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 2008 Schedule

Mattress Poker Tour events were played on the following dates and locations during 2008.

• 4/27: Bally's AC
• 6/7: ECLVA "Spring" Classic - Stone Harbor, NJ
• 7/6: House of Blues AC
• 8/9: Main Street Station - Las Vegas, NV
• 9/27: ECLVA "Fall" Classic - Stone Harbor, NJ
• 10/25: Bally's AC Bounty Bowl
• 11/22: Clash at Caesars AC
• 12/28: Tournament of Champions - Showboat AC

NOTE: This information is being posted now for archival purposes.

Bigfus Finishes as 2008 Leading Money Winner

Fueled by an astonishing seven cashes in eight events this season, Bigfus, the MPT's most successful player yet to earn a victory, finished the season as the leading money winner with $325 in prize money, averaging $41 per event. Her "average cash" was second only to two-time champion Amazon, who averaged $65 per event she played, among those who played in more than one tournament during the season.

The consistent performances for Bigfus put her in contention for the Sealy Cup throughout the season and also vaulted her to the top of the career money leaders, with $425 in prize money over the last three seasons. Bigfus will look to extend her streak of cashing in five straight events when the 2009 season begins.

Here is the complete list of money leaders for the 2008 season.

1. Bigfus ($325)
2. Harv29 ($275)
3. Amazon ($260)
4. RowanB ($185)
5. Scurvydog ($120)
6. RowanV ($120)
7. Betdponies ($120)
8. TSS777 ($110)
9. "E" ($90)
10. Mrs. Betdponies ($90)
11. Civicmon ($80)
12. JTinLV ($40)
13. Ging ($10)
14. Dave ($5)

Amazon Earns First "Rising Star" Award

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - Mattress Poker Tour rookie, Amazon, was presented with the Rising Star Award following the recent MPT Main Event at the Showboat Hotel and Casino. Amazon earned the award with wins in two of her first three events this season. She finished fifth in the season long "Sealy Cup" points standings, despite playing only four events, averaging a stunning 8.8 points per event. She finished the season second in "Kills", with 9 players eliminated and third on the money list with $260 in earnings. She also led the MPT in vodka consumption.

Amazon's impressive debut in 2008 sets a high standard for future Rising Star contenders.

Pictures from MPT 2008 Main Event

Pictures from the second annual MPT Main Event, held at the Showboat Atlantic City on Sunday, December 28, 2008.


Play during the middle stages of the tournament.


RowanV, Mrs. Betdponies, and Harv29 watch dealer TSS777 unveil a flop


Betdponies and Civicmon prepare for heads-up play, joined (in the center) by Harv29, while Baccarat King rests in the adjoining room


A closer look at the Main Event hardware


The champion points to his hole cards from the final hand


Betdponies keeps possession of the Main Event trophy for another year


Betdponies tries on his second Main Event bracelet

Harv29 Earns MPT 2008 Player of The Year

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - In a ceremony immediately following this year's Mattress Poker Tour Main Event, series Tournament Director, Harv29, earned his second trophy of the season when former series champion TSS777 presented him with the Player of the Year award for MPT 2008. This comes on the heels of Harv29's first career victory during the November MPT event at Caesars Atlantic City. The Player of the Year honor followed a season in which Harv29 earned five cashes in eight events, breaking through after finishing on the "bubble" - one spot away from cashing - in five of the first seven MPT events.

Harv29 combined patience to outlast some of his more aggressive opponents with selective aggression to earn this year's title. Player of the Year runner-up Bigfus cashed in more events, but was only credited with three "kills" (for eliminating other players) this season, while Harv29 knocked twelve opponents out of tournaments. He led the MPT in "kills", which when combined with his consistent finishes this season made Harv29 a worthy successor to TSS777 as MPT Player of the Year.

Here are the complete "Sealy Cup" point standings for the 2008 season.

