CHRISTINA TAKES 1ST PLACE IN NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM
By Debbie Burkhead
The final table began at 8:52 with $400-$800 blinds and a $100 ante.
In seat one was the chip leader Reo Cutler with $28,500, in seat two was Svetoslav Nechev with $24,000, Marie Gabert was in seat three with $1,800, Ray Moss was in seat four with $1,600, Ron Stanley was in seat five with $9,400, Salah Levy Avner was in seat six with $19,100, Bill Kirby was in seat seven, making his 4th final table appearance, with $9,100, William Garrett was in seat eight with $21,500, Christina Hung was in seat nine with $25,100.
At 9:00 Ray Moss was the first casualty. Ray went all-in against Reo Cutler and both players had flopped a pair of kings but Reo’s A-K outkicked Ray’s K-8. Ray took 9th place along with $753.
Five minutes later Marie Gabert, after making her second final table appearance, was eliminated. Marie was all-in with Kh-6d and William Garrett had two red queens. The river card brought a fourth diamond and both players made a flush but William’s queen of diamonds beat Marie’s six of diamonds. Marie was forced to take 8th place and $896.
At 9:12 the blinds rose to $500-$1,000 with a $200 ante.
Three hands later Ron Stanley raised all-in for $7,100 and Kirby called all-in for $5,300. Kirby had A-K and Ron showed Q-Q. The flop brought an ace and Kirby left Ron with only $1,800.
Two hands later Ron was left with only $400 after posting his big blind. William raised to $2,000, Christina reraised to $10,000, Ron call with his remaining $400 and William folded. Chris showed K-J and Ron turned over 10-2. The board came 6-K-7-7-3 and Ron was forced to take 7th place with $1,092.
At 9:40 the blinds increased to $500-$1,500 with a $300 ante.
On the first hand at the new level Avner moved all-in for his remaining $12,500 and Christina Hung moved in over the top to get it heads-up with Avner. Avner showed A-7 and Christina showed K-K. The board came 6-8-9-3-2 and Avner was eliminated in 6th place for $1,372.
Christina was in the lead with $61,000, Reo Cuter had dropped to second with $28,800, Svetoslav was in third with $27,900, Kirby was in fourth with $11,400 and William was in fifth with $11,100.
At 10:25 Kirby raised to $8,000, Christina moved all-in and Kirby called. Christina showed A-J and Kirby rolled over two fives. The board came 9-6-Q-J-10 and Christina made a pair of jacks on the turn to beat Kirby’s pair of fives. Kirby finished 5th and collected $1,820.
Four hands later Christina raised $1,500, Reo reraised all-in for $28,000 and Christina called. Reo showed A-J and Christina had made the call with K-9. The board came 9-4-6-10-J and Christina sent one more player to the rail. Reo took 4th place and added $2,492 to his bankroll.
There were three players remaining and Christina had a commanding chip lead with $105,000, Svetoslav was in second with $25,000 and William was trailing with $10,000.
On the second hand of three-way action Svetoslav raised, Christina reraised all-in and Svetoslav called. Svetoslav showed A-J and Christina turned over Q-9. The board came 10-2-5-K-J and Christina made a straight on the river for the win. Svetoslav was forced to take 3nd place and $3,472.
That was the third hand that Christina had moved all-in against the best starting hand and when it was over had made the best hand, eliminating three players in a row.
It was heads-up and Christina had all the chips except the $7,300 William had.
Before heads-up play began Christina made William an offer and William declined.
On the second hand of heads-up play William raised all-in for his remaining $3,700 and Christina called. Christina showed Q-9 and William turned over 10-3. The board came 9-A-7-2-5 and Christina won with a pair of nines. William took 2nd place and $5,124.
Christina was the undisputed winner of the $225 No-Limit hold’em event. Christina had personally eliminated six of her eight opponents at the final table. Christina took 1st place, the clock trophy, received a TOC qualification and collected $9,240.
Congratulation, Christina!
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