Live Tournament Updates
Festa al Lago Event Recap
Level 25: 80,000-160,000, 15,000 ante
What was looking like a potential marathon was suddenly over. With four players left, the short stacked Chris Lovelace got eliminated, and in less than half an hour, Joe Pelton and Steve Wong followed. Twenty-three year old Andreas Walnum is the 2006 Festa al Lago champion. He entered day four in eighteenth place of eighteen after barely surviving a long hard day three. He doubled, then doubled, then doubled again, bullying the table by the time we were down to seven. The chips he accumulated paved the way towards his victory. Walnum entered the day in third place, but quickly took the lead when he doubled through Pelton. After that, there was no looking back, and he took the tournament after just two hands of heads-up play. He takes home $1,090,000. This has been a week of great stories: Walnum, Pelton’s try for two in a row, Brandi Hawbaker’s unlikely triumph and a young, nearly faceless final table that left the pros lined up for seats in the cash games. Thanks for following along with us; it’s been a fun ride. We’ll see you a week from now when the WPT makes its way to Niagara Falls, Canada. Have a good week, and may all your pots be monsters.
Sorted In: Tournaments, Bellagio, Festa al Lago, Season V08:43 PM, 10/20/06
An Interview With Andreas
Level 25: 80,000-160,000, 15,000 ante
Andreas Fresh off his victory, plagued by the press, I got a few questions in with our newest WPT Champion Adreas Walnum: Gary: How does it feel to be a millionaire? Andreas: I don’t know yet…I’ll get the feeling later. No Idea. My heads just spinning right now Gary: I noticed you’ve only had one live tournament cash up until now. How many live tourneys have you played? Andreas: Like five. I play in lots of cash games. I play mostly online. Gary: How were your nerves at the final table? Andreas: I was nervous at first, but it got better when I got used to the lights Gary: Were you here for the money or the competition? Andreas: Both, but obviously the money is most important. Gary: What were you planning on doing over the next few years before this? Andreas: The same thing; play poker Gary: At any point during your short-stacked day three, were you ready to give up? Andreas: Never give up, but it looked pretty bad at one point. I had a good feeling though, like it was meant to be or something.
Sorted In: Tournaments, Bellagio, Festa al Lago, Season V08:38 PM, 10/20/06
Steve Wong Interview
Level 25: 80,000-160,000, 15,000 ante
Considering he’d just lost the finals, Steve Wong was in great spirits when I sat down with him for a few quick questions: Gary: How did it feel when you saw the Pelton hand to start the day? Steve: I felt good! Especially when the flop came down. I felt super. Gary: Did you enter the final looking to try to double up as soon as possible? Steve: I was looking for a hand to play and I flopped top pair. He flopped top set….pretty sick, but that’s destiny Gary: How are you feeling right now? Steve: I’m still ok. Half a million feels good. Half as good as a million. Gary: Were you here for the competition or the money? Steve: More for the competition, but the whole Festa was great. I won $200,000 at the 5,000 no limit, so it’s been a great time. Gary: You tend to talk a lot at the table. Is that for your own comfort or is it tactical? Steve: If I don’t talk, nobody talks and it’s like a funeral. People at home need something to see, right? Gary: Anyone you want to give a shout out to? Steve: To all my supporters and fans back at home. Gary: How are you going to spend the money? Steve: Haven’t thought about it yet. I’ll find 500,000 ways.
Sorted In: Tournaments, Bellagio, Festa al Lago, Season V08:36 PM, 10/20/06
FESTA-ING AT THE BELLAGIO
Level 25: 80,000-160,000, 15,000 ante
We came, we saw, we festa-ed. After over 400 entrants, Andreas Walnum from Norway walked away the winner. Andreas was the short-stack entering day four. Goes to show all of you (and me) that just because you're a short-stacked doesn't mean you're done for. Congratulations to Andreas! Make sure you check out his rather stunned immediately reaction to his victory. We have two stunning fans of the day, testing their poker knowledge, answering difficult questions like, "How many jack of clubs are in a deck of cards." You'll definitely want to watch this one -- trust me. WPT host Sabina Gadecki and I enjoy the Bellagio fountain show. This is her first trip to the hotel and her reaction to the beautiful spectacle was heartfelt. Mine might have been a little sarcastic, but what else would you expect from a donkey such as myself. We're out of here tomorrow morning, but in a few short days we'll be coming to you live once again -- this time from Niagara Falls. Will the Canadian Mounties allow Danger Dave across the border? We'll have to just wait and see. -- Danger
Sorted In: Tournaments, Bellagio, Festa al Lago, Season V08:35 PM, 10/20/06
Hand 76 - Steve Wong Eliminated in 2nd Place and Andreas Walnum crowned the 2006 Festa al Lago Champion!
Level 25: 80,000-160,000, 15,000 ante
Wong calls from the small blind.
Walnum raises it 175k. Wong calls.
Flop comes 2
J
K
Walnum bets 200k. Wong calls.
The turn is the 8
Walnum checks and Wong bets 400k.
Walnum makes it 800k. Wong calls.
The river is the 5
Walnum moves all-in. Wong calls.
Walnum shows 22. Wong shows K4.
Walnum's set of deuces wins him the Festa al Lago Championship! He will take home $1,090,025 in championship prize money.
Wong will take home $542,700 in second place prize money.
08:08 PM, 10/20/06
Hand 75
Level 25: 80,000-160,000, 15,000 ante
Walnum calls and Wong checks. The flop comes K-8-3 Walnum bets 75k and Wong folds. Walnum wins the pot.
Sorted In: Tournaments, Bellagio, Festa al Lago, Season V08:04 PM, 10/20/06
Pelton's Run Ends
Level 25: 80,000-160,000, 15,000 ante
Andreas Walnum just did what no one else seemed capable of doing: He knocked out Joe Pelton. This ends a hell of a run for Pelton. His win at the Bicycle Casino's Legends of Poker was surprising, but it showed a lot of patience and promise. After skipping our stop in Atlantic City, Joe came here with the confidence of success and turned it into the chip lead here. He entered the final table looking very, very strong. Unfortunately it wasn't his day. By his own admission, he didn't play as well today as he'd have liked. Still, third place at a WPT ain't too shabby. He's taking home $292,220 for his trouble.
Sorted In: Tournaments, Bellagio, Festa al Lago, Season V07:52 PM, 10/20/06
Hand 74 - Joseph Pelton Eliminated in 3rd Place
Level 25: 80,000-160,000, 15,000 ante
The flop comes K87 and Walnum bets 350k, Pelton moves all-in and Walnum calls.
Pelton: J9
Walnum: K
Q
The turn and river cards are the 3A and Pelton is eliminated in 3rd place.
Pelton will take home $292,220 in prize money.
07:47 PM, 10/20/06
Hand 73
Level 25: 80,000-160,000, 15,000 ante
Walnum opens for 150k and everyone folds.
Sorted In: Tournaments, Bellagio, Festa al Lago, Season V07:42 PM, 10/20/06
Hand 72 - Chris Loveland eliminated in 4th place
Level 25: 80,000-160,000, 15,000 ante
Loveland opens for 150k. Walnum makes it 600k. Loveland moves all-in. Walnum calls.
Loveland has 77
Walnum has AK
The cards come 99A88
Chris Loveland is eliminated in 4th place earning $187,745.
07:40 PM, 10/20/06