1. Harv29 (61)
2. Bigfus (56)
3. RowanB (54)
4. Mrs. Betdponies (42)
5. Amazon (35)
6. Betdponies (29)
7. RowanV (21)
8. Ging (20)
9. civicmon (20)
10. TSS777 (18)
11. Scurvydog (14)
12. "E" (14)
13. Dave (8)
14. Baccarat King (5)
15. Neil (4)
16. Sionow (4)
17. JustJason (3)
18. Janek13 (3)
19. Whispering Eye (2)
20. DJChuckChillout (1)
    Dorianmac (1)

MPT 2008 #8 - Main Event, Showboat AC (12/28/2008)

The third annual Mattress Poker Tour Main Event finished with a familiar face atop the standings. Despite a disappointing regular season, which did not include a single cash before the Main Event, Betdponies defended his Tournament of Champions victory last year and won his third straight MPT event held in December at the Showboat Atlantic City Hotel and Casino on Sunday, December 28, 2008.

The event featured one of the largest fields in MPT history, as ten players crowded the Orleans Tower room before the crowd was able to spill over into the adjoining room next door (after the tournament's co-host, RowanB, was finally able to check into the hotel). The tournament got off to a late start and was beset with delays, include the temporary loss of the Tournament Director software on the computer, but after a nearly three hours of play, and over five hours after the scheduled start time, a new champion was crowned.

The participants:

• Amazon - Trying for a record-setting third win of the season, while looking to secure the "Rising Star" award and looking to get out of the crowded hotel room and onto the casino floor.
  
• Baccarat King - Trying to regain the form that earned him his first MPT title last season
  
• Betdponies - Looking to salvage a miserable MPT season
  
• Bigfus - Seeking her fifth consecutive MPT cash and first career win
  
• Civicmon - Returning for his second MPT event on the season
  
• Harv29 - Hoping to secure the Player of the Year title and take home his second trophy of the season
  
• Mrs. Betdponies - Trying to finish ahead of her husband for the fifth time this season
  
• RowanB - Trying to rebound from a series of mediocre finishes following a promising start to the season
• RowanV - Seeking to prove her first MPT victory was no fluke and work her way back into "Rising Star" contention
  
• TSS777 - Looking to rebound from his worst finish in MPT history and claim his first Main Event title
  

The results:

• Betdponies
• Civicmon
• Bigfus
  
• Harv29
• Mrs. Betdponies
  
• RowanV
• RowanB
• Amazon
• TSS777
• Baccarat King
  

Play through the early rounds was mostly conservative, as most players tried to avoid busting during the early blind levels. Playing contrary to the rest of the field, was the typically aggressive Baccarat King as his loose call on the river with an AK after not improving on any street cost him all of his chips. Pre-tournament favorites TSS777 and RowanB each were eliminated from the tournament with pocket Aces, though in very different situations. TSS777 bet preflop and on the flop with the best hand, but was drawing to only two outs when he called RowanV's all-in on the turn after her pocket 7's improved to a set. RowanB busted with AA for the second time this season after trapping Betdponies with a preflop call of his raise to 200 during BB 100 Level and then making a small re-raise after Betdponies bet into a Q-Q-4 flop. RowanB, then called the all-in raise from Betdponies for his last 500 chips, only to fall victim to a runner-runner flush from 4-5 of spades. That hand catapulted the defending champion into excellent position to repeat.

Rising Star front-runner, Amazon, also suffered an early exit when she flopped top pair with A-10 and was all-in against Bigfus, who also flopped top pair, but her A-Q held up to give her a big chip stack in the early stages of the tournament. Bigfus was unable to capitalize on that early lead, but did hold on for her fifth straight cash of the season and 7th "in the money" finish in the eight events this year. Despite those gaudy numbers, Harv29 finished high enough in the final event while eliminating two players to win the Player of the Year trophy, which was presented after the Main Event concluded.

Civicmon patiently survived the experienced field of MPT veterans to earn his first career cash, though when heads-up play began he faced a significant chip deficit as was quickly eliminated, though he can take heart that his As 4c was in good shape against Betdponies' 10c 9c before the the 9h 5s 2s flop fell. Betdponies put himself into position to win the tournament by aggressively attacking the blinds and antes as the stakes were higher, while his opponents seemed content to wait for the perfect opportunity to play back at him. By the time they had that chance it was too late and Betdponies proved why he is the only four-time MPT champion.

Pictures from MPT 2008 #7

Pictures from the recent MPT Clash at Caesars, held in the recently renovated Caesars Atlantic City Temple Tower on Saturday, November 22, 2008.


