The third event of the 2006 season ended up looking a lot like the first two events, with strong showings by Ron Fukui and David Narayan. However, it was Tim Waisner who showed that there is one guy who is dominating the 2006 SPT season so far, winning his second event in 3 months.

 

Play started (late, as usual - thanks Sean) with 17 players. Players were packed in tightly in Waiz's house, especially with no bust outs in the first 3 levels, and only one bust out into the 5th level. However, this meant that blinds were escalating, and we quickly got down to the final table:

 

Kevin Bristow 3,200

David Narayan 5,900

Ron Fukui 4,750

Tim Waisner 9,450

Barry Bonillo 4,150

Sean MacLean 3,050

Chris 15,000

Matt Mallory 4,650

Steve Harbaugh1,100

 

On the first hand, Steve Harbaugh moved all-in with pocket tens, but Kevin Bristow moved in over the top with pocket queens. The queens held, and we were down to 8. Barry Bonillo was next, as he moved all-in on a Jack high flop, only to be called by David Narayan with Q-J.

 

Then a massive pot developed. At 300/600 blinds, Waisner raised with A-Q to 1200, Sean moved all-in with pocket jacks for 1850. From the small blind, Mallory moved all-in for 4,500 with pocket kings, and then Bristow moved all-in for 5,500 with pocket Aces. Waisner folded, and the cards were revealed. The flop came K-Q-7, and Mallory had taken a huge lead. However, the turn was an A (the last in the deck), giving Bristow top set. However, there was now a straight draw for MacLean, needing a ten. However, the river 4 gave the pot to Bristow and we were down to 5.

 

Then things slowed down. A lot. It took us 2 hours to lose our 5th place finisher (and 3 hours to go from 5 players to done). After much passing back and forth, Bristow finally moved in with A-9 for his last 4,200. Ron Fukui called with K-J, and a King came on the flop. Kevin Bristow finished in 5th place, earning 94 points and $19 in his 15th career top 5 finish.

 

Again, lots of time passed between the next player going out. Narayan doubled up with pocket Aces vs. Chris, who had Q-6 on a queen high flop. This was enough to hurt Chris's stack, who moved all-in on a King high flop with K-3, only to be called by Waiz with K-Q. Chris was out in his first career SPT money finish, winning 116 points and $38.

 

As the blinds escalated (it was 1000/2000 at this point), Narayan started to get short stacked. He moved in with 8-6, and Ron Fukui called with Q-8. As soon as he said "No 6", a 6 came on the flop. No help came, and Ron was out in third. It was Ron Fukui's second third place finish this year on the SPT, earning him 148 points and $76.

 

Heads up went back and forth. Both players were all-in and short stacked, but managed to come back. Waisner thought he had Narayan out, as he had two pair. Narayan, however, caught a flush on the river to double up. Waisner was down to his last 4,000 (vs. 47,000 for Narayan), but doubled up three times in a row to take the lead. Play went back and forth at 2000/4000 blinds, and we came very close to the first 4000/8000 blinds in a non-major. Finally, Waisner moved all-in with a ten on a ten high flop. Narayan called with a 3 (bottom pair), and caught no help on the river (for once). David Narayan took second place for his second top 3 finish on the SPT this year. He won 202 points and $95.

 

Tim Waisner won his second SPT event in 2006, and third overall. He won 322 points and $153. Waisner has now moved into second place in career points and money finishes. He obviously leads the 2006 points standings, and is a virtual lock to make the Tournament of Champions.