CSOP 2008 From Terry

With this being my first of many blogs on this new site, I would like to start with one of the highlights of my poker journey. It was this weekend at a tournament that I was luckily enough to play in. Long story short, this tournament was set up like the W.S.O.P., with a monthly tournament and a final table free role after 12 months for the top ten players. A prize pool of $1000.00 and a Bracelet to the winner made of the winnings. I was able to slide into a 11th place tie with 2 other people after playing in just seven of the twelve tournaments. After along drawn out process I found myself sitting at the Crowley Series of Poker Championship Table.

I started the game with $10,000 in chips; I lost about 2 grand my first hand and had to shift gears. The tournament went on to find myself in a very bad bet hand against my great friend Jake, I had K-K and bet pre-flop. "Enough too show strength." The flop was an ugly mess of cards, with nothing higher than a 9. I said those magic words, "All-in" with a Very quick "call" from Jake. I thought for sure I had him beat, but after he flipped his pocket 9's I had to start licking my wounds.

The tournament went on as I became card dead, the blinds went up and I was finding myself closer and closer to the rail…. The binds went up yet again to 1K-2K, and I was first to act, I looked at my hold cards to find 7-7. I pushed my remaining 3k All-in and had three or four callers, the flop hit me hard with a third seven for a set. I started changing my play and started getting in a grove that helped me move up the chip leader board, where I took over the chip lead.

After playing for about a half an hour heads up I made a deal with the other guy Tom B. We would just split 1^st and 2^nd place money between the two of us, and play for the bracelet. He agreed and the heads-up battle continued. In the small blind I found a 10-4 off suite, I raised three times the big blind, trying to show intent. The other guy re-raises me, so I was setting their thinking. Tom looks at Jake and said, "I have your hand". Unfortunately for him I know what that hand is, so I called All-in; thinking I could push him off the pot. I also know that it was going to be a race against two live cards and two live cards. He called with J-5. The flop came K,7,10, the Turn was another 10, and the River was the case 10. Giving me Quads!!! I about fell out of my chair, I could not believe that I pulled that out of the bag….

I have never fought my way back for the small stack to chip leader, and than win the tournament. Man, I love this game… There were handshakes all around and talk about the quads. A hug from another great friend and a few people saying other things and the game was over… I ended the night with $250.00, a bracelet that read C.S.O.P 2008 final table Champ, the memories, and the Title of C.S.O.P. Final Table Champion 2008.

T.Morgan