Anthony “Tony” Hamilton Takes His Second 1st Place Finish
This Time in Hold’em
By Debbie Burkhead
The Desert Poker Classic at Fantasy Springs is coming to an end. The Bubble tournament will take place tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. followed by the $1,000 No-Limit Championship event at noon
Today’s $330 Limit Hold’em event drew 20 players with a prize pool of $5,820.
The final nine players began play at 7:15 with 15 minutes remaining at the $150-$300 limit with $75-$150 blinds.
Four players out of the remaining nine players would make the money and the 5th place finisher will win a seat in the Bubble tournament and a chance to win a Card Player Cruise.
Five minutes into final table play, Dick Turner was eliminated by Tony Hamilton. Tony made a full house with his pocket jacks when the river card produced a third 10. Dick mucked his cards after seeing Tony’s pocket jacks, and finished in 9th place.
Two hands later Perry Green and Mansour Matloubi got involved in a pot that resulted in the elimination of Mansour. Mansour played an A-J, flop a jack against Perry who was holding A-Q. The turn card produced a queen giving Perry a pair of queens for the win. Mansour took 8th place.
It didn’t take long before another player was sent packing. Dan Whitman went all-in with A-4 against Minh who was holding A-J. The flop brought an ace but Minh’s jack kicker held up for the win. Dan was sent home at 7:30 in 7th place.
Before the next hand was dealt the limit rose to $200-$400 with $100-$200 blinds and the rounds increased to 35 minutes.
Fourteen minutes later Fred Bowen was eliminated in 6th place. Fred went all-in before the flop with A-K and Tony called with Q-9 on the small blind. A queen hit the flop giving Tony a pair of queens. No aces or kings showed up on the turn or the river and Tony’s queens took the pot.
There were five players remaining and four would win money and one would win a seat in the upcoming Bubble tournament.
Ten minutes later the winner of the Bubble seat went to Bob Mauser. Bob played Q-J against Minh Nguyen who was holding pocket threes. Minh flopped a set of treys and Bob flopped a pair of jacks, just enough to keep him in to the river. Minh bet each card flopped until the river getting Bob all-in. Minh’s set held up and Bob was forced to take 5th for the Bubble seat.
At 8:05 the limit increased to $300-$600 with blinds at $150-$300.
Twenty minutes into the round Tony raised, Perry Green reraised all-in and Tony called. Perry showed pocket nines and Tony had Q-J. The board was no help to Perry when it produced 8-K-J-5-K giving Tony two higher pair. Perry took 4th place and $582.
There were three players remaining and the chip count was so close they made a lucrative save, played for a little more cash and the title. The three players also decided to play no-limit for the rest of the tournament.
Ten hands later Minh pushed all-in on his small blind and Matt called him. Minh showed A-10 and Matt had A-6. After the flop, Minh was leading but the turn card came a six which gave Matt a pair of sixes. The river was a deuce and Matt’s sixes were good. Minh took 3rd place.
Tony and Matt were now heads-up with Tony slightly in the lead with $10,600 to Matt’s $9,400.
On the third hand of heads-up play Matt called before the flop on his small blind and Tony checked on his big blind. The flop came 9-5-4, and they both checked. The turn card was a deuce, Tony pushed all-in and Matt called. Matt had called with Q-6 of hearts and had a flush draw and a straight on the turn. Tony called with 9-2 and had turned two pair. The river card was a six which gave Matt a pair of sixes. Tony won with his two pair and Matt was forced to take 2nd place.
At 8:40, four hours and forty minutes after the tournament began Tony was declared the winner. This was Tony’s second 1st place finish at the Desert Poker Classic. Tony took a 3rd place finish in the first Omaha event and a 1st place finish in the second Omaha event. If there were a best all around award Tony would surely be in the lead
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