Bigfus and Mrs. Betdponies in early action, while half of the MPT crowd prepares for a nap


A look at the world famous MPT buffet and bar


A flat panel television in the hotel room made keeping track of tournament status easy


The final hand for Bigfus, as her short-stacked preflop all-in move ran into a big hand from the chip leader


TSS777 took over as dealer after busting in 6th place


The trophy and prize money appear on the mattress during heads-up play


Mrs. Betdponies makes a bet, while her mother enjoys the late tournament action


Mrs. Betdponies stayed alive during heads-up play when the chip leader called her preflop all-in with K-8o


Mrs. Betdponies looks on as the final flop reveals Harv29's 2 pair


A closer look at the final hand reveals a strong hand for Mrs. Betdponies before the flop, but with few outs after the flop


The Tournament Director is finally on the receiving end of a trophy presentation!


The champion with his spoils

MPT 2008 #7 - Clash at Caesars (11/22/2008)

Below is a detailed hand history of the recent MPT Clash at Caesars, hosted by Tournament Director, Harv29. Hand history is also courtesy of Harv29.

The participants:

• Baccarat King - Trying to earn a spot in his second straight Tournament of Champions
• Betdponies - Still looking for his first cash of the season
• Bigfus - The MPT cash machine, still seeking her first win
• Ging - Looking to improve on her finish on the bubble of the last event
• Harv29 - Trying to rebound from his first career last place finish
• Mrs. Betdponies - Looking for bragging rights, playing against her husband and mother
• RowanB - Hanging on to a slim lead in Player of the Year race, despite recent mediocre finishes
• TSS777 - Playing in consecutive MPT events for the first time this season and looking to defend his title from the previous event
• Whispering Eye - Making his MPT debut

The Results:

• Harv29
• Mrs. Betdponies (aka Sass)
• Bigfus
• Ging
• RowanB
• TSS777
• Betdponies
• Whispering Eye
• Baccarat King

The Hand History - Key Hands
Round 6
Flop: 9h5cQh

Wandering Eye check, TSS777 check, baccarat king $250, bigfus fold, sass fold, ging call, Wandering Eye fold, TSS777 fold.

Turn: 2h

Baccarat king $500, Ging raises to $1,000, Baccarat King calls

River: 6d

Baccarat king $575, Ging raises all-in, baccarat king calls

Ging shows flush, king high, baccarat king has pair of queens.

Baccarat king eliminated


Chip count estimates at break

• Ging = 6,575
• TSS77 = 3,825
• Mrs. Betdponies = 2,800
• Bigfus = 2,675
• RowanB = 2,450
• Harv29 = 1,625
• Betdponies = 1,425
• Wandering Eye = 625
• NOTE: total is short $500

Round 7
Ging calls, Wandering Eye all-in $625, TSS777 calls, Ging calls

Flop: Qc, 10c, Jh

Check, check

Turn: Jc

Check, check

River: 7c

Check, check

Ging shows 2c for flush, others muck.

Wandering Eye eliminated

Round 9
Betdponies goes all-in for 1,350, called by Ging

Betdponies has 9d8d, Ging Ah5c

Flop: Jh, 10d, Kd

Turn: 8?

River: 6h

Betdponies doubles up


Flop: Qs, 9d, 10d

Betdponies $3,275 all-in, Ging calls, TSS777 folds (A,10)

Betdponies has 9s10h, Ging AdJd

Turn: 7s

River: 8?

Ging wins with J high straight, Betdponies eliminated


Harv29 all-in for $1,075, Mrs. Betdponies calls

Harv29 shows AA, Mrs. Betdponies has Ax10x

Flop: Js6sKx

Turn: Xs (Mrs. Betdponies has spade draw and straight draw)

River: 4h

Harv29 wins and doubles up.



(Next hand)

Harv29 all-in for $2,850, Ging calls

Harv29 has 10c10h, Ging has Ah3h

Flop: Qh2s3c

Turn: 7d

River: Qx

Harv29 wins and doubles up.

Round 11
Ging calls, Harv29 all-in, TSS777 calls, RowanB folds, Ging folds.

