Event Recap

Level 8: 200,000-400,000, 50,000 ante

Every WPT victory is sweet to behold. Every one of them completes a story with the happiest of endings, and I’m the lucky man who gets to interview the champion when all is said and done. Still, some victories are sweeter than others, and in my time on the WPT, tonight’s ending may have been the sweetest of them all. JC Tran has done everything but win. He goes to every tournament, goes deep more often than anyone else and four times had made our final tables without coming away with the win. Within the last three months, he reached the final table twice; the last time, he was just a hand away from the win. Tonight, he finally achieved the goal that had driven him for so long. Tran dominated the final table, finally winning in the end against twenty-one year old JC Alvarado. The two JC’s outlasted David “The Dragon” Pham after a long three-way battle that followed three eliminations in our first twelve hands. Tomorrow, the live updates team and most of our final table finishers board flights to Hartford, from which we’ll head to the Foxwoods Resort-Casino for the Foxwoods Poker Classic. On Friday, we’ll start our coverage of that event at noon. We’ll let you know how the flight went then. For JC, the trip home will be a restful one. Thanks for following.

CHAMPIONS INTERVIEW: JC TRAN

Level 8: 200,000-400,000, 50,000 ante

CHAMPION INTERVIEW: JC TRAN Gary: How are you feeling right now? JC: Good man, I feel better than LA, I’ll tell you that Gary: You’ve been waiting for this for a long time. Is it what you expected? JC: I expected it sooner or later. Glad it happened sooner than later. Gary: I’ve asked you this before: Are you the best tournament Hold’em Player in the world? JC: No. I’m not the best. I’m near the top of the list, but I still need to win more tournaments to be in the conversation. Gary: Are you satisfied, or hungry for more? JC: I’m very satisfied, but playing the WPT is always a good challenge, so I’ll be back for more Gary: You just pulled into the lead for WPT Player of the Year. How big a deal is that to you? JC: It’s a great feeling, because if I do end up winning it, I’ll be in a club with Daniel, and Erick and Gavin etc…it’s a great list to be a part of., Gary: Mike Sexton called you “An asset to the poker industry, a credit to your profession.” What does that mean to you? JC: I was honored to hear that from him. I guess it means that I’m the type of player who belongs here. I guess it makes it looks a little better when the same faces are here over and over, proving this is a game of skill. Gary: Other than the win, what was the biggest moment of the tournament for you? JC: There several big situations…I got lucky three different times with my money behind and caught up…against Ravi and Mark Seif. Gary: When Alvarado counterfeited you heads up, what went through your head? JC: I still felt good. Felt really good. I’m probably a better heads up player, so if I could stick to winning small pots I’d probably keep the lead. Fortunately, those tens held up. Gary: What are you going to do with the money? JC: Put it in the bank, play more tournaments Gary: How are you going to celebrate tonight? JC: I don’t know. Whatever my friends want to do, I’m in for it….get drunk. Gary: Am I invited? JC: Gary, you’re always invited man. I don’t need to win for that. Gary: Any last thoughts for the people out there? JC: I’ll be back. This is just the beginning.

RUNNER-UP INTERVIEW: JC ALVARADO

Level 8: 200,000-400,000, 50,000 ante

Gary: How are you feeling right now? JC: I have mixed feelings. I’m not feeling great. I lost a two-man tournament. Gary: You just made a WPT final at twenty-one. Did you ever think you’d get this far? JC: Yeah. I was sure I would sometime…didn’t know when, but I thought it would be some time this year. Gary: What was the biggest moment of the tournament for you? JC: Probably putting all of my chips in with Q-3 and getting the other guy to fold back on day 1. Gary: Is anyone else close to being Mexico’s greatest poker player? JC: If I knew of another Mexican player, I could answer that question. Gary: You weren’t happy when I spoke to you earlier. Did you change anything at that point? JC: I mean, I didn’t..I wish I could have, but the things I needed to change were good spots…situational luck. After I got my chips in, I got lucky though, so I guess that’s how poker works. Gary: How will you spend the money? JC: I am going to spend it gambling. A little drinking too. And maybe a range rover Gary: How will you celebrate? JC: Drink and eat with whoever is still on the rail. Gary: Anyone you want to give a shout out to? JC: All my friends, and my mom. Gary: Any last thoughts for the poker players following along out there on the Internet? JC: I hope this looks good on TV. I’ll probably look like Danny Nguyen or something. I didn’t suck out on the first three days though!

Tran Did It!

Level 8: 200,000-400,000, 50,000 ante

JC Tran, a poker tournament pro, has turned his numerous final table experiences during this fifth season of the World Poker Tour into a first place title! During a conversation this afternoon with JC, he noted that the only thing that mattered was the title. He had an incredible level of drive accompanying him today, something that could be seen on his face during the final table as well… and it paid off. JC has won a coveted WPT title, and he can’t stop smiling. As for Juan Carlos Alvarado, a second place finish is more than admirable, and he played a good game with admittedly bad cards to get to heads-up action. During the final toast, his incredible attitude showed through when he said, “I have a tremendous amount of respect for JC. He deserves this.” With that, JC accepted the title and is now sitting for photos that will be in the record books forever. This only goes to show what motivation and dedication to one’s craft can do to catapult a person to the top. His hard work is a testament to how much he loves this game, and it should be an inspiration to all who share that passion for poker. A heartfelt handshake goes out to Juan Carlos Alvarado for his performance here. And a huge congratulations to JC Tran – the 2007 WPT World Poker Challenge champion!

Video Blog: JC TRAN WINS!

Level 8: 200,000-400,000, 50,000 ante

Hand 65 - JC Tran Wins The World Poker Challenge

Level 8: 200,000-400,000, 50,000 ante

Juan Carlos Alvarado calls the big blind and JC Tran raises to T150,000. Alvarado moves all-in and JC makes the call. Alvarado shows A6 while Tran shows 1010. The board comes K998J and JC TRAN WINS!!! Juan Carlos Alvarado finishes as the runner-up collecting $366,798. After making three final tables this year he finally takes one down winning $683,473. A big congratulations to one of the best tournament players in game today.

Hand 64

Level 8: 200,000-400,000, 50,000 ante

Both players limp in. Flop comes A52 Alvarado checks. JC bets T120,000 and Alvarado calls. Turn is the Q Both players check. River is the Q. Both players check. Juan Carlos shows a two and wins the pot.

Hand 63

Level 8: 200,000-400,000, 50,000 ante

JC Tran gets a walk.

Hand 62

Level 8: 200,000-400,000, 50,000 ante

JC Tran on the button, raises to T120,000 and Alvarado folds.

David "Dragon" Pham - 3rd Place Finisher

Level 8: 200,000-400,000, 50,000 ante

The chip leader coming into today’s action – David Pham – has been eliminated in 3rd place tonight. Playing strong to get here, he may not have suspected the aggressive actions by his opponents. In the end, he did his best but couldn’t get past Tran and Alvarado – both players with incredible drive. Pham has a long history with poker and an impressive resume – so much so that Mike Sexton picked him to win tonight’s WPT title. And Pham came in feeling good. “I feel very strong and confident,” he said. “Usually, with my strategy and the chip lead, I play very well.” No one will argue that, And no matter the disappointment, Pham shook the hands of his opponents, walked immediately to his wife, and smiled to the audience and cameras. Despite his image at the tables as “The Dragon”, he is truly a class act. Congratulations, David, on a great game tonight!