Carlos Mortensen Proves Himself To Be Greatest WPT Player in History

Level 25: 30,000-60,000, 5,000 ante

By BJ Nemeth


Carlos Mortensen has one of the most impressive resumes in poker -- he has more than $9 million in tournament earnings, and is the only player in history to win both the WSOP Main Event and the WPT World Championship.

Yet when poker's Hall of Fame nomination process was opened up to fans and the media last year, Mortensen's name was conspicuously absent from the entire process -- 41 players received multiple nominations, including many who are younger and/or less accomplished than Mortensen.

It'll be a lot tougher for Hall of Fame voters to overlook Mortensen's name next year.

On Wednesday night, Carlos Mortensen overcame a tough final table at the Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, to win the Hollywood Poker Open and the third WPT title of his career. Mortensen ties Gus Hansen as the only players with three WPT titles, and passes Daniel Negreanu to lead the WPT's all-time money list with more than $5.75 million in earnings. Combined, these two facts make it pretty clear that Carlos Mortensen is the most successful player in World Poker Tour history.


THE FINAL TABLE ACTION

Mortensen entered the WPT final table as the chipleader, but he had to get through a tough lineup that consisted of three-time WPT final tablist Chris Bell and four young online pros:

1. Carlos Mortensen - 1,127,000 (56 bb)
2. Frank Calo - 1,075,000 (53 bb)
3. Mike Mustafa - 990,000 (49 bb)
4. Ravi Raghavan - 488,000 (24 bb)
5. Chris Bell - 372,000 (18 bb)
6. Jerry Payne - 268,000 (13 bb)

None of the three players with the short stacks (Payne, Bell, and Raghavan) were able to fight their way out of the cellar. In Hand #18, Jerry Payne moved all in with Q10, but lost to Mustafa's AK. In Hand #35, Ravi Raghavan moved all in with 55 and lost to Calo's KK. In Hand #37, Chris Bell moved all in with A9, but lost to Mortensen's 44.

Each of the short stacks was eliminated by a different player with a big stack, and after Bell was eliminated, the chip counts were effectively even:

1. Carlos Mortensen - 1,458,000 (60 bb)
2. Frank Calo - 1,457,000 (60 bb)
3. Mike Mustafa - 1,405,000 (58 bb)

Mortensen would drop as low as 853,000, becoming the short stack himself, before battling back. In Hand #67, Mortensen and Frank Calo got it all in after a flop of 542 -- Mortensen had 33 for a pair and a straight draw, while Calo had 54 for top two pair. The turn was a blank, but the 3 on the river gave Mortensen a set of threes to win the pot and eliminate Calo. Mortensen was back in the chip lead, if only by a small margin.

Carlos Mortensen - 2,261,000 (75 bb)
Mike Mustafa - 2,059,000 (68 bb)

In the first hand of heads-up play (Hand #68), Mortensen won a big pot on his way to a 3-to-1 chip lead. But Mike Mustafa battled back, claiming the chip lead in Hand #96. Mustafa wasn't able to distance himself from Mortensen, and their chip stacks were nearly even when they played Hand #131.

Both players limped to see a flop of 1096, and Mortensen check-raised a bet from Mustafa. Mustafa thought for a bit before moving all in, and Mortensen insta-called with 87 for a flopped ten-high straight. Mustafa showed 109 for two pair. The straight held up, and Mortensen won the pot to cripple Mustafa down to just three big blinds.

Mustafa managed to double up twice, but his luck ran out in Hand #138 when his 66 lost a preflop race to Mortensen's K10 on a board of J103J5 -- Mortensen won the pot (and the tournament) with a king-high club flush.

Here's a look at the payouts for the six final tablists:

1st Place: Carlos Mortensen - $393,820
2nd Place: Mike Mustafa - $223,623
3rd Place: Frank Calo - $167,717
4th Place: Chris Bell - $124,966
5th Place: Ravi Raghavan - $105,234
6th Place: Jerry Payne - $88,791


CARLOS MORTENSEN'S PLACE IN POKER HISTORY

With this victory, Carlos Mortensen becomes the winningest player in World Poker Tour history, measured both by number of victories (three, tied with Gus Hansen) and money earned ($5,754,308). In addition to his three WPT titles, Mortensen has two bracelets and more than $9.6 million in live tournament earnings, enough to put him in 12th place on the all-time money list.

No other player has won the championship events on two different major tours -- Mortensen won the 2001 WSOP Main Event (worth $1,500,000) and the 2007 WPT World Championship (worth $3,970,415). Mortensen is also one of only three players to win $1 million or more three times (the other two are Phil Ivey and Dan Harrington).

