Sean MacLean took away the coveted green jacket Saturday night, beating perhaps the best final table ever assembled on the Sacramento Poker Tour. Beating Bill Killian in heads up play, MacLean's win in the major tournament is also his first tournament win on the SPT.

 

McDaniel's WSOP was by all accounts an extremely successful event. Tournament host Jim "Aces" McDaniel ensured that people knew he was to be referred to as Aces by greeting people with a shirt that said his name. Unfazed by many comments that the shirt should say "Fives", after a bad beat he suffered while in Vegas, McDaniel did his best by ensuring a happy group. 18 players showed up for the tournament, the largest field this year on the SPT. The prize pool of $821 was the second highest this year, behind only the Derby Day tournament which had a higher entry fee.

 

Re-buys for the first hour and a half added second (or third, or fourth...) chances for many, but one too many re-buys had Ron Fukui saying "No more" and he was the first out. The add-on period was done, and the tables moved quickly. "Aces" was out as Sean called an all-in with the Brunson (10-2) and caught a 10 on the river. Sean defended his move by saying "They were suited!".

 

The final table was Chad Dunnigan, Mark Holmes, Kevin Bristow, Eric Shreve, Tim Waisner, Barry Bonillo, Bill Killian and Sean MacLean. 5 of the top 6 career points leaders were at this final table, with only Matt Gilbert (now a part of the Iowa Poker Tour) missing. With star power like this, the action was sure to be quick, and it didn't disappoint.

 

Chad moved Shreve all-in with his 3 tens vs. Shreve's 2 queens. Only a queen on the river could save Shreve, and it appeared. Shocked and now short stacked, Chad was knocked out shortly thereafter by Barry. Holmes was next in a hand that developed fast. The smack talk between Holmes and Barry had begun, with Holmes wanting to knock him out. Looking directly at Barry, Holmes moved all-in. Barry wisely folded, but Sean called instantly with A-A. Holmes showed his Q-Q. An Ace on the flop ended it for Holmes, and in a shocking development, the current green jacket holder was out 7th. It was rumored that Holmes went to another casino to seek solace.

 

The final 6 lasted for a while as play tightened up. Finally, Bristow moved all-in with a very short stack with 4-4, Sean called with 7-6 and a 7 hit the flop, and the final table was 5. Shreve was next, as he moved in with a pocket pair, called by Bill with Q-7, and Q hit the turn.

 

At 4 handed, a major hand developed that threatened to lock up the tournament for Barry. Sean came in with K-10 of hearts. Barry had A-5. The flop had 2 hearts, including a 5. Some minor betting occurred. The turn brought an A. Sean made a bet, Barry moved all-in, and Sean called. No help on the river and Barry had doubled up to over 27,000 in chips, with Sean taking a major blow.

 

Sean's fortunes, however, were brighter than it appeared. His aggressive play paid off as he won a number of small pots to build his chip stack back up. Waisner was out in fourth place when his all-in with Q-J lost to Sean's A-J when no Queen came.

The final 3 went back and forth for a bit, trying to get a good feel. Barry raised on the button with A-6 to 4000 (playing 1000-2000 blinds). Sean called with 2-3. The flop was 2-3-8. It was checked around. The turn brought an Ace. Sean bet 5,000, Barry moved all-in, and Sean called instantly. The river brought no help, and Sean's two pair knocked Barry out in third.

 

Heads-up action started between Bill Killian and Sean MacLean. Play started with a 5,000 flop bet from Killian that was met with an all-in from MacLean, forcing Killian to fold the hand. MacLean had a sizable chip lead at this point, having knocked out 5 of the final 6 players. The final hand had MacLean in the pot with A-2 of diamonds, with Bill having J-9 of clubs. The board had J-10-Q with 2 diamonds. Killian moved all-in with his pair and straight draw, and MacLean called. The turn brought an 8, giving Killian his straight. The river, however, brought a King, giving MacLean an ace-high straight, beating Killian's Queen high straight, and it was over.

 

MacLean's win is his first on the SPT after some solid performances previously. MacLean won $345, the second largest win ever on the SPT. Killian's performance is noteworthy as his points from this event now move him into first place in career points, with 53 vs. Holmes's 52. MacLean is slightly behind at 48, with Matt Gilbert fourth at 45.5 and Kevin Bristow fifth at 41.

 

MacLean was last seen heading to a local casino to meet up with Holmes. It was widely believed that his winnings were gone within an hour of his arrival there.

 

The next major event is the Man Day 5 Invitational (MD5), scheduled for October 23rd, the first day of the World Series, at the Bristow residence. It is rumored that the MD5 event will be a multi tournament event with more than just the main event counting towards overall points - more details to come!