Felix ‘Powers’ to Victory!
Felix Powers, an easy-going full-time player who says he plays when he has the money, captured the 10th event of Winnin’ o’ the Green 2004, $300 limit hold’em. He came to the final table with a good-sized chip lead, lost it Hasan Habib, who in turn gave it up to Salt Lake City pro Ernest Scherer III. Powers reclaimed the lead after he won with big slick twice in a row, then kept climbing up as he powered his way to a win. At the finish, Scherer had nearly caught up to him, and two made a deal.
The final table started with $1,500-$3,000 limits, 33:34 remaining. Scherer got off to a fast start, winning the first three hands. On the second hand, both he and Emad Rayyan paired their jack on the flop, but Scherer had the bigger kicker and Rayyan finished 10th. Huy Lu then cut down Powers’ stacks when a fourth spade turned to give him a flush, outrunning Powers’ flopped set of 8s.
Chris Grigorian finished ninth. He raised with Q-J, then bet all in for $1,500 on a 9-7-7 flop. The bet didn’t scare Scherer, who called with K-5 and derailed the Armenian Express. On hand 20, Scherer had the big blind holding 7-5. He bet out when the flop came 9-7-3, and Lu, holding K-Q, put in his last $500. Two small cards came, and the pai gow dealer was dealt out.
Ten hands later, Habib took the lead after he three-bet a pot against Scherer, then got him to fold on the river. But on the next hand, Scherer went in with 8-6 against Habib’s pocket jacks, flopped a 6 and caught another on the river to take the lead. “He walks on water,” marveled David Smira. Now Powers took over. On hand 43 he three-bet Tony Grand holding A-K, check-raised when the flop came K-Q-4 and took down a nice pot. The next hand he again re-raised with A-K, this time against Quan Tran. The ace-high held up, and Powers was in front for good with about 50k.
With 3-6k limits, Habib raised with Ad-Kd and Smirna called all in with A-Q. Rags came and Smira cashed out seventh. Next out was Charlie Sayles, whose cash-outs include a second in $1,000 Omaha hi-lo at the L.A. Poker Classic. He had K-10 on the button and called all in for $500 when Scherer raised and won with pocket queens.
On the next hand, Powers started with 9h-5h on the button, made a straight flush against Habib and increased his lead to about 75k. Then, on the next hand, he held Q-10. He made an unoptimistic river call against Scherer with a board of Q-7-6-7-K, was surprised to discover he had the best hand and now had over 100k, more than half the chips.
Tony Grand, the veteran player and businessman, finished fifth. On hand 69 he was in the big blind with the infamous “computer hand,” Q-7. He bet his last $1,500 when the flop showed A-2-4. Scherer called with pocket treys, requested a five and got it on the turn for a wheel.
Powers now had 107k to 67.5 for Scherer and 21.5 for Quan Tran, who rejected a chip-count deal. Tran quickly made a comeback with a full house, then dropped back down again when Scherer, with Ac-Kc, gambled and caught runner-runner clubs. A few hands later Scherer raised holding Kh-3h. Tran, with 7c-4c, called all in. A trey flopped, that was enough and now two were left. Powers had somewhat over 100k and Scherer a little over 90k. After a lot of back-and forth quibbling, a deal was struck and Powers was declared the winner. – Max Shapiro
BIOGRAPHY
Felix Powers, who is 50 years old and lives in Los Angeles, did not offer a lot of information about himself in the post-tournament interview, deprecating himself in a good-natured way by repeatedly calling himself “just a bum.” He said he’s been playing poker for 30 years, and worked as a dealer for the Bicycle Casino when it first opened. How long was that? “Until my money gave out.” And how long was that? “A few months.” So much for his background.
He said he’s had a few tournament wins, but didn’t elaborate. He plays yellow-chip side games, hold’em and stud, “when I have the money. I’ve got a poker mind but no money.” Tonight, he said, he was in trouble frequently before he got some good cards. “God was good to me,” he concluded. Brian McCann, a friend and former poker host at the Bike, was asked if he could add anything. “He’s a good guy,” McCann said.
CHIP POSITION FINAL TABLE
Ernest Scherer III
$ 16,500
David Smira
$11,500
Charlie Sayles
$10,500
Quan Tran
$19,000
Hasan Habib
$27,500
Felix Powers
$38,000
Tony Grand
$21,500
Emad Rayyan
$10,500
Huy Lu
$17,500
Chris Grigorian
$22,000
ALL-AROUND PAY-OFF POINTS
Name Total
1. Rocky Enciso 115
2. Boon Eng Kho 83
3. Jun Parado 74
4. John Spoonen 65
5. John Canawati 63
6. Timothy Foley 63
7. Robert Hartmann 63
8. Isaac Gonzales Jr. 62
9.Dedric Oree 61
SUPER SATELLITE PAY-OFF POINTS
Name Total
1. John Hoang 352
2. Derek Bukowski 345
3. Eddie Yade 324
4. Chris Karagulleyan 192
5. Leo F 179
6. Haytham Shamaoun 177
7. Woody Long 143
9. Param Gill 126
9. Juan Holub 124
10.Chris Grigorian 117
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