Tournament Details

The mad geniuses in the WPT laboratories cooked up yet another way to shuffle up and deal. This time the formula proved a particularly delicious treat. The theory was: take 6 poker greats, authors all, and pit them against each other in a fight to the finish No Limit Hold'Em shootout. See who comes out the #1 bestseller, and who is tossed into the rubbish bin. World Poker Tour's own resident poker author and oft-imitated voice, Mike Sexton, took a seat himself at the felt alongside some of the heavy-weights of poker writing and playing.

In Seat 1, T. J. Cloutier, (Championship No-Limit & Pot Limit Hold'Em) widely regarded as one of the greatest tournament poker players alive. In Seat 2, David Sklansky, (The Theory of Poker) the most respected poker analyst, and a walking odds calculator. In Seat 3, Phil Hellmuth, Jr., (Play Poker Like the Pros) the bad boy of poker and, with nine World Series bracelets, one of its most successful. In Seat 4, Mike Sexton (Shuffle Up and Deal). In Seat 5, Mike Caro, (Caro's Book of Tells) the original "mad genius" of poker, known for his remarkable ability to see right through the back of other players cards. In Seat 6, the titan of poker literature, the great road gambler and ambassador for the game, Doyle "Texas Dolly" Brunson (Super System, A Course in Power Poker).

Right from the start, Mike Sexton got picked on and picked apart, mostly by Phil Hellmuth. Before the night really even got started, he found himself on the short stack after he let a free card come off and Hellmuth made his flush on the river. Next hand, he found 6s-6c, and after Phil raised with As-4d, Mike pushed in his remaining 63,000. Phil called, and on seeing Phil's holdings Mike exclaimed "finally, I'm the favorite." But T.J. proved prophetic when he countered "...against normal people." Sure enough, the flop came Ad-4h-3, giving Phil top two pair, and when the board went Jc, 2h, Mike Sexton was sent back to the commentator's booth with a 6th place finish.

After a lot of chip chatter and some distinct sand-bagging by the remaining five, play started to open up. Doyle, on the button with Kc-Qc, brought it in for a raise of 50,000, and T.J., feeling that his old road gamblin buddy was making a move, played back at him with Ah-5d, to the tune of 70,000 more. Doyle barely batted an eye before going all-in right back over the top of him, and T.J., pot-logged now, had no choice but to call. A small favorite before the flop, Doyle commented "T.J. hasn't won a flop in a month," to which T.J. tossed back, "...three months." Once again he foreshadowed the flop, which came Qh-8h-7d, putting him on the ropes, and when the board dribbled out 4d, 7h, he was sent to the rail in 5th place, and he went with his customary elegance and good form.

Down to four players now, the antes and blinds went up to 2000, 8000, and 16000. Mike Caro had been splashing around a bit, always the between-cards provocateur, trying to squeeze out a little info, but now found himself on the short stack. After Sklansky limped on the button with 8c-6c, and Phil, in the small blind with Ts-9c, tried to steal with a 61,000 raise, Caro, with Ah-Ks in the big blind, took the opportunity to push all-in for another 110,000. Phil, realizing he was "priced in," called the extra 43,000, and was instantly disappointed to see the flop come As-9h-3c, giving Caro the dominating top pair to Phil's middle 9's. The turn came 2s, and it looked like Caro would double up, but a miracle Th on the river instead knocked out the hirsute theorist in 4th place.

Now rolling as the chip leader, Phil unfortunately ran afoul of Doyle when the Texas master got lucky and sucked out on him, doubling Doyle up. A short time later, Phil limped with Qc-Tc, and Doyle, with Ah-Jc, came over the top of him for 100,000 more. Phil pondered, then flat called. The flop came Ks-Jc-8s, giving Phil the up and down straight draw, and Doyle middle pair. Phil pushed in his remaining 190,000, and Doyle again quickly called. When a 7d, 2h hit the board, Phil was sent packing in 3rd place, riches to rags in three hands, and took it with his usual equanimity, complaining to the poker Gods all the way.

Now down to two. True poker history in the making with the world's most famous odds and card analyst, Sklansky, against the most famous poker titan of the game, Brunson. Doyle showed no restraint, and tried to use his gigantic chip lead to quickly squash Sklansky like a bug, but suddenly Sklansky went on a hole card rush, doubling up three consecutive times with A-Q offsuit, A-5 offsuit, and A-Q suited! (The kinds of consecutive hands that are unheard of for head-up play, odds-wise, I'm sure Mr. Sklansky would agree).

Now finding himself the dominating chip leader, with Tc-9s, he called Doyle's last gasp of 141,000 with Ks-2d. For the first time heads up, all-in as the underdog, Sklansky needn't have worried. The flop came 9h-6c-3d, giving him top pair. And when the board played out 3c, Jc, he had officially retained the bragging rights as the #1 Poker Author, at least on this day, as champion of WPT's Poker by the Book. Doyle Brunson, his smile and enthusiasm undiminished by a 2nd place finish, reminded every poker fan what true poker legends are made of by toasting the champion on his well-won victory.