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Buy-In: $25,000
Prize Pool: $10,961,000
Entrants: 452

No-Limit Hold'em Championship

  • Apr 19, '05 - Apr 24, '05
  •  

 
 

Updates on Final Day (Apr 24, 05)

 
 

Tuan Le Wins the WPT World Championship ($2,856,150)

Posted: Sun, Apr 24, 05, 4:57 PM

In one of the most exciting, back-and-forth final tables you'll ever see, Tuan Le battled against blinds, bluffs, and the whim of the poker gods as he climbed out of a hole to win the WPT World Championship, claiming the title, a bracelet, a trophy, a silver platter, and $2,856,150.
 

TV Sign-Off

Posted: Sun, Apr 24, 05, 4:55 PM

The lovely Rachel Suarez, cocktail waitress here at Bellagio, brings out the Michelob Amber Bock, official beer of the World Poker Tour, and Mike Sexton leads everyone in a toast to Tuan Le, congratulating him on his two WPT victories this year.

As soon as the television sign-off is complete, they have to do it again for the TV cameras, and they ask the crowd to stay for one more take. (Some leave anyway.) This time, they make sure Tuan Le is holding the silver platter trophy that he won as they do it all over again. The crowd applause is a little less intense this time, until Tuan Le excitedly hoists the platter over his head, and the crowd responds more loudly. The applause tapers off, and the WPT photographer starts setting up to take some photos for posterity.

 

More Ceremony

Posted: Sun, Apr 24, 05, 4:49 PM

Mike Sexton asks the crowd to applaud for Hasan Habib, who finished in third, before introducing Paul Maxfield from England, who finished in second place. Paul Maxfield won his entry from a satellite, and came one river card away from being the WPT Champion, and he is very gracious in his defeat.

Now Sexton introduces Tuan Le, who won his second WPT event after taking Foxwoods earlier this season. Tuan Le compliments the other final table players, saying they were all champions, and says he is still breathless from what happened.

Sexton introduces Doug Dalton, head of poker operations for Bellagio, and he presents Tuan Le with a championship bracelet for his victory.

Sexton announces that Tuan Le is now the leading money winner on the World Poker Tour, stealing that title from Daniel Negreanu, who reacts in mock disgust.

More to come.

 

Awards Ceremony

Posted: Sun, Apr 24, 05, 4:45 PM

Mike Sexton announces as principals from Bellagio and the World Poker Tour join Tuan Le and Paul Maxfield for the Awards Ceremony and sign-off for the TV show.

Mike Sexton introduces Daniel Negreanu, who will receive the WPT Player of the Year award for his outstanding year on the tour. Vince Van Patten helps him don the Player of the Year jacket, and when it seems a bit large, Daniel quips, "This was Erick Lindgren's, right?" [Erick Lindgren was last year's WPT Player of the Year.]

More to come.

 

Tuan Le Wins the WPT World Championship ($2,856,150)

Posted: Sun, Apr 24, 05, 4:39 PM

Hand 188: Maxfield raises to $2.4 million, and Tuan Le calls. The flop comes J-9-3 with two diamonds, and both players check. The turn card is another 9, and Tuan pushes all in. Maxfield folds.

Hand 189: Tuan Le raises it to $2 million, and Paul Maxfield pushes all in. Tuan Le folds.

Hand 190: Paul Maxfield pushes all in, and Tuan Le quickly calls, showing K-J suited. Maxfield turns over K-5 offsuit, and he's dominated. Unless Maxfield catches some help, Tuan Le will win this tournament. The flop comes J-10-3, and Tuan Le takes a commanding lead. Maxfield needs to catch something runner-runner (like 5-5) to stay alive. The turn card is a queen, and that means Maxfield is hoping for a chopped pot with a nine or an ace. Anything else will eliminate him from the tournament. The river card is a 7, and Paul Maxfield is eliminated in second place, earning $1,698,390.

Tuan Le wins the WPT World Championship, earning $2,856,150.

 

Chip Counts

Posted: Sun, Apr 24, 05, 4:32 PM

Here are the updated chip counts:

Tuan Le - $12.4 million
Paul Maxfield - $10.2 million

 

Hand 187 -- The River Strikes Back

Posted: Sun, Apr 24, 05, 4:31 PM

Hand 187: Tuan Le raises it to $2 million, and Maxfield calls. The flop comes 6-5-3 with two hearts. Maxfield checks, Tuan Le pushes all in, and Maxfield calls. Maxfield shows 6-5 suited for two pair, and Tuan Le has 9-8 for a gut-shot straight draw. Tuan Le needs a seven, but he sees a 2 fall on the turn. He now needs a 7 or a 4 to stay alive, and the river card is a ... 7.

Unbelievably, the tournament continues with another come-from-behind river card. Tuan Le was a huge underdog in this hand, but manages to double up and get right back into the game.

 

Update; Chip Counts

Posted: Sun, Apr 24, 05, 4:27 PM

Hand 184: Maxfield limps, and Tuan Le checks his option. The flop comes 6-4-2 with two diamonds. Tuan Le checks, and Maxfield pushes all in. Tuan Le folds, and Maxfield wins the pot.

Approximate chip counts: Paul Maxfield has roughly $16 million, while Tuan Le has about $6.5 million.

Hand 185: Tuan Le pushes all in, and Maxfield folds.

Hand 186: Maxfield raises it to $2 million, and Tuan Le folds.

 

Update

Posted: Sun, Apr 24, 05, 4:25 PM

Hand 179: Tuan Le pushes all in, and Maxfield folds.

Hand 180: Maxfield pushes all in, and Tuan Le folds.

Hand 181: Tuan Le raises it $800,000, and Maxfield folds.

Hand 182: Maxfield folds, and Tuan Le takes the pot.

Hand 183: Tuan Le raises, and Maxfield folds 8-2 faceup.

 

Short Break For the Players

Posted: Sun, Apr 24, 05, 4:17 PM

The players take a short break. Action will resume shortly. Tuan Le has $4.8 million, and Paul Maxfield has $17.8 million.
 
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