The third major on the SPT season took place on Saturday in Roseville, McDaniel's World Series of Poker. 21 players attended, making this the second largest event on the tour. The re-buy period was 3 hours, yet oddly, only 21 re-buys and 17 add-ons occured, less than other events. However, this didn't stop it from being the longest SPT event ever - almost 8 hours to complete. Many competitors were noticably tired from the length of the play and the heat.

 

4 players started but didn't last to the re-buy period. Play with 16 players lasted for more than 2 full levels, meaning that the escalating blinds would be a factor for everyone. Duncan was the first to go, as his pocket queens ran into Spicey's A-10. An Ace on the flop ended it for Duncan. Spicey took out another one as his A-K held up against Greg's A-J. Barry then took out Stamp with 10-10 vs. Stamp's K-J when a 10 flopped. Spicey took a massive pot (15k plus) when he had A-A, Bristow had K-K, and Jon Mangrum A-Q. The Aces held up and Bristow was crippled. Jason Dohrn and Ron Fukui were both eliminated shortly afterwards, and we had our final table of nine.

 

The chip counts of the final table:

 

Kevin Bristow 1,100

Barry Bonillo 10,250

Tim Waisner 7,550

Rick Thomas 5,600

Jim McDaniel 11,100

Bill Killian 5,400

Jon Mangrum 15,450

Spicey 15,950

Kevin Koutney 21,250

 

Bristow, crippled from the Aces vs. Kings hand, was thrilled to find J-J with 1,100 and the blinds 500/1000. However, he ran into Q-Q, and was out in ninth. Bill was the next to go, as his A-10 ran into Jim's K-Q and a K came on the flop. Rick got shortstacked, and moved in with 5-6 of hearts. Jim called with J-8, and it held up.

The final 6 played back and forth for a while, as the blinds escalated. After Jim limped into the pot, Spicey moved all-in with A-A. Jim thought for a while and then called with K-8. The flop of 10-10-7 looked good for Spicey. The turn 9 gave Jim some outs, and the river Jack left Spicey stunned, as Jim hit runner-runner for a straight to crack the Aces.

At 5, all were in the money and received points. The escalating blinds made it an all-in fest pretty quickly. Jon Mangrum was the first to go, as he limped in with 5-7. Koutney, with A-4, checked the A-4-x flop. Mangrum moved in when a 7 hit the turn, and Koutney called. Mangrum earned his second cash on the 2005 SPT season.

 

Play at 4 handed took approximatey 8 hands to go from 4 to a winner. Waisner was out quickly as his pocket sixes ran into Koutney's K-J. A king hit on the flop, and Waiz was out, after earning his 5th cash on the 2005 SPT season.

 

At 3, Koutney had a huge lead, and the blinds were almost half of Jim and Barry's stacks. Jim was the first in, with K-6 vs. Koutney's 10-8. An 8 came on the flop, and Jim was out in 3rd place, earning his second cash on the SPT this season.

 

Heads-up took took all of one hand, as Barry limped in with J-5 of clubs, Koutney put him all-in with Q-Q, and Barry was forced to call. A J came on the flop, but no other help, and Koutney had won his first SPT event (and his first SPT cash). Barry earned his 4th cash on the 2005 season.

The points race became much more interesting after the third major. Waisner retains the lead, well out in front of the pack with 1,432. Bonillo has taken over second place. Mangrum has surpassed Bristow by 8 points for third. McDaniel has now moved into the top 8 with his back-to-back money finishes.

 

The next major will be Man Day 6, on October 22nd at Bristow's. The SPT heads-up championship will be held this day, as it was postponed from the WSOP. Two minors are scheduled to be held before then, with dates currently being negotiated.