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Kenneth
Branch
wins a
seat in
the 2006
World
Series
of Poker,
Event
#37!
Congrats
and good
luck in
Vegas
Kenneth!
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There
was an excitement
in the air
Saturday afternoon
at Chateau
Elan. The
tournament
started 7
tables deep,
with 70 of
the top poker
players in
the Atlanta
Poker Club
squaring off
for their
chance at
a seat in
the 2006 WSOP,
Event #37.
One of the
first thing
i notice when
I walk in
the lobby
and head around
the skywalk
towards the
bar is Kaveman
sitting in
a chair, wearing
a full body
suit that
was all gray.
I wasn't sure
what it was
at first...if
it was some
sort of motorcycle
safety outfit...I
quickly learned
otherwise.
Kaveman, as
you know is
one of the
most colorful
members of
the APC. He
stands up
and comes
over to say
hello and
I realize
what it is.
He is dressed
in a head
to toe, full
fledged donkey
suit.
Kaveman, donkey
suit, Chateau
Elan....
Kaveman now
holds the
title for
most outrageous
championship
getup - previously
held by Jeff
Hannah,
at the Season
II Championship
event. Sorry
Jeff, what
can I say?
Kaveman was
politely asked
to stay in
the lounge
and cigar
bar, as there
was a very
expensive
wedding taking
place downstairs
at Chateau.
I told Kaveman
I liked his
spirit. I
figured if
he won the
seat in the
World Series
that he'd
wear his donkey
suit in Vegas
and he'd be
sure to get
some air time
ESPN...anyway,
I digress.
The WSOP
tournament
started almost
on time!
Sorry John,
we were just
a little bit
late getting
going ;) Players
got their seats
and the tournament
was underway.
The first hand
at one of the
tables, Jay
Jones folded
preflop what
would have turned
into a straight
flush... I don't
know if it stuck
with him but
it wasn't his
tournament as
Jay was out
relatively early...
Jay gets a personal
thanks for helping
deal later in
the tournament
and for everything
he does behind
the scenes for
the APC. Thank
you Jay Jones!
Tiffany
Mahan, who
had 'quite a
time' at Southern
Comfort the
night earlier
was the early
chip leader.
Overall points
leader, Grube
had already
lost the majority
of his bonus
starting chips.
Bill Carlson
had the go big
or go home attitude
and was the
first to hit
the rail as
he consistently
got 2nd best
hands... Bill
isn't afraid
to bet and sometimes
the hands just
don't hold or
the others don't
fold. Bill attacking
style is just
that way, get
big early or
go home. Bill
hung around
for most of
the day to watch
the action,
and thanks for
the beverage
Bill.
I thought the
play was going
to be tighter
than normal,
and for some
tables it was.
Others played
much looser,
bucking the
trend. One of
the first hand
of the tournament
had a pot of
over $800 on
the flop. I
don't know if
it was the extra
starting chips
or just a poker
phenom when
a lot of players
get playable
hands and there
is a lot of
action.
An early exit
befell our overall
points leader,
Chris Grube
and he was on
the rail early,
one major threat
out - most players
take notice.
Nice run Grube...
but he had plenty
of reason to
stick around
as Courtney
was on a path
that would take
her deep into
the final table.
The field erupts
in applause,
as usual, as
Chaser busts
out, and there
is much rejoicing...
another major
threat out.
Players went
out in spurts.
It was either
tables dropping
players like
flies all at
once or 20 minute
blocks of no
one going out.
We combined
to 6 tables
at the first
break, with
around 58 players
left. Tiffany
is most likely
still the chip
leader, but
her previous
evening at Southern
Comfort might
have wearing
on her. Bob
tried to keep
an eye on her
stack from his
table, where
he was battling
for chips and
wish her on,
no one was dominating
the field, not
yet anyway.
All that changes
after the first
break...
After
the break, the
play loosened
and players
made their moves
to get chips.
Our first table
had also been
broken down,
we'd gone from
7 tables to
6. Dana Xiong
was moved from
table 7, which
broke down first
to table 2,
home of one
of the larger
chip stacks
(and most aggressive
players, Allen
Shepard.
Allen was less
than thrilled
to see Dana
sit down at
his table ,
as Dana will
play any two
from any position
and can be difficult
for a loose
and aggressive
player like
Allen...
Shorly after
the move, the
first real wave
went through
the crowd...
Dana had amassed
a monster
chip lead,
with around
$25,000 in chips
when the average
was probably
$4000 - $5000.
We also leanred
that poker is
a violent game,
just
ask Lee L
as his set of
jacks is busted
by the straight
on the river
by Rex
W.
Dana was going
to be a force
to be reckoned
with, especially
if she continued
to hit her hands...
a loose player
who can play
any two cards,
any position.
As we broke
down to 4 tables
I took over
dealing for
a little while
and at my table
I watched Jeff
Hannah make
some moves and
increase his
stack nicely,
while and also
cracking Rex's
pre-flop favorite
to amass a nice
sized stack
going to 3 tables.
As we
shrunk down
to 3 tables,
many major threats
had been eliminated.
