Mike Watson: What's My Line?Watson Talks About a Decision For All His Chips |
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Every Thursday, Card Player sits down with some of the best in the game to discuss pivotal hands from the week’s biggest tournaments on the circuit.
This week, we spoke with Mike Watson, winner of the 2008 Bellagio Cup IV main event. Watson, who has been playing poker tournaments seriously for the past three years, outlasted a field of 446 en route to a $1,673,300 payday. The online professional, who plays under the name SirWatts, has also earned nearly $300,000 online in 2008 in Card Player’s Online Player of the Year-qualifying events alone. Watson is a model of consistency online, and has more than 25 top-20 finishes this year. All told, the 24-year-old native of Toronto has a combined $2.3 million in lifetime earnings.
The hand in question, much like last week's What's My Line?, was a key determining factor in Watson's rise up the leader board during the Bellagio Cup IV. After his double up, Watson graciously accepted his role as table bully and was able to use his newfound chips to apply pressure and accumulate for the upcoming money bubble. Watson never slowed down, and he went into the final day with the overall chip lead, where he parlayed his position into his first World Poker Tour title.
Event - Blinds/ Ante | Bellagio Cup IV | 1,000-2,000 with a 300 ante |
Player | Mike Watson | The Russian in the hijack seat |
Chip Count | 94,200 | About 155,000 |
Hand | A![]() ![]() |
8![]() ![]() |
The player in the hijack seat limped, and Mike Watson raised his button to 7,000 with A 9
. The small blind flat-called, and the hijack came along, as well.
The flop came A 8
4
, and everyone checked to Watson, who decided to check behind.
The turn was the 2, and the small blind checked. The cutoff then bet 30,000, a bit more than the size of the pot.
Watson took some time before moving all in for a total 87,200. The small blind folded, and the hijack made the call, showing 8 7
for middle pair and a flush draw. The river was the 2
, and Watson doubled up to just under 200,000 in chips.
Julio Rodriguez: I wanted to talk with you about a hand you played late on day 2, about 50 spots away from the money. In the hand, you defended your button and doubled up.
8
4
, and they both checked to me. I decided to check behind.
comes off on the turn, and the small blind checks. At this point, do you think that the blind has given up on the hand?
MW: Definitely for value, since I was pretty confident that I had the best hand. I counted down my stack, trying to figure out if I played the hand, could I conceivably call on the turn and shove the river? I decided to put it in there, however, figuring that if he had a draw, he wouldn’t pay me off on the river unless he hit. Also, I wouldn’t mind getting my money in as a 2-1 favorite, which ended up being the case.