With the swell of uncertainty that has billowed up around online poker in these past few months, there was a collective sigh of relief to see the familiar face of the WCOOP swinging into view. It was also invigorating to see an old adage be reaffirmed, with the winner of Event #6 proving that all you need is ‘a chip and a chair.’
The 2011 WCOOP features 62 events, with a guaranteed prize pool of $30 million. More than enough to convince pros like Daniel Negreanu to move out of the U.S.A. so that they can take part. For KidPoker in particular, that gambit appears to have paid off. Currently touring around Europe, Negreanu posted solid cashes in Events #6, #7, and #8.
The first of these was Event #6, a $215 No Limit Hold ’em Turbo Rebuy. With a super-fast clock and the ability to re-enter during the first hour, the prize pool quickly mounted. PokerStars had laid on a guarantee of $500,000, but they needn’t have bothered, as the 1589 entrants quickly forgot any dreams of an overlay. After rebuys and add-ons had been totaled, the prize pool stood at $1,094,600.
Negreanu was not the only PokerStars Pro to get a slice of the cash. Five others made the money, including Humberto Brenes (201st), George Danzer (185th), gkap13 (94th), and Shane Schleger (83rd). The highest ranked PokerStars player was Polish native Marcin Horecki (27th), who plays online as Goral.
By the time the final table rolled around, the subtly named MONSTER_DONG was the biggest name left in the tournament. Better known as Australian grinder Jonathan Karamalikis, he has over $1.1 million in lifetime tournament winnings, including a $450,000 score for first place in a $6k NLHE event at APPT Sydney in 2010. Karamalikis was undeniably the story of the final table as he became the latest player to echo Jack Strauss’ iconic ‘chip and a chair’ achievement.
In the early stages of the final nine, it was FrankThomas8 making waves. He dispatched 4kinghelll with 7-7 against 10-3, followed by filfedra with Ace high against King high. ShippityShip was next to go, as his A-8 top pair was outdrawn by a gl18089’s runner-runner A-9 flush.
This is where the MONSTER_DONG story really begins. Midway into the final table, the pro moves all-in with J-4, only to see himself horribly dominated by the A-4 of medmar. No help arrives on board and Karamalikis is left with less than a big blind in change. All-in on his next hand, he runs 9-6 into A-Q, but manages to find the cards he needs. Shortly afterwards, his 8-6 defeats K-9 and he his back in the game.
Meanwhile, gp18089 falls at the hands of filfedra, who sees his K-K hold up against A-9 suited. Iftarii then exists in similar fashion, failing to find the King he needed to beat lostos’ Q-Q or medmar’s 6-6.
The final few eliminations were all Karamalikis. He knocked filfedra out in 4th with 5-5 holding up against A-2 and then three hands later dispatched lostso64 by pairing his kicker while dominated. Heads up play lasted a mere two hands before medmar moved all-in with K-8 against MONSTER_DONG’s A-10. No help on the board for medmar left Karamalikis with $179,569.13 to show for his perseverance and good fortune.
Final table payouts for the 2011 WCOOP Event #6 were as follows:
1st place: MONSTER_DONG (Australia) $179,569.13
2nd place: medmar (Argentina) – $131,352
3rd place: lotos64 (Russia) – $98,514
4th place: filfedra (Czech Republic) – $73,338.20
5th place: Iftarii (Canada) – $51,993.50
6th place: gp18089 (Greece) – $41,047.50
7th place: ShippityShip (Australia) – $30,101.50
8th place: FrankThomas8 (Spain) – $19,155.50
9th place: 4kinghellll (United Kingdom) – $10,946