Harv29 shows KK, TSS777 shows 99

Flop: Jh5dQc

Turn: Ac

River: Xx

TSS777 is eliminated

Round 12
Rowanb goes all-in for $1,675, Ging calls, Harv29 calls

Flop: 7h10h8c

Ging checks, Harv29 goes all-in, Ging calls

Turn: Xh

River: Xx

Harv29 made a flush on the turn to eliminate RowanB and Ging


Bigfus goes all-in for 1,000 more, Mrs. Betdponies calls

Bigfus Qh2h, Mrs. Betdponies Kh8h

Flop: Ac3d8c

Turn: Qc

River: 6c

Bigfus doubles up.



Harv29 goes all-in, Bigfus calls

Harv29 has 6x6x, Bigfus has AhXx

Flop: As7c10h

Turn: Qh

River: Ac

Bigfus doubles up

Round 13

Bigfus goes all-in with 9s7s and is called by Harv29 with AhQs

Flop: 2dJc4h

Turn: 8d

River: 3s

Bigfus is eliminated

Round 14
Mrs. Betdponies goes all-in for $3,500 (on top of the pot of $2,400).

Harv29 calls.

Mrs. Betdponies had Ad5s, Harv29 had Ks8h

Flop: AsQh7d

Turn: 6h

River: 3d

Mrs. Betdponies doubles up


(Next hand)

Harv29 goes all-in, Mrs. Betdponies calls

Harv29 has Qd5d, Mrs. Betdponies has 10s10h

Flop: 8hQh5s

Turn: 6d

River: 7h

Mrs. Betdponies eliminated.

Harv29 Wins Clash at Caesars

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - The host finally brought home a trophy from the MPT. Harv29 bested a field of nine players, including eight MPT veterans, to become the eighth different player to win a MPT tournament title. With the win and several "kills", Harv29 moves into the "Sealy Cup" point lead for the season and moves atop the career points list. Harv29's also earned his third cash in his last four events and fourth finish in the money this season.

Mrs. Betdponies tied her top career finish with a second place showing, once again finishing the season strong as she prepares for the Tournament of Champions, while Bigfus continues her cavalcade of cashes, with a third place finish. Bigfus has now finished in the money in every MPT tournament held in the state of New Jersey this year, with her record setting sixth cash in this event.

Former series points leader RowanB finished with a disappointing fifth place result, failing to earn money for the third straight event, leaving himself in need of a strong Tournament of Champions to have any hope of earning his first Player of the Year trophy.

Showboat 2007 Champion, Baccarat King, missed the beginning of the tournament and never recovered, earning his second last place finish of the season. This was the one blemish on an otherwise absurdly successful gambling weekend for the MPT's most upscale host. I suspect we'll hear more about this on his blog.

A third member of the Betdponies clan, Ging, seems to be taking over Harv29's former role, as she finished on the bubble for the second consecutive event, but her early eliminations of other players helped her earn enough Player of the Year points to qualify for this year's Tournament of Champions in December.

Stay tuned for the hand by hand account of the tournament later in the week.

Pictures from MPT 2008 #6

Images from the October 25 MPT "Bounty Bowl" in the Bally's Atlantic City Claridge Tower.

Most of the field looks on, while the crowd seems less than enthusiastic with the early play.


Bigfus attempts the RowanB "hide under the bed" technique, while TSS777 tries to figure out how to "read" her; also notice the crowd of interested spectators has grown


Ging and Harv29 await a flop


The final hand, as bigfus was all-in preflop and TSS777 made the call and drew a straight on the river to end the tournament


Harv29 presents TSS777 with his third MPT Championship trophy

MPT 2008 #6 - Bally's Bounty Bowl (10/25/2008)

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - TSS777 returned to the Mattress Poker Tour in style, earning his third career victory in only his 5th event on the circuit. The defending Player of the Year competed in only his second event of the season and secured a spot in the season-ending Tournament of Champions. He will be joined in that event by the hottest player on Tour, Bigfus, who cashed in yet another event with her fourth second place finish and fifth cash of the year.

The participants:

• Bigfus - Trying to become this year's 5th first time MPT winner
  
• Ging - Returns for her second straight event
  
• Harv29 - Looking to move up in Player of the Year standings, while seeking first career win
• Mrs. Betdponies - Trying to stay awake for the duration of the event after a rough previous night
  
• RowanB - Looking to defend lead in Player of the Year race
• TSS777 - returning to the MPT after missing the last 3 events
  

The Results:

• TSS777
• Bigfus
• Ging
• RowanB
• Mrs. Betdponies
• Harv29

October Statistics Update

Revised MPT season and career statistics have been posted following the October, 2008 MPT event. Some noteworthy items appear below.

