| Jack Binion World Poker Open
Event #17
($2,000 buy-in) No-Limit Texas Hold’em
Entries: 139
Total Prize Money: $269,660
When play got down to the last three players at the final table of the $2,000 buy-in No-Limit Texas Hold’em event, part-time poker pro Tony Popejoy looked around at the six empty seats which had been occupied by former champions and even a living legend of the game, and said, “This is what everyone was expecting, right?” He then added, “The former stars are out, and the future stars came here to play!” How prophetic Popejoy’s words turned out to be.
There is no way to describe what happened in the two and a half hour battle of nerves of what was certainly the most exciting final table at this year’s World Poker Open other than to say -- Tony Popejoy destroyed his opponents. In one of the most impressive no-limit hold’em performances on record, the 29-year-old estate planner from Indiana fearlessly made all the right moves at just the right times – winning a well-deserved $107,864 for first place and his first gold and diamond bracelet. Many of Popejoy’s table decisions were so brilliant, that observers were shaking their heads in disbelief. It was as if Popejoy used a textbook to win his first no-limit hold’em tournament. Well, he did actually. More on that later.
Going into the second day, everyone knew this was a very special final table. Two-time World Champion and Poker Hall of Fame inductee, Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson” was making his first tournament appearance in nearly three years. That fact alone attracted a huge crowd and left for standing-room only in the gallery.
On the third hand dealt, Dewey Weum – making his second final table at this year’s tournament – moved-all in with 9-9 and was called by Hung Le (also, making his second appearance). Le held 8-8. Weum was a huge favorite with the overpair, but was horrified when the flop came K-8-7. The final two cards came K-Q, meaning an early exit for the talented tournament veteran from Wisconsin. Weum received $$4,313 for 9th place. “It’s a brutal game,” Brunson said as he saw Weum’s hand get mucked.
On the very next hand, 2000 World Champion Chris “Jesus” Ferguson tried to make a move at the pot with A-6 suited, by raising all-in before the flop. Hung Le, coming off his chip windfall from the previous hand, called Ferguson’s $13K. Hung Le revealed A-9. A final board of Q-7-2-J-J crucified Jesus, as he took $5,393 back to heavenly Pacific Palisades for 8th place.
Hung Le’s early rush continued as he increased his stack size to $90K. Meanwhile, Nicky DiLeo – who had come to the final table as chip-leader – played few hands. The momentum at the table had clearly shifted to Le. One of the day’s most stunning moments came 45 minutes into play when Oklahoman Steve Melton, a familiar face in Tunica’s poker rooms, raised $6K, was re-raised $15K by Doyle Brunson, then moved all-in. Brunson called. Melton had trapped the poker legend. Melton showed A-A against Brunson’s K-K. Then came the shocker: The board was dealt -- 6-4-3-5-K, giving Texas Dolly a gut-wrenching king on the river. Melton backed away from the table while Brunson sat silently shaking his head. A “brutal” game, indeed. Belton took $6,742 for 7th place.
This was not Ken Flaton’s day. The 1996 US Poker Champion (and winner of many other top events) was short-stacked throughout play at the final table and moved his last $10K into the pot with K-J. Asher Derei called with A-7. Asher won with a pair of 7’s when the board showed 10-8-6-10-7. Flaton received $9,438 for 6th.
In what might have been the key hand of the tournament, Tony Popejoy was dealt A-J on the button. He raised $6K. Brunson, with 8-8 in the small blind, re-raised $20K more. After contemplating his action more than two full minutes, Popejoy fearlessly shoved his entire stack into the pot – another $32K. Brunson called. The flop brought Popejoy a beautiful jack, and ugly sight for Brunson’s eyes. The board, K-J-5-4-3, allowed Popejoy to draw even with Le in chips and leave Brunson short-stacked for the first time. “I put him on a middle pair,” Popejoy said afterwards, one of several excellent reads Popejoy would make on this day. “Brutal,” right Doyle?
After that hand, Brunson seemed to lose interest. He became overly aggressive and took the next three pots in a row with pre-flop all-in raises. Then, Brunson lost a big hand to Asher Derei, leaving the 1976-1977 World Champion with only $13K. Brunson did manage to stage one final comeback. He took his K-10 of diamonds up against Nicky DiLeo’s all-in raise with K-Q. A ten on the flop gave Brunson the chips, and put New Yorker DiLeo on the rail in 5th place with $12,135. DiLeo, who won the $1,000 buy-in Limit Hold’em event last week, can be proud of his performance at this year’s tournament.
Brunson’s exit from the game was ushered in with a small pre-flop raise by Hung Le. Brunson called the raise and was pleased to see the flop come 9-8-5. The J-8 in Brunson’s hand gave him top pair. Brunson bet-out and Le moved all-in with 10-10. Two blanks on the turn and river brought the crowd to its feet, applauding out of respect for what Brunson has meant to the great game of poker over the last 50 years. Brunson received $16,180 for 4th place.
After Popejoy’s humble comment about everyone expecting to see these three finalists, both he and Derei looked across the table at Hung Le and saw a 170K mountain of chips, which was about a 3 to 1 advantage over both players. A few minutes later, another Popejoy classic occurred when he jammed the pot with a huge bet when the final board showed A-A-4-K-K. Le thought about calling, but folded his hand. Popejoy then tabled two worthless cards – 8-4 showing a monster bluff and thus putting Le on alert.
Popejoy seized the chip lead when another critical hand took place a few minutes later. First, with blinds at $2K-4K, Popejoy raised pre-flop to $12K. Le re-raised $22K more. Popejoy moved his entire stack into the pot. The pressure was now on Le. Nearly five minutes passed before a clock was put on Le and he announced “call!” with only seconds remaining on the timer. Popejoy revealed A-10, and was thrilled to see Le’s weaker hand – K-9. The board came J-10-5-8-A, giving Popejoy two- pair, aces and tens. Now, in a total role-reversal -- the confident Popejoy had $165K in chips.
Asher Derei came to the final table with a tournament resume packed with impressive wins – Best All-Around at the Legends of Poker, a win at the Master Classics in Amsterdam, and win at the Victoria in London, another in Paris, and many others. He took a small stack ($16K in chips) and made the most of his opportunities at the final table. Derei went in with his remaining stack on 7-6 when the flop came 6-3-2. However, Popejoy was ready to vacuum up the leftovers. He tabled K-K and watched as a king came on the river, crushing Derei’s little pair. Derei took $29,966 for 3rd.
Head-up play began with Popejoy a 4 to 1 chip leader over Le. The remaining chips in Le’s stack continued to crumble as Popejoy ceaselessly hammered away. Ten minutes later, Le moved his chips into the pot with A-8 suited. Popejoy peaked at his cards and saw A-K. The final hand of the night was almost anti-climactic, after all the drama that had previously unfolded. Q-4-3-5-10 gave neither player a pair, but Popejoy won by virtue of the better kicker with the king. It was over. Popejoy had proven he can play with the best – and even beat the best.
Hung Le was disappointed he did not win, but still took $53,932 for 2nd place. Meanwhile, Popejoy was ecstatic. The win seemed to be about more than just $107,864 in prize money. “Super/System was the first poker book I ever read,” Popejoy said after his victory. “Now, to be sitting here playing against the man who wrote that book – and winning – is really amazing.”
-- Nolan Dalla
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