Alex Kahaner Wins the 2005 WPT Legends of Poker ($1,125,000)
Posted: Wed, Aug 31, 05, 5:17 PM
Hand 132 - Alex Kahaner has the button, he moves all in, and Kenna immediately calls with pocket sixes (6d-6s). Alex shows Kh-Jc, and it's a race situation. Kenna has about $1.1 million, and he's looking to double up here, while Alex is hoping to win a million dollars on this hand.
The flop comes 5d-4c-2h, which favors Kenna's hand. His pair of sixes is still good, and he could catch a three to leave Alex drawing dead. For his part, Alex is looking for a jack or a king.
The turn card is the 9h. Anything other than a jack or a king will have Kenna James doubling up to about $2.2 million, where he'll be right back in the contest.
But the cards aren't on Kenna's side tonight. The river is the Kc, and half the arena stands in stunned silence while the other side erupts in jubilation. Alex is practically invisible as he's enveloped by his friends and family, while Kenna James stands in disbelief with his hands in his hair over his head. Kenna then walks over to the dealer to shake his hand, and then goes to Linda Johnson, giving her a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. Kenna James is a class act all the way.
When Alex Kahaner is finally released by his crowd of supporters, he goes over to shake Kenna's hand as well.
Now, the details. Kenna James is eliminated in second place, earning $588,210.
Alex Kahaner wins the 2005 WPT Legends of Poker at the Bicycle Casino, winning $1,125,000.
Freerolling on a Flush Draw
Posted: Wed, Aug 31, 05, 5:14 PM
Hand 130 - Alex Kahaner has the button, he raises to $600,000, and Kenna folds.
Hand 131 - Kenna James has the button, and he moves all in. Alex immediately calls. Both players show A-9 suited -- Kenna has spades, and Alex has diamonds. A flush is the only thing that will keep this from being a chopped pot.
The flop comes Jh-10d-4d, and the crowd cheers and moans at the same time. Alex Kahaner is on a freeroll flush draw -- if another diamond hits, he'll win the tournament. Otherwise, it's a chopped pot, and they take their money back. Kenna James is crushed, slumped down in his chair, expecting the worst.
The turn card is the 9c, and Alex has one more free card to catch a diamond and win a million bucks. But the river card is the Qc, and Kenna lives to fight another hand.
Blinds Increasing to $150,000-$300,000 ($30,000 Ante)
Posted: Wed, Aug 31, 05, 5:10 PM
The blinds increase to $150,000-$300,000, with a $30,000 ante. Play will continue without a break.
Alex Kahaner Doubles Up Through Kenna James
Posted: Wed, Aug 31, 05, 5:08 PM
Hand 128 - Alex Kahaner has the button, and he folds.
Hand 129 - Kenna James has the button, he raises to $600,000, Alex reraises to $1,500,000, and Kenna stares him down before waving his hand and saying, "I'm all in." Kenna has his sunglasses up on his head, and he's lost his jacket and his cowboy hat since play began nearly seven hours ago.
Alex Kahaner calls, showing Jc-10h. Kenna James is stunned. How can he call with a drawing hand in that spot? Kenna points out that they're playing for a million dollars, and he calls an all-in bet with J-10. Alex says he doesn't care about the money, he's willing to gamble for the title. Kenna turns over As-4c, and there's no clear favorite in this hand.
It takes over two minutes before we see a flop, and in that time, Kenna's supporters start chanting "Ace! Ace! Ace! Ace!" Alex's friends and family respond with "Jack! Jack! Jack! Jack!"
The flop comes Qd-9h-2h, giving Alex an open-ended straight draw, while Kenna is still in the lead with his ace high. Alex needs to catch an eight, a ten, a jack, or a king to survive. The turn card is the Kh, and Alex makes a king-high straight. Kenna James is drawing dead. The meaningless river card is the 8c, but hardly anyone in the room notices, because Alex's supporters are still cheering incredibly loud.
Kenna James still has about $1.4 million in chips, so it's not over. But Kenna is clearly stunned, slumped in his chair. This wasn't technically a bad beat, but Kenna can't believe that Alex called with J-10.
Official Chip Counts
Posted: Wed, Aug 31, 05, 4:55 PM
Here are the official chip counts from the break:
Kenna James - $4,800,000
Alex Kahaner - $3,580,000
Five-Minute Break
Posted: Wed, Aug 31, 05, 4:48 PM
The players take a five-minute break while the WPT crew swaps new tapes into the TV cameras.
Posted: Wed, Aug 31, 05, 4:47 PM
Hand 125 - Kenna James has the button, he raises to $800,000, and Alex folds 8-2 offsuit face up.
Hand 126 - Alex Kahaner has the button, he limps, and Kenna checks. The flop comes Qc-Qh-8h, Kenna checks, Alex bets $600,000, and Kenna folds. Alex takes the pot.
Hand 127 - Kenna James has the button, he raises to $450,000, and the small bet seems to throw Alex off for a moment before he makes the call. The flop comes Jd-5s-3d, Alex checks, Kenna bets $450,000, and Alex folds.
Posted: Wed, Aug 31, 05, 4:40 PM
Hand 122 - Alex Kahaner has the button, he limps, Kenna raises to $500,000, and Alex folds. Kenna takes the pot.
Hand 123 - Kenna James has the button, and he folds.
Hand 124 - Alex Kahaner has the button, he raises to $700,000, and Kenna folds.
Posted: Wed, Aug 31, 05, 4:37 PM
Hand 118 - Alex Kahaner has the button, and it looks like they both limp. The flop comes Qd-8c-4d, Kenna bets $250,000, Alex raises to $795,000, and Kenna folds. Alex shows Qs-4s (two pair) as he collects the pot.
Hand 119 - Kenna James has the button, he limps, and Alex checks. The flop comes Ah-Kd-3s, Alex checks, Kenna bets $400,000, and Alex folds. Kenna shows a single card as he collects the pot -- the ace of clubs.
Hand 120 - Alex Kahaner has the button, unknown action (no flop).
Hand 121 - Kenna James has the button, and he folds.
Posted: Wed, Aug 31, 05, 4:32 PM
Hand 115 - Kenna James has the button, he calls, and Alex checks. The flop comes Jd-6c-5s, Alex bets $200,000, and Kenna folds. Alex shows Q-J (top pair) as he collects the pot.
Hand 116 - Alex Kahaner has the button, and he folds.
Hand 117 - Kenna James has the button, and he raises to $600,000, and Alex folds. Kenna shows As-8s.
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