| Two-Time Final Table Finisher
Gene Bowden Takes a First
Report by Debbie Burkhead
If there was a best all-around award in the Desert Poker Classic, Gene Bowden would be leading the pack with a 2nd place finish in the Omaha 8 or Better and an impressive 1st place finish in today's 7-Card Stud 8 or Better event. It appears that split games are Gene's forte.
The 7-Card Stud event drew 32 players and created a prize pool of $6,208.
At 4:30 p.m. the final six players took their places at the final table with a $75 ante and a $100 bring-in at the $400-$800 limit.
Twenty minutes into play at the final table Dan Whitman ran into bad luck for the second time during the Desert Poker Classic and now has two finishes on the bubble. Dan won his second seat in the bubble tournament but is only entitled to play one. If nothing else, he is certainly narrowing the field in the bubble tournament.
At 5:05 p.m. the limit rose to $600-$1,200 with a $200 low-card bring-in and a $125 ante.
On the second hand at the new level Mike McCoy had to bring it in with the five of clubs. Gene Bowden raised with a queen of diamonds showing, Irving "Ike" Kasow reraised with a five of hearts on board, Don Williams called with a six of hearts showing, Mike folded and Gene called. On the turn Gene bet after hitting a 10, Ike called with his 5h-4c showing, and Don folded. Gene caught an ace on 5th and Ike caught a deuce. Gene bet and Ike called all-in. After the smoke cleared Gene showed aces-up and Ike ended up with two small pair. Ike took 5th place and collected $310.
At 5:20 Mike and Don went at it until Mike was all-in with a low draw. Don rivered a nine high straight and Mike ended up with a busted low. Mike took 4th place and $621.
With three players remaining, Gene had an impressive lead with $18,500, Don was holding on to second with $8,000 and Mansour Matloubi was trailing with $5,500.
On the third hand Mansour scooped a big pot with a flush and a seven low against Don leaving him with only $4,000. Now Mansour was in second place and Don was trailing in third.
Four hands later Don and Mansour went head-to-head again but this time Don scooped the pot with nines full and left Mansour with only $1,500. Don was now back in second place with $9,500 and Mansour was in third place.
At 5:40 p.m. Gene and Mansour got involved in a pot that put Mansour all-in on the turn. This time Gene scooped the pot with a jack-high straight and Mansour had to settle for 3rd place and $931. After that hand Don and Gene were now playing heads-up. The limit increased to $1,000-$2,000 with a $200 ante and a $300 bring-in.
On the seventh hand of play Gene and Don played a hand to seventh street where Don was forced to fold leaving him with only $2,000.
Two hands later Gene brought it in with the jack of clubs, Don raised with the jack of diamonds and Gene called. On the turn Don caught the ace of diamonds and Gene caught another jack. Gene bet and Don called all-in. Don started with the 6-5 of diamonds in the hole and had a flush draw. Gene showed a pair of sixes in the hole for jacks up. None of the next three cards brought Don a diamond and Gene's two pair held up.
Don had to settle for 2nd place and $1,552. Gene was crowned the winner and kiddingly joked, "I knew if they got rid of those cheats, I could win one of these things."
Congratulations, Gene!
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