MPT Final Hands

Having nearly finished our fourth season and about to play our 21st event it seems time to compile some additional statistics from our tournaments. Below is a list of the starting hands for each MPT event, with the exception of the December, 2006 Main Event, where we have incomplete data about the second place hand and the September 2007 event, where no photos or other records exist showing the winning hand.

2006

• 12/27/2007 - Betdponies defeats Bigfus with 8h4h over 7 and 5 or 6
  

2007

• 3/17/2007 - Betdponies defeats Harv29 with 9c7c over KhKd
• 7/5/2007 - Tss777 defeats RowanB with Ac7c over AdKs
• 9/15/2007 - Tss777 defeats Sweeney
  
• 10/20/2007 - Baccarat King defeats defeats RowanB with 5d2d over 8d6d
• 12/27/2007 - Betdponies defeats Sass with Jd5d over 10s8h
  

2008

• 4/27/2008 - RowanB defeats Bigfus with 9s6d over 10c and another card
• 6/7/2008 - RowanV defeats Bigfus with Ks5c over 8s5d
• 7/6/2008 - Amazon defeats "E" with Ac4c over As2d
• 8/9/2008 - Scurvydog defeats Bigfus with As3c over 10c10d
• 9/27/2008 - Amazon defeats Harv29 with 2c2d over Ks3h
• 10/25/2008 - Tss777 defeats Bigfus with KsQc over As8s
• 11/22/2008 - Harv29 defeats Sass with with Qd5d over 10h10s
• 12/28/2008 - Betdponies defeats Civicmon with 10c9c over As4c
  

2009

• 6/13/2009 - Bigfus defeats Whispering Eye with 4s2s over 9d7s
• 7/3/2009 - Janek13 defeats Sass with QdJs over 10d8s
• 8/2/2009 - Trojanrabbit defeats Stan with Kc8h over 10h3c
• 9/26/2009 - Syrorange3042 defeats Sass with JhJc over 8s4h
• 10/3/2009 - Tss777 defeats Sass with Jc9c over Ad3s
  
• 11/21/2009 - Ghosthunter defeats Sass with Jc8d over 6c5c

MPT 2007 Money Leaders

Here are the leading money winners from the 2007 MPT season. This information is being posted now for archival purposes.

1. TSS777 ($215)
2. Betdponies ($165)
   
3. Baccarat King ($110)
4. RowanB ($85)
   
5. Mrs. Betdponies ($85)
   
6. Sweeney ($50)
7. Harv29 ($40)
   
8. Bigfus ($25)
   Dave ($25)
   

MPT 2007 Player of The Year Crowned

STONE HARBOR, NJ - The Champion can finally wear his crown.

This past weekend, the Mattress Poker Tour (MPT) crowned it's first full-season champion, as New Jersey native tss777 was in attendance for the trophy presentation in his home state. Tss777 won two events in 2007, including the inaugural ECLVA Classic in Stone Harbor, while holding on to his season championship despite missing the Tournament of Champions in December. A veteran of online poker and regular contributor to the Kill Phil forums, tss777 was among the pre-season favorites for MPT Player of the Year and his performances in the series tournaments proved that he was worthy of these lofty expectations.

The series champ will now have his work cut out for him defending his title against the ever-growing legion of MPT Superstars as the second full-season promises more events, new locations, the introduction of mixed games, and stronger fields. Remember, with the MPT if you're not playing with us, then you're just playing with yourself.

Here are the complete "Sealy Cup" point standings for the 2007 season:

1. TSS777 (20)
2. Betdponies (19)
3. Harv29 (18)
4. Baccarat King (17)
5. RowanB (16)
6. Bigfus (15)
7. Mrs. Betdponies (14)
8. Sweeney (12)
9. Dave (9)
10. Meredith (4)
11. Janek13 (3)
12. "E" (1)
    

Pictures from MPT 2007 Tournament of Champions

The new MPT Tournament of Champions trophy was unveiled.


Mr. Betdponies stares down Mrs. Betdponies as heads up play begins.


Harv29, Bigfus, Mr. and Mrs. Betdponies look on during heads up play.


The Betdponies family reacts as the final river card falls.


The champion celebrates remaining undefeated on the mattress.


A closer look at the cards from the final hand.


The champion with the trophy that he will hold for the next year.

