RICHARD PHELPS'S BIGGEST WIN TO DATE
By Debbie Burkhead
Todays final table began at 8:30 with eight players after two players were knock out at the same time on separate tables. The blinds were $1,000-$2,000 and there were 10 minutes remaining.
Ten minutes into the final table Scott Sherwood raised, Richard reraised $6,500 more to get Scott all-in and Scott made the call. Scott showed pocket sevens and Richard turned over two queens. The board came K-K-K-5-9 and Scott was eliminated in 8th place with $858.
At 8:50 Susie Isaacs raised, Khiem Nguyen reraised and Susie called all-in for her remaining $2,000. Susie showed A-6 and Khiem showed 10-10. The board came J-J-5-Q-10 and Khiem filled on the river. Susie had to settle for 7th place and put $1,045 in her purse, poor baby.
Five minutes later Gloria Tschetschot took an early out with A-K. Khiem raised, Gloria reraised $3,500 more and Khiem called. Khiem had pocket sixes. The board came 5-J-8-10-J and Khiem’s sixes hold-up. Gloria is eliminated in 6th place and took home $1,313 in cash.
At 9:00 the blinds increased to $1,500-$3,000.
Twenty-five minutes later Michael “Shoes” Gambony raises and Gion Frank calls. The flop came K-4-2 with two hearts, Gion checked, Shoes bet $16,500 and Gion called. The turn card was a eight of diamonds, Gion bet all-in and Shoes called. Gion had A-6 of hearts and Shoes had K-Q. The river was a ten of hearts and Shoes was forced to take a walk. Shoes collected $1,742 for his 5th place finish.
At 9:30 the blinds went to $2,000-$4,000.
Ten minutes into the new round Khiem played his last hand. Khiem raised to $10,000, Gion reraised to $20,000 and Khiem called. The flop came 8-6-9, Gion bet $30,000 and Khiem called all-in with his remaining chips. Khiem showed J-9, for a pair of nines and Gion turned over pocket queens. The turn was an ace and the river was a three. Gion’s queens held-up and Khiem had to settle for 4th place and $2,385.
Three minutes later H. Kono made it $14,000, Gion reraised and H. called with his remaining $3,000. H. showed 10-10 and Gion turned over A-2. The board came A-8-8-6-9 and Gion single handily eliminated three players in a row. H. took 3rd place and $3,323.
It was now heads-up between Gion and Richard but the bad news for Richard was, he only had about $20,000 in chips and Gion had all the rest, $180,000.
Richard asked Gion if she wanted to talk about a deal and she refused, so play continued.
Sixteen hands later Richard had come within $16,000 of Gion. Richard had climbed his way back to $92,000 and Gion had managed to lose over $72,000 of her $180,000.
Now that the tide had turned Gion asked Richard about a deal but neither could agree, so play continued.
At 10:07 the two remaining players took a short break. Richard was still trailing but by only $4,000. What a tremendous come back for Richard.
Twenty-five hands after the break Richard was now in the lead with $108,000 and Gion was down to $92,000. Gion mentioned another deal and this time they both agreed. Gion took second place and $4,904.
Richard was declared the winner, took home the clock trophy he wanted so badly, the TOC qualification and $8,844 in cash.
Richard is a professional poker player who travels around in his motor home looking for a good poker game. This was Richard’s biggest win to date in a poker tournament.
Congratulation, Richard.
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