Mortensen wasn't on the ballot for last year's Hall of Fame, but there's a good chance that he'll be listed this year. He is also currently among the Top 50 players receiving votes for the WSOP Tournament of Champions in the fan-voted all-star format. (This latest victory should definitely increase the number of votes cast for Mortensen.)

While Mortensen's place in poker history is secure, it should be noted that he is only 37 years old, and his career is far from over. Now that he finds himself tied for second place in the WPT Player of the Year race, Mortensen has set that as his next goal. If he maintains his current hot streak, then it would be tough to bet against him.

Carlos Mortensen Wins the 2010 Hollywood Poker Open

Level 25: 30,000-60,000, 5,000 ante

Hand #138: Carlos Mortensen Makes WPT History With His 3rd Title

Level 25: 30,000-60,000, 5,000 ante

Mortensen raises to 730,000, and Mustafa calls all in with 66. Mortensen shows K10, and it's a race situation.

The flop comes J103, and Mortensen flops a pair of tens with a club flush draw. The turn card is the J, and Mustafa needs a six on the river (for a full house), to stay alive.

The river card is -- the 5.

Carlos Mortensen wins the pot -- and the his third WPT title -- with a king-high club flush.

Mike Mustafa finishes as the runner-up, earning $223,623 for second place.

Carlos Mortensen wins the WPT Hollywood Poker Open, earning $393,820, a WPT bracelet, and that includes his entry into the $25,500 WPT World Championship next month at Bellagio in Las Vegas.

1st Place: Carlos Mortensen - $393,820
2nd Place: Mike Mustafa - $223,623
3rd Place: Frank Calo - $167,717
4th Place: Chris Bell - $124,966
5th Place: Ravi Raghavan - $105,234
6th Place: Jerry Payne - $88,791

Hand #137: Carlos Mortensen

Level 25: 30,000-60,000, 5,000 ante

Mustafa folds, giving Mortensen a walk.

Mike Mustafa - 720,000
Carlos Mortensen - 3,600,000

Mustafa says, "Carlos, just give me all the blue chips back, and that'll make it interesting again."

Mortensen says, "That's what I'm doing."

Hand #136: Mike Mustafa

Level 25: 30,000-60,000, 5,000 ante

Mortensen folds, giving Mustafa a walk.

Mike Mustafa - 755,000
Carlos Mortensen - 3,565,000

Hand #135: Mike Mustafa Doubles Through Carlos Mortensen

Level 25: 30,000-60,000, 5,000 ante

Mustafa moves all in for 355,000, and Mortensen calls with QJ. Mustafa shows 97, and he'll need to improve to stay alive.

The board comes 76394, and Mustafa wins the pot with two pair, nines and sevens, to double up in chips.

Mike Mustafa - 720,000
Carlos Mortensen - 3,600,000

Hand #134: Carlos Mortensen

Level 25: 30,000-60,000, 5,000 ante

Mortensen moves all in, and Mustafa folds 9-2 face up, calling it the "Montana Banana." Mustafa says, "That's the only hand I won't call you with."

Mike Mustafa - 360,000
Carlos Mortensen - 3,960,000

Hand #133: Mike Mustafa

Level 25: 30,000-60,000, 5,000 ante

Mustafa moves all in for 355,000, and Mortensen folds. Mustafa takes the pot.

Mike Mustafa - 425,000
Carlos Mortensen - 3,895,000

Hand #132: Mike Mustafa Doubles Through Carlos Mortensen

Level 25: 30,000-60,000, 5,000 ante

Mortensen moves all in, and Mustafa calls with A6. Mortensen shows Q2.

The board comes K9546, and Mustafa wins the pot with a pair of sixes to double up in chips.

Mike Mustafa - 360,000
Carlos Mortensen - 3,960,000

10-Minute Break

Level 25: 30,000-60,000, 5,000 ante

Even though the tournament just took a dramatic turn with Mortensen doubling through and crippling Mustafa, the WPT crew needs to take a 10-minute break to swap new tapes into the cameras.

Here are the official chip counts from the table:

Mike Mustafa  -  180,000 (3 bb)
Carlos Mortensen  -  4,140,000 (69 bb)

3rd Place:  Frank Calo - $167,717
4th Place:  Chris Bell - $124,966
5th Place:  Ravi Raghavan - $105,234
6th Place:  Jerry Payne - $88,791