MPT 2007 Tournament of Champions (12/27/2007)

(originally posted 1/3/2008, by Harv29)

The participants:

• harv29 - Host and Tournament Director
• betdponies - Two Time MPT Champion, including last year's ToC
• rowanb - hoping to take advantage of the absence of PoY point leader tss777
• sweeney - second place finisher from Event #3 returns for his second MPT event
• Mrs. betdponies - 3rd place in October earned a spot in this year's ToC
• bigfus - cashing in on her cash in last year's end of year extravaganza
  

The Results:

1. betdponies
2. Mrs. betdponies
3. harv29
4. sweeney
5. bigfus
6. rowanb
   

Unfortunately it was a small field for the Main Event but it was still quite festive. Since my wife wasn't there to take hand accounts, I did the best I could.

It was like most MPT events, one hour of chip accumulation and then a pushfest. Well, almost like that. Rowanb pushed all-in on hand #14 and Betdponies folded. Then in hand #21, I pushed all-in with A-6 o/s after a flop of A-K-6. Mrs. Betdponies called me with A-7 o/s and the turn and river came up 9-5.

Either in hand #22 or #23, Mrs. Betdponies was all-in with A-4 o/s against Sweeney’s 8-8. A generous ace on the flop helped Mrs. Betdponies double up.

Later on in hand #31 I made a huge lay down. Sweeney raised pre-flop for something like $300 and the flop came out something like 5-5-9 with two clubs with me holding AcKc. Sweeney opened for $1000 and I only had $1475 remaining. If I called, I knew I’d be going all-in. Did I want to bet all my chips on a draw? I decided to let it go, figuring Sweeney on two pair. . .

Hand #34 saw Rowanb go all-in with Q-10 o/s against Sweeney’s K-5 o/s and the cards came out 3d-2d-9s-Ac-4h giving Sweeney an unnecessary straight and keeping Rowanb’s streak of either going out first or finishing second intact.

Hand #36 saw Mrs. Betdponies severely cripple Bigfus, I think it was A-J against A-Q and then the next hand Betdponies busted Bigfus out.

Hand #44 saw Mrs. Betdponies go all-in with 10d9c against Sweeney’s 3d3c. The flop of 5d-Qc-6d was a glimmer of hope as was the Kd on the turn and the final nail was the Qd on the river giving Mrs. Betdponies the higher flush.

Hand #48 was possibly the monster suck-out of the event, with Sweeney going all-in with AdAh against Betdponies’s QdJc. There was a friendly flop of Qc-2h-9d. The turn was even friendlier with a Jh, giving Betdponies two pair. The river sent Sweeney packing with the Qs giving Betdponies a full house. It was just a few hands later that Mrs. Betdponies busted me out on the bubble.

We were now head’s up with Betdponies and Mrs. Betdponies (who was in trouble most of the tournament, bearly surviving my all-in win on hand #21. After a few hands, I think it ended on hand #53:

Betdponies Jd5d, Mrs. Betdponies 10s8h

Flop: 7c-Js-10d

Betdponies flops top pair, Mrs. Betdponies flops second pair with a gutshot straight draw.

Turn: 9d

Mrs. Betdponies is elated, she has made her straight, but wait, Betdponies now has a flush draw.

River: Ad!

Betdponies has made his flush and wins the MPT MAIN EVENT! He remains undefeated on the pillowtop! Congratulations!

Unfortunately, his two wins happened with the smallest fields, so the MPT Player of the Year is: TSS777!

Tot Pts Rank

20 TSS777
19 Betdponies
18 Harv29
17 Baccarat King
16 Rowanb
15 Bigfus
14 Mrs. Betdponies
12 Sweeney
9 Dave
4 MP
3 Janek13
1 "E"

He is a worthy PotY, with two wins in the two events he played with 7 of the 11 possible eliminations. Who knows what would have happened if the Baccarat King showed up. . .

Thanks for everyone for making the MPT possible. I look forward for the 2008 season!

Pictures from MPT 2007 #4

Not that many pictures from this event, as the photographer managed to actually cash in the event, so what we see is after the tournament ended.


