Mirage Poker Showdown Champion: Jonathan Little

Level 7: 200,000-400,000, 50,000 ante

Just Like That... Little Wins the Mirage Poker Showdown

Level 7: 200,000-400,000, 50,000 ante

By: Tony Berns After posting a 'Slow Pace' piece a few minutes ago, both players then pushed all-in on two of the next three hands, both having Ax each time. The first push ended in a chopped pot. Fortunately, for Little the second time around, his A2 connected on the flop while Carroll was in with the better A7 pre-flop. When a deuce landed on the flop, Little took the lead. When another deuce fell on the turn, he locked up the victory here at the Mirage Poker Showdown. As we all know, poker is a game where fortunes can change at the turn of a card. Congratulations to Jonathan Little for winning the Showdown and taking home $1,091,795.

Hand #139 - Jonathan Little Wins the WPT Mirage Poker Showdown!

Level 7: 200,000-400,000, 50,000 ante

Cory Carroll has the button, he raises, Little moves all in, and Carroll instantly calls with [Ah 7d]. Little shows [As 2s], and he'll need to improve to win the tournament right here. The flop comes [10d 5c 2h], and Little pairs his deuce to take the lead. Carroll now needs to catch a seven to stay alive. But the turn card is the 2, and Little clinches the hand -- and the tournament -- with trip deuces. (The meaningless river card is the Q.) Cory Carroll is eliminated in second place, earning $561,966. Jonathan Little wins the 2007 WPT Mirage Poker Showdown, earning $1,091,795. Congratulations, Jonathan!

Hand #138 - Cory Carroll

Level 7: 200,000-400,000, 50,000 ante

Jonathan Little has the button, and he folds.

Hand #137 - They're All In ... But They Chop

Level 7: 200,000-400,000, 50,000 ante

Cory Carroll has the button, he moves all in, and Little immediately calls with [As 6s]. Carroll has him dominated with [Ac 9d], and he is in a good position to double up here. Little's friends in the crowd cheer for a six, but the flop comes [Qh Js 8s], and they immediately change their chant to "Spades! Spades!" Little needs a six or a spade to win the tournament. The turn card pairs the board with the 8, and that makes it a likely chop situation (both players have a pair of eights with A-Q-J). Little needs a spade or a six, while Carroll needs a nine to double up. The river card is the 2, and they chop the pot.

Slow Pace Until Little Doubled Up

Level 7: 200,000-400,000, 50,000 ante

By: Tony Berns Heads-up action has been slow. With the big names exiting the tournament, many audience members have fled as well from the Event Center here at Mirage. Still, the two young guns go at each other like they've been around the felt for years. Slow and patient they've played, taking turns taking down pots. Until... Little pushed all-in with his 55 and was called by Carroll's A8. When Little's small pair made a boat on the river as the third ten fell, he doubled up and took the chip lead vs Carroll. Since taking the lead, Little has applied pressure stealing the blinds more regularly.

Back and Forth

Level 7: 200,000-400,000, 50,000 ante

Since heads-up play started neither player has given an inch. Here are the numbers of pots won for each player so far: Jonathan Little - 19 Cory Carroll - 17

Hand #136 - Cory Carroll

Level 7: 200,000-400,000, 50,000 ante

Jonathan Little has the button, and he folds.

Hand #135 - Jonathan Little

Level 7: 200,000-400,000, 50,000 ante

Cory Carroll has the button, he limps for 160,000, Little moves all in, and Carroll folds. Little takes the pot.

Hand #134 - Jonathan Little

Level 7: 200,000-400,000, 50,000 ante

Jonathan Little has the button, he raises to 400,000, and Carroll folds.