On the fifth hand of heads-up action, Alex calls the $20,000 blind and Johan just checks. The flop comes 10d-6-5d. Johan leads out with a $65,000 bet, Alex re-raises $200,000 more. Johan pushes the rest of his stack all-in without hesitation. Alex happily calls, flipping over his limped pocket aces. Johan flips J-2d, for low pair on the board and a flush draw. The diamonds don't come when a 7 hits on the turn and a K on the river. This tournament is over. Johan has a look of astonishment on his face as Alex scoops up the remainder of the chips, grabs a Costa Rica flag from the audience and parades around the stage basking in his victory.
Heads up action
Posted: Thu, Feb 24, 05, 11:44 AM
Johan and Alex trade blinds the first two hands. On the third hand of heads up action, Johan makes it $55,000 more to go. Alex calls. A K-Q-5 flop comes, Alex checks, Johan tosses $100,000 in and Alex lets his cards go.
Tom Everett Scott gets busted; on to heads up action
Posted: Thu, Feb 24, 05, 11:28 AM
On the 106th hand of the night, Alex leads into the pot with a strong $180,000 raise. Tom re-raises him all-in with his healthy $750,000 stack. Alex pushes his stack in, the crowd erupts and we see Alex turn over A-Q. Tom shows 6-6. The flop hits just how Alex would have wanted, A-Q-8. Tom musters a look of disgust. The turn and the river both bring 10s and Tom is sent his walking papers.
Blinds go up
Posted: Thu, Feb 24, 05, 11:15 AM
Players are now looking at $20,000/$40,000 blinds and antes of $5000. Chips are still spread evenly among the three remaining players.
Hollywood pushes around the pros
Posted: Thu, Feb 24, 05, 11:08 AM
In Hand 92, Alex and Johan both match the big blind. Tom, sitting in the big blind, makes it an additional $60,000 to go. Both Alex and Johan call the bet, bringing the pot up to $189,000, by far the largest piece of action during the last two hours of the tournament. The flop comes J-6-6. Alex and Johan check, Tom pushes $150,000 into the middle, his opponents muck their hands and the hometown hero gets a loud roar from the crowd.
Hand 91
Posted: Thu, Feb 24, 05, 11:03 AM
Alex bets $65,000 and Johan calls. The flop comes 8-5-2 with two clubs. Alex checks, Johan throws out a $180,000 raise. Alex watches Johan stack his $65,000 after he mucks his hand.
Hand 86
Posted: Thu, Feb 24, 05, 11:00 AM
Alex leads into the pot for $80,000. Tom smooth calls his bet. The flop comes Ah-9h-5. Alex makes it $145,000 to go and Tom folds his hand. Alex shows his A-Js to the delight of his boisterous supporters waving the Costa Rica flag in the audience.
Hand 85
Posted: Thu, Feb 24, 05, 10:50 AM
With the blinds now $12,000/$24,000 and the antes $3000, Alex throws in a $60,000 bet under the gun. Johan re-raises, bringing it up to $190,000. Alex mucks his had and Johan shows his Big Slick (A-K)
Tight Play
Posted: Thu, Feb 24, 05, 10:13 AM
After a slew of whirlwind activity towards the beginning of the tourney, the three remaining players have really tightened up. During hands 30-70, players shuffle chips back and forth. Small raises take down pots pre-flop. The trio sees flops on the cheap and checks them down to showdown or donates them to the player that tosses in the first large bet. After 80 hands and constant back and forth light action the stacks look like this: 1. Alex Brenes $860,000 2. Tom Everett Scott $795,000 3. Johan Storakers $740,000
Hand 31: Johan picks up nice pot by slowplaying a set of nines
Posted: Thu, Feb 24, 05, 10:02 AM
Johan raises $30,000 under the gun. Alex, in the big blind, calls the additional $20,000. The flop comes J-9-9. Alex checks, Johan bets $45,000. Alex calls the bet. Turn brings a K and both players check. The river is a 3. Alex bets $100,000. Johan thinks for a long time, calls and shows his set of 9s with his A-9, punishing Alex's K-Q.