The final showdown, after mtohio called rowanb's short-stacked all-in


The Champion with his trophy


mtohio looks on after his victory


The champion as some of his friends saw him at this late hour

MPT 2007 #4 - Return to the Showboat (10/20/2007)

(originally posted 10/22/2007, by Harv29)

The participants:

• Seat 1 - Mrs. Betdponies
• Seat 2 - Meredith – a friend of Michael’s
• Seat 3 - Eric – mtohio’s brother-in-law
• Seat 4 - Harv29
• Seat 5 - Mtohio
• Seat 6 - Bigfus
• Seat 7 - Dave – aka "Scarpa", making his return to the MPT
• Seat 8 - Rowanb
  

The Results:

1. Mtohio
2. Rowanb
3. Mrs. Betdponies
4. Bigfus
5. Dave
6. Meredith
7. Harv29
8. Eric
   

At stake:
$100 for first place and the MPT trophy and the right to come back in December for the MPT Tournament of Champions
$60 for second place
$40 for third place


Buy-in was $25 + $5, $26 went to the trophy cost and $14 went to a high hand of the night jackpot of aces-full or better. If no high hand, the money will be rolled into the ToC prize pool.


The action:

The rounds were 10 minutes long with blinds starting at $5-$10. There were a couple of all-ins early but no one was busted out during the first hour, which according to Mrs. Harv29's count there were 17 hands before the chip up break, with mtohio leading at the break. Then with the blinds at $75-$150, Eric goes all-in for $475 and is called by Meredith. Eric is holding Ah9d, Meredith AdJc.

The flop comes out 5d-Ks-Kd. Turn is 3c and no 9 for Eric with a Qc on the river and ending Eric’s tournament.

Later in round 25 with the blinds at $200-$400, I hold 8h10d in the BB. mtohio called and Meredith limps in and I check.

Flop: 2h, 10c, 4c

I check the top pair, it is check around.

Turn: 6d

I check, mtohio bets $500, Meredith folds. I have $525 remaining, if I call, I’m going to have to be all-in. mtohio is an unpredictable player, but I have a feeling that I am in front. I go all-in and he, of course, calls, showing 4dKd. He is down to 5 outs, I like my chances, I (being the dealer), burn and turn the river of:

Ks

KING?!?!? And just like that, I’m out of the tournament.

Apparently the action got really fast and furious, as in the next hand mtohio, bigfus and Meredith see the flop of:

Js-8d-3c. mtohio bets out $300, bigfus folds and Meredith calls.

Turn: Jh. mtohio bets $500 and Meredith calls.

River: Qh. mtohio bets all-in, Meredith calls.

mtohio shows Jd8c, Jacks full of eights. Meredith shows 9h10h for a queen high straight. Meredith is eliminated from the tournament.

In the next hand, Catherine, Dave and mtohio see the flop:

Qh-10d-10h. Dave bets out $1,000, mtohio calls, bigfus folds.

Turn: Kd. Dave bets $875 all-in, mtohio calls.

River: 2s

Dave shows QsJd, two pair, Queens and Tens. mtohio shows Jc9d, King high straight. Dave is eliminated from the tournament.

Now there are four remaining and three paying spots. Someone is eliminated in the next hand:

Bigfus goes all-in and mtohio calls.

Bigfus shows AcQh and mtohio shows 8c7c.

Flop: Ks-4d-7s

Turn: 5d

Bigfus is looking for an ace or queen but:

River: 7h

mtohio wins with three-of-a-kind, sevens, bigfus has a pair of sevens. Bigfus goes out on the bubble.

With the blinds at $200-$400 and a $25 ante, we find Mrs. betdponies going all-in with mtohio calling.

Mrs. betdponies shows Qs9h, mtohio shows Js8d

Flop: 10s-Jc-10d. mtohio makes two pair but Mrs. betdponies has the open-ended straight draw plus the queen for a higher two pair.

Turn: 4h. Mrs. betdponies still has 11 outs to win.

River: 7c

No luck on the river. Mrs. betdponies goes out in third place and collects $40.

We are now head’s up between rowanb and mtohio. Rowanb having finished second in the July MPT at the House of Blues, which was mtohio’s first MPT.

mtohio won hand 34 and rowanb folded preflop on hand 35. Rowanb won hand 36 when they both checked down the river.

Hand 37: rowanb moves all-in preflop and mtohio calls.

Flop: 9d-10d-7d

Turn: Qh

River: Kc

rowanb shows 6dJc for a straight, king high.
mtohio shows Ah2c for high card, ace.

Hand 38: They see a flop of 9c-Ks-9s and rowanb folds to mtohio’s bet of $900.

Hand 39: rowanb goes all-in preflop for $2,400 and mtohio folds.

Hand 40: mtohio raises $600 preflop, rowanb folds.

Hand 41: mtohio raises $600 preflop, rowanb folds.

Hand 42: mtohio raises $800 preflop, rowanb folds.

Hand 43: rowanb raises all-in for $700, mtohio calls.

