Tournament Details

221 poker players from across the globe embarked on the WPT's PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. With a $1,600,000 prize pool up for grabs, this floating tourney drew some of the most recognizable pros in the world. Even so, the final felt featured faces familiar to few, following a trend which sees a regular number of satellite qualifiers making it to the big dance in tournament after tournament.

After five days of grueling competition, the final six were set: In seat 1, John D'Agostino, a 21 year old pro out of tiny Seymour, CT, the short stack with $54,000. In seat 2, the Dangerous Dane, two time WPT champion, Gus Hansen, with $317,000. In seat 3, a satellite-qualifier, Dutch physics student Remco Schrijvers, with $116,000. In seat 4, WPT Season 2 Foxwoods champ, chip leader Hoyt "Nightmare" Corkins, with $611,000. In seat 5, another satellite qualifier, executive from Virginia Beach, VA, Michael Benedetto, with $166,000. In seat 6, well-respected pro and high-stakes cash game player, Daniel Negreanu, with $408,000.

It didn't take long for the newcomers to get their official welcome to the WPT final table. Hansen was happy to host, finding Ah-Qc on the third hand, good for a 3-times-the-blind bump of $19,000. The young Dutchman, Remco, perhaps having read Hansen's press clippings, went over the top all-in, with Ad-Jh. His dismay was evident when both flipped up their hands. Neither his mood nor his hand improved as he watched the board go As-9s-2c-3c-4s, sending him out first, in 6th place, with a payout of $74,590.

Hansen next lent a helping hand to D'Agostino, raising $12,000 on Qc-9s. He found a caller in Negreanu, small blind with Ad-Th, and then ran into D'Agostino, the big blind, with pocket J's. D'Agostino went over the top all-in, a pretty good play with his dwindling stack. It cost Gus and Daniel only another $41,000 to call, and both did. When the flop came Qs-6s-2d, Gus put an additional $41,000 on his top pair into the side pot, and Negreanu reluctantly mucked. He wished he hadn't, as the turn came Ah. The river came 8d, and Hansen had escorted out the next rookie, sending Dags out in 5th, with a nifty $99,450 return on his $73 satellite buy-in.

Benedetto raised his hand next, putting in $20,000 on 8h-7h, and found himself heads up against Hansen, who called with Qc-Jh. The flop came bingo for Benedetto, Jc-Td-9c making his straight. Gus walked right into him, raising $26,000. Benedetto responded by going all-in for $144,000. Hansen gambled on his open-ended straight draw, and called. The turn turned the tables, as Kh came, making the nut straight for Gus. The river came Ks, sending Benedetto to the rail in 4th place, with $132,000, and Hansen had a hat-trick, sending the three satellite qualifiers out in three consecutive hands!

Now down to three wily, deceptive veterans, play went for quite a while before the next critical hand. Hansen, 2nd in chips with $510,000, and Negreanu, last in chips with $381,000, found themselves head to head. Hansen, with 6h-5d, made it $31,000 to go, and Negreanu called with Kd-Qs. The flop came 9-6-4 rainbow, giving Gus middle pair. Hansen raised $30,000, and Negreanu called. Jd at the turn helped no one, and it went check-check to the river, which came 4c. Negreanu, bluffing at the pot, raised $50,000. Hansen, seemingly calculating it all, made an uncanny call, and took it down with a pair of 6's and a 5 kicker. This set the stage for what happened next...

Daniel, with Qc-9c, made it $42,000 to go, and Hoyt called with Kc-9s. Flop came 8-7-6 yard-sale, giving both straight draws. Hoyt pushed Daniel to the limit with a $100,000 raise, and Negreanu was practically forced all-in for an extra $19,000, which Hoyt quickly called. When turn and river came 3s, 7h, Negreanu was out in 3rd place, earning $192,270 for his troubles.

Now down to two prior WPT winners, play was fierce and relentless. Early on, Hoyt gained the edge, milking Gus on showdowns, taking a formidable lead of $1,300,000 to $350,000. He had the Dane on the ropes. Corkins, on the button with Ac-9c, raised $307,000, and Gus, with Td-9d, called. Flop came Qs-9s-3s, and Hoyt was tasting the victory, until Gus sucked out with a Tc on the turn! A 2c on the river, and Gus was right back in the contest.

After a few hands where Hoyt appeared to be on tilt, Gus found the kind of hand only he can love, 7-3 offsuit. Hoyt, with 9d-4d on the button, limped, as did Gus. Flop came Kc-7s-5d. Gus raised a smallish $30,000 on his middle pair, and Hoyt, with no hand and no draw, called. A 3d at the turn gave Gus two pairs, and baiting the trap, he checked. Hoyt walked right into it, raising $100,000. Gus pushed all-in. Hoyt gambled, and called, on his flush / belly-buster draw. When the turn came 3s, it was only fitting that it made 3's full of 7s for Hansen, making him the first 3 time winner on the WPT. Hoyt went home in 2nd with $290,065, and Hansen, the winningest player in the history of the WPT, took the title, and $455,780.

This tournament is included in the World Poker Tour Season Two DVD Collection. Special features include commentary by Phil "The Unabomber" Laak, Antonio Esfandiari, Daniel Negreanu and Erik Lindgren.