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FTOPS Event #3
The pot was definitely swollen for FTOPS Event #3. The guarantee for the Hold'em Pot Limit tournament was $200,000, but the field of 1,673 players pushed the total prize pool to $334,600 with more than $60K going to the winner.
It took more than seven hours of steady and solid play to get down to the final table, but all nine players who made it were assured of receiving at least $4,500 and a chance at FTOPS gold. "JensV" and "Red Bikini" were the big stacks at the table, with more than a million in chips each. But lurking close behind was former champion "TheFatFISH," winner of FTOPS IV Event #9. He was an imposing presence wearing his gold FTOPS jersey, and certainly had the support of a majority of the railbirds singing from the sideline.
The final table action started with a bang, as it didn't take long for the two short stacks to get knocked out. "MrKrabbs" finished ninth after his K-6 was taken down by "TheFatFISH" and his flush. "Corny54" was next to go, when his K-9 didn't connect versus "Red Bikini's" pocket 10s.
"TheFatFISH" and "Red Bikini" then started mixing it up with each other in a couple of huge hands. "TheFatFISH" doubled up through "Red Bikini" when his A-Q won a coin flip over pocket 5s. The roles were reversed a few hands later when "Red Bikini" and her A-Q survived an all-in versus "TheFatFISH" and his pocket 9s. "TheFatFISH" was fried and his dream of a second FTOPS title over when his A-8 ran into "LegacyRik's" pocket Aces soon thereafter.
With the play now seven-handed, the table tightened up considerably. "stupidtim" was the next to go after his A-7 ran into "LegacyRik's" A-Q. The final six players were now all guaranteed at least $10,000 for their efforts.
Play remained tight until, almost inexplicably, "lyerly" made a move and pushed all-in with 9-2 off-suit. Turning a 2, "lyerly" doubled up versus the A-5 of "Red Bikini" and put himself in the good shape for a shot at the championship. But "lyerly" did have a good excuse, as he was actually at two other final tables at the same time − a $20K guarantee and a $14K guarantee. He said that his "brain was hurting," and asked that 9-2 off-suit be renamed "The lyerly." We'll see what we can do about that one.
"LegacyRik" was next to go when he pushed all-in with 9-10 versus the A-K of "Red Bikini" and couldn't improve. "ringjob3," who had been quiet for much of the final table action, busted when his pair of Kings was rivered by "JensV's" pair of Aces.
At three-handed play, the action became fast and furious; with all three players relatively close in chips at one point. But "lylerly" was crippled when his pocket 9s lost a coin flip to "JensV's" K-J. He was eliminated on the next hand by "JensV," when her A-J had his A-7 completely dominated. He earned more than $25K for his third-place finish, plus another $4,500 for his other final table finishes, so overall it wasn't a bad day for "lyerly."
As heads-up play began, "JensV" had $3.1 million in chips to the $1.7 million of "Red Bikini." But "Red Bikini" soon evened things up after winning a big pot, and the action went back and forth from there. Then, after over an hour of final table play, "Red Bikini" was all-in with pocket 5s versus the A-7 of "JensV," with the championship on the line. There was no luck for "JensV" on the flop, but it did open up the possibility of a backdoor flush with her seven of diamonds. Runner-runner diamonds sealed the deal for "JensV" as she was crowned champion of FTOPS Event #3. "Red Bikini" put up a great fight and won a terrific $38,144.40 for her performance. But in the end, it was "JensV," whose solid play throughout this marathon tournament, earned her $61,901 in prize money and the coveted gold FTOPS jersey.
Event #3 Results - FTOPS V