Flop: 5s-3h-9d

Turn: 10c

River: Kd

rowanb shows 6c8d for king high, mtohio shows 5d2d for a pair of fives.

rowanb is eliminated in second place for $60.

mtohio wins the MPT and $100!

So not only is he baccarat king and thread hi-jack king he can now call himself an MPT Champion! After Meredith knocked out Eric, mtohio was the Terminator, eliminating everyone in his path. Of course, it didn't hurt that he gained an early chip lead. . .

I'd also like to thank my lovely wife for keeping the poker blog. I just told her I wanted to keep a record of who knocked out who and with what hand, but she kept a record of all of the action. rowanb, if you want me to investigate any chip dumping, let me know, we will review the play. . .

No high hand qualified, so the $14 rolls into the Tournament of Champions prize pool (along with $20 from betdponies (and TSS777 should kick in a $20 as well, perhaps two since he won two this year). Check the Members Meets thread for ToC information!

Pictures from MPT 2007 #3

Some pictures from the action in Stone Harbor, though my autofocus failed before the tourney finished and I didn't realize what was wrong until it was too late to take the traditional champion's snapshots.


Mrs. Janek13 looks on as Harv29, Janek13, tss777, and sweeney remain at the table


The agony of heads up play as tss777 stares down sweeney, while bigfus looks on


This time, sweeney turns the tables on tss777, while Mrs. Janek13 and Harv29 look on


The championship trophy and prize pool


More action from the heads up play, while sweeney watches Harv29's deal


Harv29 counts the prize money, while our MPT accountant watches

MPT 2007 #3 - ECLVA Summer Classic (9/15/2007)

No report was posted on this tournament. The results appear below.

The participants:

• rowanb - America's Guest plays host
• harv29 - Tournament Director and guest of the resort
• sweeney - co-worker of rowanb, playing his first MPT event
• janek13 - also making his MPT debut
• tss777 - defending MPT champion
• bigfus - making first visit to the Rowan Resort
  

The Results:

1. tss777 ($100)
2. sweeney ($50)
3. harv29
4. janek13
5. bigfus
6. rowanb
   

3:27:16 pm 9/15/2007: Tournament started
4:43:21 pm 9/15/2007: Rowanb was busted out by sweeney

4:57:56 pm 9/15/2007: Bigfus was busted out by sweeney

5:03:50 pm 9/15/2007: Janek13 was busted out by TSS777

5:06:22 pm 9/15/2007: Harv29 was busted out by sweeney

5:19:11 pm 9/15/2007: sweeney was busted out by TSS777

5:19:11 pm 9/15/2007: Tournament ended

5:19:11 pm 9/15/2007: Total pot: $150.00

5:19:11 pm 9/15/2007: TSS777 ranked 1st, received $100.00

5:19:11 pm 9/15/2007: sweeney ranked 2nd, received $50.00

Pictures from MPT 2007 #2

Limited action shots here, as the MPT photographer was in contention until the last card fell.


Our host in the House of Blues suite (photo courtesy of mtohio)


Players prepare the House of Blues Suite for the tournament


Mtohio after quite a few champagne cocktails


mtohio and son during a break in the action


The champion, tss777, after the final hand


The final board, as tss777's adds another 7 of the flop to eliminate two players


The champ, his trophy, and his liquid fuel

MPT 2007 #2 - Showdown at Showboat (7/5/2007)

(originally posted 7/9/2007, by Harv 29)

The Showboat title was hotly contested with the largest field in MPT history. That with the fact that we were playing on an actual table and not a mattress made it a memorable event.

The participants:

• Harv29 - your tournament director
• mtohio - your gracious suite host
• betdponies - your previous champion
• tss777 - your resident poker expert
• rowanb - America's guest
• "scarpa" - friend of mtohio's
• bigfus - poker hopeful
  

The Results:

1. tss777
2. rowanb
3. "scarpa"
4. Harv29
5. bigfus
6. mtohio
7. betdponies
   

As usual, the initial hour is a feeling out process, and loaded with alcohol, mtohio was doing alot of feeling. Feeling that Betdponies was bluffing, mtohio called Betdponies's all-in in round 4 and disposed of our past champion and claimed a $10 bounty. But he would not be long to celebrate as tss777 eliminated mtohio 16 minutes later in round 5.