• TSS777 ties Betdponies for first place on the career victory list
• TSS777 becomes the second player to break $300 in all-time earnings, while Bigfus remains the all-time money leader
• Ging becomes the 14th player on the MPT career earnings list, collecting two bounties
• RowanB holds onto the Sealy Cup point lead, while Bigfus inches closer to the season title and Harv29 slips into third place
• Amazon remains atop the season money list, but Bigfus moves within $15 of the top spot
• Bigfus widens her lead in career cashes, with another finish in the money
• RowanB moves back to the top spot on the career points list, while previous lead Harv29 drops two points behind, into third place; Bigfus moves into second place, a point off the lead
• TSS777 moves into a tie for second place on the all-time "kills" list
• TSS777 improves his average finish to widen his lead in that category, while also extending his lead in average points per event
• Harv29 becomes the 8th player in MPT history to finish last place in a tournament

MPT to Award Rookie of the Year in December

SPRINGFIELD, VA - Mattress Poker Tour Founder and Tournament Director, Harv29, announced today the creation of a Rookie of the Year award, to be presented during the awards ceremony during the season ending banquet that with follow this year's Tournament of Champions main event, in December.

Competition for this year's trophy will be tight, after players making their debuts this season have won four events in a row. Two-time tournament champion Amazon appears to be the early favorite, but with three events remaining there is still a lot of poker left to be played.

The Tournament of Champions main event with be played on Sunday, December 28 at the Showboat Hotel and Casino, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Nine players have already qualified for this year's tournament, either by "cashing" in a tournament during 2008 or by virtue of previous main event championships.

New Statistics Posted

Revised statistics following the ECLVA Fall Classic have been posted. The author has observed the following noteworthy items:

• With only three events left and with Amazon likely to play in only one of those, barring an extraordinary finish and some large fields the Player of the Year race is shaping up to be a three horse race, with RowanB leading the way and Harv29 and Bigfus close behind.
• Harv29 closes to within three points of the top spot for the season points lead, breaking a second place tie with Bigfus.
• Amazon now tops the season money list, with her second win of the season. The win also moves Amazon into the third place spot in all-time earnings.
• Bigfus also passes RowanB, with her 4th cash in 5 events, while becoming the first MPT Superstar to pass the $300 mark in career earnings.
• Harv29's second place finish coupled with his two "kills" catapulted him to the top of the all-time points standings
• Betdponies tops the all-time list for number of players eliminated, with 11. He is one of only three MPT regulars to average more than one elimination per tournament.
• Of those who have played 4 or more tournaments, both TSS777 and Baccarat King have led the way in players eliminated, each averaging nearly 2 eliminations per event.
• This season's rookie sensation Amazon has averaged 3 eliminations per event, but has to play in one more tournament to qualify for the all-time "kill" leaders

Pictures from MPT 2008 #5

Below you will find pictures from the recent ECLVA Fall Classic, held in Stone Harbor, New Jersey this past weekend.


Players prepare for the tournament to begin.


The final three players in action, while Mrs. Harv29 looks on.


The third and final time A-A failed to hold up, as Amazon eliminates Bigfus with J-9o.



Harv29 in contention for his first MPT title in the midst of heads-up play.




A trophy and prize money always await the MPT champ.


Amazon reacts to the river card, as the two of hearts gives her the title.


A closer look at the final hand, with a king on the flop putting Harv29 in the lead for a short time.


The two-time champion and her winnings.

