, and his prior highlight was $18,500 for second in a Circuit event here last year.
Walker described himself as a very aggressive player, his strategy being to play faster as the blinds get higher and players tighten up. "If you take down four blinds, you can lose a pot and still be all right," he explained. He hopes to play in this year's WSOP.
As a side note, the hat trick award for action thus far goes to Larry Cascio. He played two tables yesterday, running back and forth and finishing eighth in the first event and 10th in the second.
Here were the starting chip counts for today's final table:
Seat 1. Daniel Sindelar 96,500
Seat 2. John Kurtenbach 136,500
Seat 3. Scott Buller 98,000
Seat 4. Blake Cahail 41,500
Seat 5. Larry Christensen 114,000
Seat 6. Danny Walker 203,800
Seat 7. Ron Miller 82,000
Seat 8. Jason Vargas 35,500
Seat 9. Steve Spratlen 82,500
Jason Vargas, starting with 35,500, was lowest-chipped, but not for long. On the third hand, he was all in with pocket 7s against Blake Cahail's pocket aces and Walker's Kc-Qc. The board came 10-5-4-6-8, giving Vargas a straight and tripling him up. Cahail, who started second-lowest, was now down to the felt. On the next hand he was all in from the small blind with 8h-7h. Walker chased him down with A-10 and made a straight when the board came K-Q-8-3-J. Finishing ninth, Cahail took home $2,163.
Cahail, 21, is a pharmacy technician from Columbia, Missouri. He began playing with friends in high school and has entered three Circuits thus far.
Hand 19 saw the classic match-up: A-K for Vargas and pocket queens for an all-in Scott Buller. The flop paired Vargas' king but gave Buller a set, and after handing over 51,000, Vargas was down to 2,000 chips. Soon after, Vargas put his last chips in holding Q-3. Larry Christensen had pocket 10s, turned a set, and Vargas was paid $4,326 for eighth.
Vargas is 36 and a project manager from Omaha. His poker highlight is a final table in a $500 event in last year's Horseshoe October Classic.
Next out was Daniel "Flip Flop/Sindy" Sindelar. He pushed in for 46,000 with A-J and was called by Ron Miller, who had pocket kings. Miller made a set when the board came Q-8-2-9-K, and Sindelar cashed seventh for $4,326.
Sindelar is a 24-year old-pro from Columbus, Nebraska who wrote that his prior occupation (?) was "raising camels." He also helpfully wrote that he learned poker when he was "younger." Sindelar's other hobbies are playing sports and fishing.
Just as the level ended, Steve Spratlen went broke on a very bad beat. Holding Q-J, he made top two when the flop came Q-J-2. Walker, holding K-9 for an inside straight draw with one overcard, bet 30,000 and Spratlen moved in. The turn was a king, and a river deuce gave Walker kings and deuces for the higher two pair. Sixth paid $5,408.
Spratlen, 51, is a property manager/landlord from Lincoln, Nebraska who learned poker from a friend. This is his first Circuit, and his other hobby is remodeling.
Players returned from break playing with blinds of 4,000-8,000 and 1,000 antes. Walker, with a little over 200,000 chips, led the pack. For the first 50 minutes of this level, action slowed to a crawl. Or perhaps slower, with only four flops and maybe more walks than that. Then things suddenly picked up. In the cut-off seat, Miller moved in for 48,000 with A-7. But instead of picking up the blinds, he got called by Kurtenbach, who held pocket 6s. The board of J-8-2-K-9 changed nothing, and Miller, finishing fifth, cashed for $6,489.
Miller is 39, from Mosinee, Wisconsin, and owns a tile business. He started playing poker seven years ago and has entered 13 Circuits. Fishing is his other hobby.
Then, on the next hand, Buller put in his last 53,000 holding K-Q and got a call from Christensen, who had pocket jacks. The board came all small cards, and Buller followed Miller to the cashier, taking out $7,571 for fourth.
Buller, 51, is a railroad conductor and poker player from Lincoln, Nebraska. He said he started playing with friends at age 19, but now doesn't have any. He does, however, have a lot of tournament cashes, $800,000 all-told. His cashes include a third and fifth in WPT events, and a win in the $1,000 Horseshoe Fall Classic event. In all, he has seven tournament wins and 18 final tables.
As play went on, Walker, who had dipped down in chips and lost his lead, doubled through against Christensen on a lucky break. He was all in for 67,000 with Ac-6c against Christensen's Ad-10d, and caught a 6 on the turn. He hit Christensen a second time soon after. With the board showing As-3h-7h-Qs, Walker moved in for 84,000, and Christensen called. "You got it, I was just making a move," Walker said, turning up a 10-5. But all Christensen had was 9h-8h for a flush draw. "You mean I'm going to win it with a 10 high?" Walker yelled in disbelief. He did, when an offsuit 7 hit the river.
Walker was now chip leader again, and right after that he hit on Christensen for the third and final time. On a flop of K-J-6, Christensen bet 55,000 with K-2, and Walker, holding K-J for two pair, put him all in and then all out after a 4 and 10 came. Christensen, 52, is a farmer and rancher from Kennebec, South Dakota and he collected $9,734 for third.
Heads-up, Walker had more than 600,000 chips to about 260,000 for Kurstenbach. Chips weren't their only difference. "You haven't said a word all day," the lively Walker informed his quiet opponent. When the round ended, Kurstanbach had managed to increase his chips somewhat to 340,000, after doubling up once by flopping a set of 4s.
The two then made a deal and continued to play through.
Blinds were now 8,000-16,000 with 2,000 antes. Soon after, a flop brought Ah-7h-4h. Holding Kh-9h, Kurstanbach had the nuts, but slow-played. After Walker bet out for 20,000, he merely raised to 40,000. Both players checked when an 8h turned. On the river, Walker bet 20,000, Kurstanbach raised to 80,000 and took the lead after Walker called. Right after that, Walker was left with about 130,000 after he re-raised to 200,000 on a board of Q-7-5-4, then folded his obvious bluff when Kurstanbach moved in.
But then he doubled up when he made a club flush with Ah-3c, and took back the lead when he flopped a flush holding Qh-2h. On the final hand, he held 9h-8d and won it all when a board of Q-J-9-J-10 gave him a straight.
Kurstenbach, 23, who won an official $19,035 for second, is a room service server at a nearby Hilton Hotel. He learned poker in home games, and from books, and in his leisure time he likes hanging out with friends. His tournament cashes include an eighth in $300 no-limit in a Circuit event here last year. --Max Shapiro
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