Live Tournament Updates
Event Recap
Level 5: 150,000-300,000, 30,000 ante
They’re going to be talking about this one for a long, long time. In a shocking turn of events, John Hennigan has won his first World Poker Tour in what may be the most amazing final hand in WPT history. Amateur Chuck Kelley who’d already made a similar misplay a day earlier, flipped over his hole cards after John Hennigan called his bet on the turn. When the board made trip threes, giving Chuck a full house and forcing his call when Hennigan moved all-in. Hennigan had hit the ace on the turn and the tournament was his. For Hennigan, it was the first time he’d made a final table since the first World Poker Tour and his first win. Considered by many one of the best poker players in the world, it was the biggest victory of his career, both in terms of winnings and the field he defeated. It’s great to have one of our stars back in the spotlight. Next, the World Poker Tour makes its way to the Commerce Casino in mid-February. Until then, we’ll keep you busy here on www.worldpokertour.com with fresh daily content starting later this week. Thanks as usual to everyone who followed the action along with us, I hope it was as exciting for you as it was for the Live Updates Team. Now, I’m going to party and then I’m going to sleep. May your cards be live and your pots be monsters.
Sorted In: Tournaments, Borgata, Borgata Poker Classic, Season V07:16 PM, 01/30/07
Chuck Kelley Interview
Level 5: 150,000-300,000, 30,000 ante
Gary: Chuck I have to ask about this. What happened to make you flip your cards up for a second time? Chuck: I was so excited. I had 2 pair, I had a seven in my hand for two pair...I thought I had him beat and when that turn card came I flipped my hand over. It was a mistake, I flipped my hand over too early. Next time I don’t think I’ll do that. When you’re stacking your chips, the lights are on and the announcers are doing their thing, there’s a lot of excitement. All in all though, I thought I played some good poker. Gary: You’ve been working towards a poker breakthrough for some time. How does this feel? Chuck: This feels very good. I fell a little short. I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t win…I felt coming into the tournament that I would, but playing with these guys taught me a lot. Gary: Does the ending diminish the accomplishment at all? Chuck: No, I don’t think so. I’m really proud to have been here. Gary: You told me yesterday that this is like a satellite to you. Can you explain what you meant? Chuck: I play some pretty heavy blackjack, up to $10,000 a hand around the world. It’s a volatile game, so you learn to stomach the ups and downs and roll with the punches. I’m used to seeing the money out there, so the big bets don’t intimidate me much. Gary: What was your strategy coming in to today? Chuck: Today, I misplayed the first hand with Q-J and John Hennigan took 600,000 some chips from me. Then I wanted to play tight and play premium hands. I played solid poker. Then, when I got some chips back, I played a little more aggressive, stole some blinds and made some moves. Then, when we got to four, I really wanted to make the final two, so I wanted to let the other players knock one another out. I learned from past experience. Gary: What was your strategy heading into the finals? Chuck: Heads up was going to be a battle. Just try to play solid hands. Every hand I played was a winning, premium hand. I didn’t want to make any moves. I was trying to bring the goods to the table. Laid down a couple of good hands I didn’t think would win. We didn’t do too much stealing. Real, pure, hard-nosed poker. Gary: You strike me as a person who has found success in many endeavors. Does this satisfy you? What’s next? Chuck: No, not close, I think I can win a main event. Even in the WSOP, so I’ll keep going. Gary: Will we be seeing you regularly on WPTs now? Chuck: Yes you will. I’ll hold back my winnings for entry fees. I want to play this guy (pointing to Mike Sexton) Gary: Anyone you’d like to give a shout out to? Chuck: Yes, my family, mom dad and sisters, their families and my buddies back in Virginia and South Carolina.