MPT 2008 #5 - ECLVA Fall Classic (9/27/2008)

(hand history courtesy of Harv29)

The participants:

• Amazon - Returns to defend her title from this season's Showboat HoB event
• Betdponies - Seeking to regain form from last season's dominant start
• Bigfus - The series' most consistent player, still seeking the elusive trophy
• Ging - Another member of the Betdponies clan joins the fray
• Harv29 - The Tournament Director, looking to turn his luck around
• Mrs. Betdponies - Trying to continue streak of finishing ahead of her husband this season
• RowanB - Our tournament host, hoping for his first "home" victory

The Results:

• Amazon
• Harv29
• Bigfus
• RowanB
• Ging
• Betdponies
• Mrs. Betdponies

Proving her July victory was more than beginner's luck, Amazon fought her way through a field packed full of Mattress Poker Tour regulars to win her second tournament of the season, following up her victory at the Showboat House of Blues in her last MPT outing. Her reckless style struck fear in the hearts of her more seasoned oponents, while her desire to see one of her friends pick up their first trophy seemed to trigger insta-karma of her behalf. Amazon turned up the aggression at the right time and won key races while coming from behind in other important hands to take the title. She modestly attributes this to her desire to return to the "real" gambling in Atlantic City, but it's just that style that makes Amazon a threat to win every MPT event that she enters.

The rest of the field was highlighted by yet another deep run by perennial bridesmaid Bigfus, who avoided extending her record for second place finishes when her pocket Aces fell the Amazon's J-9o. Had Bigfus' aces held, she would have been in excellent position to take her first trophy. Also seeking his first series title, Harv29's runner up finish brought him within a whisker of the season point total, while almost allowing him to return with a trophy for the first time.

The rest of the field featured the tournament host, RowanB, falling from chip leader to a desperation all-in after only a few hands as blind levels ate away at the player's small chip stacks. The Betdponies family also had a disappointing showing, even as the three-time former champ chipped up in the early-going, before falling victim to his new nemesis, Amazon.

So, Amazon joines Betdponies and TSS777 as the only MPT Superstars to win more than one event and puts herself right in the middle of the hunt for Player of the Year. Here's how she did it:

Hand 1 – Betdponies, showed Ace of spades
Hand 2 – Ac8c2h. Ad, 7d. Bigfus 2, Amazon JJ
Hand 3 – 5d3cQh. Bigfus 50, Betdponies calls. Turn Ac. Bigfus check, Betdponies 110, insta call. River 8h. Bigfus all-in, Betdponies shows ace and mucks.
Hand 4 – Qc9s8h. Amazon 10, Harv29 calls, Betdponies folds, RowanB raises to 125, fold, fold, Mrs. Betdponies folds, Amazon calls, Harv29 folds. 8c. Amazon checks, RowanB checks. 3c. Amazon checks, RowanB checks. RowanB has Q10, Amazon has QK, Amazon wins with QQ, K kicker.

Hand 5 – Level 2. Betdponies raises to 50. 7c5dQh. Ging checks, Amazon checks, Betdponies bets 80. Ging calls. Amazon folds. Kd. Betdponies checks, Ging bets 100, Betdponies calls. 4s. Betdponies goes all-in. Ging folds. Betdponies shows a straight.

Hand 7 – Level 3. Qd9d10s. Harv29 checks, Betdponies checks, Ging 100, Harv29 calls, Betdponies folds. 4h. Harv29 checks, Ging checks. 6d. Harv29 checks, Ging checks. Harv29 nothing. Ging has a pair of queens.
Hand 9 – Mrs. Betdponies (83.19%) raises to 130. Betdponies (16.46%) calls. 8d7c10d. Mrs. Betdponies bets 500, Betdponies (96.16%) goes all-in, Mrs. Betdponies (2.83%) calls. Mrs. Betdponies shows AA, Betdponies shows Js9c. 3h. River ? Mrs. Betdponies eliminated.

Hand 15 – 10h7c9s. As. 8s. Amazon bets 1000, Betdponies shows A10.
Hand 19 – Flop: QcAsKc. Harv29 bets 500, everyone folds. Harv29 shows J10

Chip stacks at the break:

• Betdponies – 4,525
• Amazon – 4,225
• Harv29 – 3,000
• Bigfus – 2,425
• RowanB – 2,150
• Ging – 1,175

Hand 23 – 2c2d9d. Betdponies (46.47%) goes all-in 4,125. Amazon (53.13%) calls. Betdponies has Kd10d (54.95%). Amazon Ac6h (44.14%). Turn 2s. Betdponies (29.55%), Amazon (63.64%). River 6.
Hand 24 – Betdponies (37.24%) goes all-in 550. 400 more to Amazon, calls. Harv29 (62.37%) calls. 4sKhJh. Harv29 checks, Amazon folds. Betdponies (78.38%) shows KdJc, Harv29 shows AhQs (21.62%). Turn 7c. Betdponies (90.91%), Harv29 (9.09%). River 10. Betdponies eliminated.

