Team USA Vs. Team England

It was about 10 a.m. and I had just arrived in Monte Carlo. I was there to play the Monte Carlo Millions. As I was walking through the lobby of Hotel De' Paris, I ran into Chris Ferguson and we went to have some breakfast. While at breakfast, the subject of the Transatlantic Cup came up. Chris told me that a team from the United States was going to take on Team England in four heads-up matches, and the winner of the most matches would be declared the champion. I said, "I would love to play." He replied that the teams had already been picked.

Andy Bloch

Paul Wolfe

Phil Ivey

Chris Ferguson

Ram Vaswani

Ross Boatman

Joe Beevers

Barry Boatman

Chris said Team USA would include Andy Bloch, Howard Lederer, Phil Ivey, and himself. Team England was to consist of The Hendon Mob's Ross and Barny Boatman, Joe Beevers, and Ram Vaswani. Team England has defeated Team France, Team Italy, and Team Australia in the past. To me, that sounds great, but they hadn't played a team from the United States yet. It's hard to say you are the best at poker without beating the best the United States has to offer.

After breakfast, we decided to look for the tournament area. While looking, we ran into two very nice ladies. Chris, being the ladies man that he is, already knew them. He introduced them to me; one was Ram Vaswani's wife and the other was Joe Beevers' fiancée.

The night before the event was to take place, I was out with some players and ran into Matt Savage (the tournament director) and his bride-to-be Maryann (they were to get married the day after the main event). Well, the night ended up going far into the next morning, as we danced and drank our way from pub to pub. By the time I got to my room, it was after 4 a.m. I was thinking to myself how happy I was for that day to have a late start. I called to arrange a 2:30 p.m. wake-up call and off to sleep I went.

The next thing I knew, my phone was ringing. What seemed like a five-minute nap had been hours. Was it really 2:30 p.m.? I picked up the phone, and to my dismay, it wasn't the sexy voice of the beautiful operator from downstairs, but that of Chris Ferguson's; talk about a scary way to be awakened. Chris informed me that Howard Lederer was sick, and asked if I could play for him. I said sure, and asked what time it started. Chris said, "Get down here as soon as possible, as we are almost ready to go." Yikes! I hung up the phone and turned on the shower. All I could think of was aspirin, water, sleep, and more aspirin.

I made it to the tournament area and the draw had already taken place. Andy was to play Ram in the first match, and I was to play Ross in the second. As an aside, all of the players on Team England are great, but how did I get stuck playing Ross? Not only did I draw the better of the Boatman's, but maybe the best player on the team. After all, he is a famous television actor in the UK, so he must be a great player. Actually, Ross does not give up chips easily. On top of being a great player, he is one of the nicest people you will ever meet … from England. The other two matches were Phil Ivey versus Joe Beevers and Chris Ferguson versus Barny Boatman.

We had to do some shots for the camera, and the trash talking began. Ross and I were having some pictures taken and Joe Beevers was doing the talking. Now, Joe is known for being a very classy person. I informed him that I really did feel bad for him. After all, he had to play Phil Ivey, who is only playing the best poker of anyone on the planet. We all were having fun with the talk and I really did like our side of the matchup.

Then, it was time to get the match started. Andy and Ram took their seats at the table, and they sat Chris, Phil, and me on Andy's side. Ross, Joe, and Barny were on Ram's side. Team England had a bonus rooting section, the wives and Joe's fiancée, who were so friendly and enjoyable to be around.

The match started off kind of slowly. It felt like the beginning of a boxing match, with both of the players trying to see what the other one was going to do. The lead switched back and forth several times, and it seemed like it was going to go on forever. It was about an hour or so into the match, and the hand we all had been waiting for came down. I'm not sure exactly how the action went, but all of the chips went in preflop and the cards were turned up, with Andy holding A-J and Ram A-7. The flop brought no help for either player and the turn brought a jack, which had Ram drawing dead with one card to come; USA 1, England 0.

Ross and I were up next. All joking aside, I have not had a lot of table time with Ross, but from the time I have spent on the table with him, I know he plays well. I was just hoping that day that I could somehow come out on top.

We started off playing small pots and the chips were going back and forth. I seemed to get a lead on him a few times, only to see it diminish, and then increase again. I was lucky enough not to fall behind. At the climactic point, I had a little more than $160,000 to Ross' approximate $40,000 when this hand came down. We each had about $8,000 in the middle and the flop was 8-7-6. Ross moved all in. I was holding 10-6. I thought to myself that he could have a straight draw. He also could have 8-7 or just an 8. I decided to call him as if he was on the draw. If he had an 8, I had outs with two cards to come, and if I lost the hand, I still would have the chip lead. He turned over 7-2, against my 10-6. All I needed was a 9 and he would be drawing dead to a chop. No problem, as the turn was a 9, giving me a straight, and the river was a deuce; Team USA 2, Team England 0.

Next up, it was Phil Ivey versus Joe Beevers. I was feeling pretty good right about then. We were up 2-0 and the best all-around player on the planet, maybe even the universe, was coming up, and the man they call Jesus was waiting in the wings. So, I was looking for not just the win, but for the sweep. If we won 4-0, there was a $10,000 bonus on top of the $100,000 prize. Now, I don't want to take anything away from Joe Beevers, but if you asked me to choose someone to have playing in this situation, I don't know if there is anyone I could pick over Phil Ivey.

Phil and Joe started off with a couple of small battles, with Joe winning at the start. Joe had his back against the wall. Anyone who knows anything about him knows he is an excellent player who has no quit in him. The big hand came up with a bet, a raise, and an all-in call preflop. Ivey turned over 8-8 and Beevers had 9-9. The flop and the turn brought no help for Ivey, and a blank on the river sealed this one for Team England. Now it was USA 2, England 1.

The final match was going to either win it for Team USA or tie it up, sending it to a one-match winner-take-all for the cup and the $100,000. I still was feeling good, knowing that our team captain Chris Ferguson was going to come out victorious. Only one thing stood in the way – Barny Boatman. Barny has been playing the game for a long time, and has proven time and time again that he is a player to be reckoned with. After all, he is Ross' brother. I'm sure Ross has taught him a lot of what he knows.

Chris and Barny took their seats and the match got under way. Both of the players took slight chip leads, only to see them taken away. It really was a close match, going back and forth, until this hand came down: The flop was 8-7-4 and Chris led into the pot. Ross thought, and raised all in. Chris thought for a moment, and called. Ross turned up 10-9, which gave him an open-end straight draw and two overcards. Chris had K-8 (top pair). The turn was the 2 and the river was a king. This gave Chris two pair and Team USA the victory, 3-1, and the Transatlantic Cup is coming to America – where it belongs.

What a great feeling it was seeing that king come on the river and watching Chris', Andy's, and Phil's face light up. I can't explain the feeling I had when Chris won that hand. I haven't felt it in a long time, and especially not in poker. It was so great to win for the United States.

I am very proud to say that I was a part of this, and I hope to get to play more team poker in the future.