With the blinds and antes getting unrealistically huge, bigfus had to make a stand and went out to tss277 in round 6. I missed a great opportunity to possibly cripple tss777 by folding a 55 after he went all-in ahead of me. I felt that it was a race at best, but I should have raced with me being ahead (tss777 admitted that I was actually way ahead as he bet with 44). Trying to make up for that, I go all-in with my A-8 of clubs. After probing me for information, tss777 assesses that he has the right odds to call and shows me his K-2 of clubs. Although I was ahead, a king on the flop and no further help put me away in fourth place.

Scarpa was struggling as tss777 and rowanb were about equal in chips. Scarpa made a desperation double up late and was up against it again when tss777 went all-in in front of him. scarpa called and rowanb immediately called. Rowanb showed AK and tss77 had A7 and I believe scarpa had 34. Somewhere along the lines a 7 came out and of course AK lost (for those in the Kill Phil thread, you know what I'm talking about).

Tss777 was the overall champion with second place going to rowanb, since he had more chips than scarpa. I'm sure rowanb and or mtohio have photos they can add.

I'm hoping to get two more MPT events in before the Tournament of Champions final in December.

Pictures from MPT 2007 #1

Harv29 counts his remaining chips as heads up play begins.


Betdponies studies his opponent before checking his cards.


Cards are revealed for the final hand, as harv29 sees he is in good shape, but betdponies realizes that he can still win the hand.


The river is kind to betdponies, as a club flush makes him the first 2-time MPT champion.


Harv29's kings could not overcome runner-runner clubs.


The champ with yet another trophy.


However, the real winner of the night did this at Trump Plaza during the post-MPT festivities.

MPT 2007 #1 - Brannigan at Bally's (3/17/2007)

(originally published 3/20/2007, by Harv29)

Well, we had pretty much the same contestants as last time, just one player short.

The participants:

• betdponies
• Mrs. betdponies
  
• bigfus
• rowanb
• harv29

The Results:

1. betdponies
2. harv29
3. bigfus
4. Mrs. betdponies
5. rowanb
   

We were in lovely room 743 of the Dennis Tower at Bally's Atlantic City. It was a smaller room and we did have to "borrow" a few chairs from rowanb's room, which happened to be 781. Good thing no one was coming out of the elevators while we were moving the furniture around. . .

Play was a bit tighter than last time, perhaps because the players knew each other better or perhaps due to lack of quality cards. Everyone made it past the first hour fine except my wife, who while stepping on a stool to get a better picture of the action, fell off and injured her knee, leg, ankle and foot.

I don't remember all of the elimination hands, perhaps the other players do, but this time rowanb was the first to hit the sheet, I think his JJ got taken out by betdponies, who I believe had ace high and hit it in "door number 2". Betdponies then proceeded to eliminate his wife shortly after that leaving the same final three as last time, harv29, bigfus and betdponies.

Betdponies again was the large stack and apparently bigfus was tired of getting her big blinds stolen by betdponies and went all-in. Although she had me covered, I made a gutsy call with my 8-3 s and was relieved to see her 5-3. My 8 high held up and I doubled through bigfus, who was busted out by betdponies on the next hand.

On our first heads up hand, betdponies goes all-in. I peek down at my cards and see a king. I say I've got one good card. Everyone laughs and I squeeze out the other card, it is another king! I immediately call and show my kings. Betdponies is not happy as he shows me his 9-7 of clubs.

So we go to the flop, rowanb has the hand on film, but "door #2" was definitely a 9 and the "door #3" was a club.

Turn card, another club. Betdponies's outs have just increased.

Betdponies deals the river card face down. My wife peeks and it and replaces it face down, bad sign for me. Betdponies flips it over and it is. . .

ANOTHER FRICKIN' CLUB! He hits runner-runner club and kills my pocket kings for the first MPT of the year! (And I didn't even get a chop of the cash like bigfus did last tournament).

So betdponies repeats as MPT champion and adds another trophy to his mantle. He was also the terminator, as he eliminated every player in the tournament. I think next tournament we will have a bounty on his head. . .

I'd love for a few more people to come out to the next MPT and try to unseat the current champion! It might be a longer tournament though. . .

Thanks for everyone showing up and playing and I look forward to the next MPT, to be announced. . .

Forgot to mention that betdponies took down $85 for winning the tournament and I received $40 for second.

rowanb was busted out at 11:39 in Round 5
Mrs. betdponies was busted out at 11:44 in Round 5
bigfus was busted out at 11:53 in Round 6
harv29 was busted out at 12:00 in Round 6

The end comes quick in the MPT. . .