John Furg, Chad
Campbell, Daniel
Petty, Jay Jones,
Bob Mahan, Rob
Hughes John
Boswell, Nicky
Nichols Jason
Graves and Andy
Phelps to name
a few... Other
major threats
were still alive
and in the hunt,
others were
thriving with
growing chip
stacks.
Jeff
Healan played
his aggressive
style and was
building a nice
stack as he
was knocking
players out
including Joe
D, when
Joe raised all
in with AT and
Jeff called
with a suited
A7 which hit
the flush.
The field was
shrinking.
Before
we went to 2
tables,
both early chip
leaders, Tiffany
and Dana were
now on the rail,
along with a
few others.
Rex W, Patryk
S, Michael A
to name only
a few... At
the 1 table,
Scott
Cunningham
took down a
major three
way all in pot
when his nut
flush got there
on the river
against Phylis's
set of 8's and
a top pair with
a straight draw,
and Clay M's
kings were cracked
by Charles A7s
in an all in
pot. There were
some big hands
were dealt,
and players
were dropping
like flies.
Two tables shrunk
to the final
table fairly
rapidly. By
the time the
final table
was set, we
were down to
9 players as
two players
were knocked
out on the same
hand. The players
that were left
had a 1 in 9
shot of winning
a seat in the
WSOP.
The
final table
was set,
and Aimee
got the cards
in the air.
The final table
was made up
of solid poker
players. I don't
think anyone
would argue
that everyone
at the final
table was considered
a good poker
player by the
vast majority
of everyone
in the APC.
Seat
1:
Damian Smith,
aka justthedude
and a force
to be reckoned
with, strong
short handed
and heads up
player.
Seat
2:
Randy
Smith, in
the big tourneys
he is often
at the final
table, longest
lasting APC
member in the
Grudge Match.
Seat
3:
Scott Cunningham,
solid, aggressive
player who understands
when to gamble
and isn't afraid
to do so.
Seat
4:
Lee Raddick,
if you don't
know Lee and
his abilities
at the poker
table then you
haven't been
paying attention
for the past
two years. Lee
is as crafty
and unpredictable
as anyone.
Seat
5:
Kenneth Branch,
just look at
the leaderboards
and you'll see.
Kenneth plays
smart, observant
poker.
Seat
6: Maci
Celli, representing
both the APC
Staff and the
ladies, Maci
played sound
poker all day
and even hit
a boat when
all in pre-flop
to stay alive
and with chips.
Seat
7:
Chat
Mankang
- Mr. Unreadable.
If you have
a tell on Chat,
you're in the
very slim minority.
Stoic and thoughtful,
fearless poker
is the norm
from Chat. Can
win any tourney
he sits down
to play.
Seat
8:
Courtney Timms,
a very strong
player who isn't
afraid to put
all her chips
in the middle
if it puts the
pressure on
her opponents.
Courtney plays
a subtely strong
game. Representing
both the ladies
and the staff,
congrats on
a great run
Courtney!
Seat
9:
Steve Cerosimo,
aggressive and
patient all
day long, looking
for opportunity
to take down
pots when he
felt weakness
from his opponents,
another quality
player who played
a good game.
It wasn't long
until we were
down to 6 players,
as Steve, Maci
and Lee were
eliminated after
getting all
their chips
in the middle.
The blinds were
high and every
pot was important,
Kenneth, Chat
and Damian had
begin to build
their stacks.
A big hand developed
between Damian
and Kenneth
when Damian,
made a raise
of about half
of Kenneth's
stack with pocket
queens. Kenneth
called and the
flop comes down
king high and
Kenneth check
raises Damian
on the flop...
Damian has to
lay it down
and looses a
lot of his stack
and the chip
lead he had
built. Not too
long there after
Damian is out
and we are down
to 5. Kenneth
is the chip
leader with
5 left.
Scott's aggressive
style has him
out in 5th place
and we are down
to 4. Randy
Smith goes down
shortly after
being all in
blind. Chat
has remained
paitient and
smart and Kenneth
is building
his stack. Courtney
is picked off
when she gets
all of her chips
into the middle
and runs into
AQs and she
is on the rail.
We are now heads
up.
It's now heads
up with Kenneth
as around a
2:1 chip leader.
All that meant
is that if they
got all in and
Chat won he
would then be
the 2:1 chip
leader. The
heads up match
lasted less
than 5 minutes
as Kenneth induced
Chat to make
a move at a
pot when he
hit top pair
for all of his
chips.
Kenneth, you
played great
all day and
this is a well
deserved victory!
Congratulations
and good luck
with the WSOP
Seat!
Here
is the order
of finish.
1. Kenneth Branch
2. Chat Mangkang
3. Courtney
Timms
4. Randy Smith
5. Scott Cunningham
6. Damian Smith
7. Lee Raddick
8. Maci Celli
9. Steve Cerisosimo
Congratulate
Kenneth in the
Forum!
P.S.
Here
are some other
ways you can
win
a seat in the
2006 World Series
of Poker
and these are
the best
ways to qualify.
You can learn
the basics
of Texas Holdem
here.
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