Hand 28 – Harv29 raised 1,000, everyone folded
Hand 29 – Harv29 raises Ging all-in. Ging As3h (57.31%) Harv29 KhQd (40.20%). Ad2s8h. Ging (96.87%), Harv29 3.13%), Turn 6d. River Ah.
Hand 31 – Harv29 all-in – 3,675. Ging calls. Harv29 (70.98%) AdKh Ging Ah10s (24.36%). Flop 4cK?J?. Harv29 82.53%, Ging 16.26%. Turn 5h. Harv29 90.91%, Ging 9.09%. River Jc. Ging eliminated.

Hand 39 – Level 8 7cQs6d. 6s. Amazon goes all-in. RowanB folds, showing two pair.
Hand 43 – Bigfus all-in (56.76%) 10s10d. Amazon calls (42.86%) QcAd. Flop: 5c5h7d. Bigfus (75.96%), Amazon (24.04%). Turn: 5d Bigfus (84.09%), Amazon (15.91%). River: 10? Bigfus doubles up.
Hand 50 – RowanB all-in for 2,100. Amazon calls. RowanB Jc5s (53.72%) Amazon 9d10h (44.97%). Flop: KcKs9c RowanB (18.48%), Amazon (81.11%). Turn: 5c RowanB (31.82%), Amazon (68.18%). River: 4h. RowanB eliminated.

Hand 52 – Bigfus all-in. Amazon calls. Bigfus shows 10c2c (15.36%), Amazon shows AhAc 84.17%). Flop: 10h8s5h. Bigfus (17.58%), Amazon (82.42). Turn: 3d Bigfus (11.36%), Amazon (88.64%). River: 2. Bigfus wins.

Hand 58 – Level 12 Bigfus goes all-in, Amazon calls. Bigfus shows AhAs (82.51%), Amazon shows Jd9c (17.22%). Flop: 10d5d2x. Turn: xd River: 8d. Bigfus eliminated.

Hand 59 – Amazon calls, Harv29 moves all-in for $3,600 more, Amazon calls. Harv29 shows Ks3h (45.38%), Amazon shows 2d2c (53.66%). Flop: Kh7d10s Harv29 (91.21%), Amazon (8.79%), Turn: 8c, Harv29 (95.45%), Amazon (4.55%), River: 2h. Harv29 eliminated.

Note that pocket aces were cracked three times, including twice by J9.

Pictures from MPT 2008 #4

MPT Tournament Director Harv29 hosted the first annual Las Vegas Invitational in his room at Main Street Station in Downtown Las Vegas last weekend. Below are some images from that event.

Players get ready to take their seats just before the tournament begins

Play begins on our largest single mattress event to date
(Photo courtesy of Sionow)


Players look on before a flop early in the tournament
(Photo courtesy of Sionow)


JTinLV collects the first ever MPT "High Hand" bonus, with a Royal Flush on the river to oust former MPT Champion, Mtohio


A closer look at the high-hand winner
(Photo courtesy of Sionow)


Two past champions "race" early in the tournament as Rowanb's pair of 10's falls behind Betdponies' A-K after the flop, but improves on the river to oust the 3-time series winner


Most of the large field survived the early blind levels before play opened up as the blinds rose
(Photo courtesy of Sionow)


Click on the picture to make sure you are seeing clearly, but these two hands ended up all-in preflop in the middle stages of the tournament and Scurvydog attempted a "steal" preflop and had the right price to call Mrs. Betdponies attempt to "re-steal"


Inspired by the setup as the House of Blues suite during the previous event, the MPT now has the capability of displaying the tournament information on the television in any hotel room


This tournament featured another bonus for the winner on top of the trophy and prize money, as the champion earned a complimentary "MPT Las Vegas Spectacular" glass


A close up look at the commemorative glasses from this event.
(photo courtesy of Sionow)


The final hand featured two strong hands for heads-up play with substantial blinds, though Scurvydog's ace did not factor into his winning hand when he made a straight on the river to leave Bigfus with her third second place finish this season


Our new champion, Scurvydog