Sorted In: Tournaments, Borgata, Borgata Poker Classic, Season V07:08 PM, 01/30/07
John Hennigan Interview
Level 5: 150,000-300,000, 30,000 ante
Gary: Have you ever seen anything like that last hand? John: No, that was pretty weird. Obviously, when he turned his hand over it was a lot of stress off me. Once the three came on the end, I was pretty confident he would call. Looked like he was pretty much forced to call. Everything went my way in the tournament. I was very lucky to win Gary: You’re considered by many to be amongst the best players in the world, but you’ve avoided the poker spotlight. Would you explain why that is? John: I don’t know about avoid it, but I’m not dying to be in it. Gary: Where does this rank amongst your poker accomplishments? John: I don’t know. It’s probably the biggest. It’s the biggest field I’ve ever beaten. It’s a couple hundred more people and that’s a huge difference. It’s great to win a marathon, it’ll build my confidence for the future, and it’s obviously the most I’ve ever won. Gary: Throughout the tournament, you’ve taken measures to protect your privacy. Do you give up? John: It just kind of feels like I don’t want to say ‘hey, look at me, I’m a poker player’ It’s nice poker’s become what it is but I mean, I’m just not into showing off. Gary: What was your strategy coming into the day? John: I was kind of thinking about playing fast, then thinking about patience, but ultimately I just played. You kind of have to feed off the other players and make your decisions from there. I just tried to wait for good situations in big pots. Gary: Does this mean there’s any chance we’re going to see you a little more often on tour? John: I’ve been on the WPT, I just haven’t been winning! I don’t follow it around much, but you’ll see me. Gary: Your reputation is primarily as a cash game player. Does this change that at all? John: I don’t know. I never saw myself as a specialist. I’ve played a lot of poker and tournaments are just another way to play. I wouldn’t spend a little more time on tournaments. They’re exciting and brutal. I’ve been very fortunate in that when I go far I seem to go really far.
Sorted In: Tournaments, Borgata, Borgata Poker Classic, Season V07:03 PM, 01/30/07
Hand 116 - John Hennigan wins Borgata Poker Classic!
Level 5: 150,000-300,000, 30,000 ante
Chuck Kelley raises to T500,000 on the button. John Hennigan calls.
Flop comes 7
3
3
Hennigan checks. Kelley bets T700,000. Hennigan calls.
Turn is the A
Hennigan checks. Kelley bets T800,000. Hennigan calls. Then all of a sudden, Kelley flips over his cards prematurely! He shows Q7!
The river is the 3
Hennigan moves all-in. Kelley calls, thinking his full house is good. Hennigan nods his head and shows his winning A
5. Just like that, Hennigan takes the pot with a bigger full house and wins the Borgata Poker Classic!
John Kelley finishes second and earns $849,082. John Hennigan will receive $1,606,223 for 1st!
Pictures and recaps to come... stay tuned!
06:31 PM, 01/30/07
Oh my god!
Level 5: 150,000-300,000, 30,000 ante
What a final hand! Chuck Kelley made the mistake yesterday of showing his hand after David Matthew called him on fourth street. Now he's done it again. This time though, Hennigan stayed incredibly still, and when the river came he went all-in, knowing full well what Chuck had. Chuck's call seems awful in light of that, but I guess he thought Hennigan was trying to make a play on him. Seems like a classic case of a player outthinking himself. What a finish. They're going to be talking about this one for a while.
Sorted In: Tournaments, Borgata, Borgata Poker Classic, Season V06:26 PM, 01/30/07
Hand 115
Level 5: 150,000-300,000, 30,000 ante
Chuck Kelley bets T600,000 and John Hennigan folds.
Sorted In: Charles Kelley, John Hennigan, Tournaments, Borgata, Borgata Poker Classic, Season V06:21 PM, 01/30/07
Hand 114
Level 5: 150,000-300,000, 30,000 ante
Chuck Kelley on the button raises to T500,000 and John Hennigan folds.
Sorted In: Charles Kelley, John Hennigan, Tournaments, Borgata, Borgata Poker Classic, Season V06:20 PM, 01/30/07
Hand 113
Level 5: 150,000-300,000, 30,000 ante
Chuck Kelley gets a walk.
Sorted In: Charles Kelley, Tournaments, Borgata, Borgata Poker Classic, Season V06:18 PM, 01/30/07
Hand 112
Level 5: 150,000-300,000, 30,000 ante
The flop comes J74 and Chuck Kelley bets. John Hennigan folds.
06:18 PM, 01/30/07
Blinds are up! Level Four
Level 5: 150,000-300,000, 30,000 ante
Blinds are T100,000 and T200,000 with T20,000 Antes.
Sorted In: Tournaments, Borgata, Borgata Poker Classic, Season V06:17 PM, 01/30/07
