| Jack Binion World Poker Open
Event #11
($500 buy-in) No-Limit Texas Hold’em
Entries: 185
Re-buys: 245
Total Prize Money: $208,550
If a story were to be written about what happened at the final table of the $500 buy-in No-Limit Texas Hold’em event, the title would surely be, “Here Comes the Judge.” Leo Boothe, a down-home, cowboy boot-wearing judge from the great state of Louisiana outfoxed eight of the best no-limit players at this year’s World Poker Open -- and won a final settlement of $83,420. At the final table, Booth went from being the judge and jury, to the ultimate executioner.
A talented and diverse group of poker players – from Mississippi to Paris – came into the final day. Play began with $1K-2K blinds and a $300 ante. In his customary fashion, Randy “Dream Crusher” Jensen moved all-in on the very first hand. He won the first pot, and then quickly picked up another $20K from Parisian Fabrice Soulier when he showed pocket jacks versus Soulier’s pocket 5’s.
Jeff Stewart came to the final short-stacked with about $11K and took a stand when he was dealt A-8. Soulier called the all-in raise with K-Q and spiked a much-welcome king on the flop. The final board, K-9-7-J-10 meant Stewart was out in 9th place. Stewart, who’s been playing poker for over 35 years and is a former nightclub owner in the Shreveport area, received $3,337.
Next, it was Phil Ivey’s turn to experience the bitter taste of defeat. Ivey, who’s one of poker’s brightest young stars (he’s already won bracelets at both the World Series of Poker and World Poker Open) came into the final day with only $12K. Needing to hit a hand early, he decided to try and double-through with J-8 of hearts. Unfortunately, Judge Boothe had Ivey totally dominated with Q-J. The cards were dealt – A-K-2-4-10, giving Booth a broadway straight which knocked-out Ivey in 9th place. The Atlantic City pro collected $4,171 in prize money.
Play continued at a lightning-fast pace. In fact, six players were eliminated in the first hour. Art Youngblood was the next player to get the ax, when he shoved his remaining chips into the pot with Q-10. He was distraught to see Soulier call immediately with A-Q. It was another unfavorable situation for the underdog. Youngblood failed to catch a 10, which meant elimination in 7th place. This was Youngblood’s 2nd final table at this year’s tournament, which netted another nice paycheck -- $5,214.
With Fabrice Soulier and Tony Popejoy co-chip leaders with about $80K each, Mike Haney needed to find a hand to go with. He found it in the small blind with A-J and moved his remaining stack into the pot. Judge Boothe called the small raise with K-8 of clubs. It was “déjà vu all over again” when Boothe picked up his second broadway straight in a row – his king fitting nicely with the final board of J-10-5-Q-A. Haney’s two pair was second best, and the truck driver turned poker player who has won several satellites, took $7,299 for 6th place.
“Captain” Tom Franklin would be the next player to make an unwanted exit. Franklin, who won the Omaha High-Low event as last year’s World Series of Poker and is the entertainment producer for the popular roadshow “Pure Gold,” went all-in with K-8 suited. Once again, the short-stacked player was dominated, this time by Randy Jensen with K-10. The flop came 10-8-5 with two spades, giving Franklin a flush draw. But a 10 and then a K on the end gave Jensen a full-house which put Franklin back out on the road again in 5th place with $9,385.
With four extremely aggressive players left at the final table, the tournament was still anyone’s to win. Boothe and Soulier each had about $100K, while Jensen and Popejoy were hanging in there with about $65K apiece. Then, Jensen’s hyper-aggressive nature got the best of him. Appearing at his 3rd final table in just six events, Jensen tried to make a power play with A-8 in the big blind, by coming over the top of Soulier’s button raise. Soulier wasn’t stealing this time, as he quickly called and flipped over pocket jacks. Dream Crusher Jensen desperately needed to catch an ace to survive, but instead saw five rags fall, which must have been a rude awakening. Jensen, the winner of the Limit Texas hold’em event went out 4th and collected $12,513.
With Soulier now in command with nearly a 2-1 chip lead, Tony Popejoy ran cold. His ability to steal and pick up much-needed chips was neutralized when he went card-dead in the final 30 minutes. His $65K stack dwindled $5K at time with each successive round of blinds. Down to his last $25K, Popejoy hoped to steal some chips with J-9, but was caught red-handed by Booth in the blind with A-10. The flop gave some hope to Popejoy – Q-8-6 – giving him an inside straight draw. But the 10 didn’t come, and Boothe ended up taking the pot down with a pair of aces when an ace fell on the turn. Popejoy, who is an estate planner and semi-pro poker player in Indiana, received $20,855 for 3rd place.
“Let’s play some poker, partner.” As those words rolled-off the silver tongue of Judge Leo Boothe, Fabrice Soulier could only think about one thing – winning first-place and his first World Poker Open gold bracelet. The cosmopolitan Frenchman dressed in all-black and dark sunglasses provided an interesting contrast to Boothe, clad in blue jeans and western boots. Both players jawed back and forth, trying to gain the upper hand. Once, when Booth came over the top of Soulier’s $20K pre-flop raise with an all-in re-raise, Soulier asked – “Are you trying to steal this pot, Mister?” Boothe quipped back – “Nothing wrong with that, is there?” Soulier folded.
With Soulier holding a firm 3 to 2 chip advantage, the decisive hand of the final table occurred 2 hours and 20 minutes into play. Boothe was caught on a semi-bluff steal with A-2, when Soulier (with A-K) came over the top with an all-in re-raise. Sensing that Soulier might be re-stealing, Boothe made a crying call with his last $60K Soulier was an overwhelming favorite (A-K versus A-2) as the crowd rose to it’s feet. Soulier was delighted to see the flop come with no deuce – as the board showed 10-7-4. The turn produced a 5, giving Boothe some hope. He desperately needed either a 2 or 3 on the river, or the tournament was over. As a stunning 3 rained down from heaven above, the crowd roared and Boothe shook his head in shock and disbelief. A-2-3-4-5 gave Boothe a straight, and a 2-1 chip lead. The tables were now reversed.
Soulier remained calm and cool despite the horrible beat that cost him a world title. He proved to be a feisty competitor and showed why he is currently France’s top player in the European poker rankings. Soulier never gave up and made Boothe work for every chip. But with the miracle straight – the damage had been done. Soulier tried to make a move at the pot with 10-7 of diamonds but was re-raised for the rest of his chips by Boothe, holding K-10. Soulier matched the raise and the final flop of the night was dealt. 9-6-2-Q-10 gave both players a pair of 10’s, but Boothe’s king kicker was the difference as he reached across the table and consoled Soulier for his second-place finish. Soulier, who plays in Paris and all over Europe just returned from a tournament win in Costa Rica and decided to come to the World Poker Open. He certainly should be happy with that decision, as he earned $41,710 for 2nd place.
Boothe was thrilled with his victory. “I only play one tournament each year -- and this is it,” Boothe remarked afterward. “I just love playing here.” The evidence was clear. As he snapped on his first World Poker Open bracelet, the case for anyone other than Judge Leo Boothe winning the no-limit hold’em event was dismissed.
-- Nolan Dalla
|
