Legends of Poker and the World Heads-Up Triple-Draw Championship

For many tournament players, their month of August was spent at The Bicycle Casino competing in the Legends of Poker tournament. The prize for the best all-around player was a beautiful, white Mercedes SUV. Even though Daniel Negreanu and Men "The Master" Nguyen each won three events, they weren't even within striking distance of David "The Dragon" Pham, who made several final tables and took down the Benz. Congratulations, David!

Three other factors made the Legends great this year. First, Card Player assembled a team to compete in the media event, and we won (see Max Shapiro's column on Page 52). Second, for the first time that I know of, there was a points race for supersatellites. Jeff Yoak won $10,000 for dominating the "supers." The supersatellites were so successful that the $5,000 championship event had about 100 more players than last year. Of course, it helped that the World Poker Tour was taping the final table and that everyone wants to be on TV. Congrats to Chris Karagulleyan for winning the championship. See Andy Glazer's report of this event on Page 104.

After a day at Disneyland, I went to watch the $5,000 World Heads-Up Triple-Draw Championship.

Doc Jennings (the six-time champion) was challenged by John Juanda. As in boxing, you can't just go in and fight the champ for the belts. Juanda spent the last 12 months training daily in triple-draw and going through the ranks. After winning the triple draw championship at this year's World Series of Poker, John requested an opportunity to become the undisputed triple-draw champion. Doc explained, "Anyone can get lucky and win a bracelet at the World Series, but you have to go through Daddy to win the trophy."

On the final hand, John made a wheel (the best hand). John checked, and said, "This may be it for Daddy. If you bet here, baby, it is back to cleaning teeth daily for you." Doc immediately bet, and I grabbed John's chips and raised Doc all in. Usually it would be a tell when a railbird raises you all in, but the pot was so big that Doc had to call. I flipped over the wheel, and John shook Doc's hand and waved to the crowd (me). Doc went up to his room and returned five minutes later with a scratched-up chrome trophy that he presented to John. Doc had actually been traveling with this trophy for six years. Doc wanted a rematch, but John explained that he had to beat at least three other people before having another shot at the trophy.

A week later I saw Doc Jennings at Bellagio. I had breakfast with John the following morning and told him that Doc was in Las Vegas and wanted a rematch. Within 10 minutes, John made a plane reservation and went back to Los Angeles. According to Doc, true champions don't get up and fly to a different state to avoid a rematch - and I agree!