BAYOU CLASSIC MAIN EVENT WINNER CROWNED
We will have pics, some video and a complete update later today. Most importantly Nick Ceci took first for $382,928 (including the $11,000 for the WSOP Main Event).
The big money went
to Tim 'TK' Miles, 2nd, $210,610, Floyd Vanderford 3rd,
short-stacked all day who folded his way to $107,699, and Gabe
Costner $83,766. Jeff Tims, defending champ Lou Esposito,
Charles Kelly, Ed Jatho, and Marc Fratter rounded it out.
Vanderford's strategy (or bad run of cards and incredible
patience), considering he was short from the get go, rewarded
him with an 83k profit as Fratter only won about $24k.
Congrats to all the players and check back here later today for
more coverage.
WILL SOUTHER aka "THE MONKEY" FEATURED PLAYER ON POKER PAGES
Congrats Monkey. Following his success at the Bayou Classic Monkey has gotten his fair share of press. Here's the featured profile Poker Pages. In it, Will calls himself the Buffalo Bills of Poker. We first thought that was because his fans brave the icy air conditioning of a casino and show their support by going bare-chested and drunkenly celebrating his Thurman Thomas-esque celebrations but we were mistaken.
Okay, obviously it's because he's been the bridesmaid of late, but as mentioned in Wild Bill's blog, DINE ON THE WHALES, that shows how great he's playing and one day the final race will go in his favor, Will has always had the ability to achieve this level of success and will continue to do so if he focuses on the positive. We expect a first place profile pretty soon when he finally gets that monkey off his back and onto his cards where it belongs. And somebody send Wild Bill his email, we'd like to do an interview: wild bill.
MAIN EVENT DAY 3
Final 9 battling for the over 300K top prize
The Gulf Coast's own Tim "TK" Miles, pictured, is the monster chip leader with almost 1/3 of the chips in play at ~ $700,000. Fellow Gulf Coaster Gabe Costner is not far behind in 8th place with over $150,000. I (GeneD) am heading down there today to sweat TK. Other notable cashes include Daryll "Fish" Fish and Jonathan Little finished 17th and 18th respectfully. Hopefully we will get a small interview when TK and Gabe finish 1 and 2...either order... Good luck guys!!!! Take it down and congrats to Fish and Jonathan!!!!!
MAIN EVENT DAY 2
UPDATE
Allen 'Chainsaw' Kessler goes bust in an entertaining hand...Read Kaelaile Minton's comments below and please check out her excellent running commentary live on Poker Pages here:
"Alan got his last chips in good with AK and got called by Ed Jatho holding T2 (according to Chainsaw, Ed was on tilt from the previous hand where he doubled up Tim Miles with JT (second pair) versus Tim's pocket Aces). Anywho, the flop was all blanks, but the turn and river produced running deuces and Allen was bounced. Allen was not happy about this and words were exchanged. Allen is recording his play and reporting it on his MySpace page, so you can check that out for all the gory details and his expert commentary"
MAIN EVENT DAY 2
69 to be
whittled to 10 today
Lou Esposito, whose run of cards in New Orleans, makes him feel like it is a second home is tied for first in chips with David Fox. Esposito is gunning for his second New Orleans Main Event ring. The name pros aren't feeling too welcome as Ted Lawson, Josh Arieh, Gavin Smith, TJ Cloutier and Steve Danneman were all sent to the rail.
Notable gulf coast players still alive include: Jonathan Little, TK Miles, and Clint Schaeffer. 69 players are preparing to duke it out until the final table as play is about to start today. Poker pages has official chip counts and a live blog.
Local Chef Paul Prudhomme is hanging in with a tiny stack, and Herbie Montalbano is also on the short side of things. Other New Orleans players include: Brian Cospolich, Floyd Vanderford, and Ed Jatho (Abita Springs), with Jatho in the top 10 in chips.
Perhaps Jonathan Little of Pensacola has a posse, as Ben Gordon and Collier Merril remain alive from the jewel of the panhandle. Baton Rouge also checks in with Devin Jerreau, and Dana Deiphouse who join Schaeffer on day two.
The populous Houston, TX has by far the most players remaining with rounders Robert Jones, Jason Brice, Cory Albertson, and Fatolla Shahen with below average stacks. Houston also has Lee Wilson, Michael Cohen, Anita Vasquez, and Jeff Tims with healthier chips and in the thick of things.
GCP's horse, Tex, went out right before the end of last night. Unfortunately, he went card dead all day and his patience was not rewarded. The best hand he had was pocket Jacks which he folded preflop to a guy with Queens. Still an impressive showing to last so long with nothing. He spent a good amount of time with co-leader Esposito and can attest that at least someone at his table was getting hands. More updates to come.
MAIN EVENT DAY 1
Our Horse At The Bayou Poker Challenge... Update: Sent to the Glue Factory
The GCP.net family
will have one of our own to sweat in the Main event this year as
Jason "Tex" Henderson was able to pull out a win in one of the
Mega's to secure his seat.
Tex, pictured, has several nice cashes in big tournaments and this is his
2nd Main Event Entry. His first was in Tunica several years ago
where it was actually $10,000 to get in the main event. He
is a savage on the "internets", and though he doesn't give
out his handle he is constantly "ker-rushing lunchboxes" live
and online. He mentioned he might do some blogging too.
We just missed having 2 of our players in the Main Event as the GCP.net Co-Founder, Wild Bill, bubbled that same Mega that Tex won his seat in...although he did get his money back in cash. Bill also fired a $500.00 bullet at the single table satellite along with 9 other players trying to get their seat. The notables at the table included local pro Gabe Costner. Bill got his money in with the best of it when they were 3 handed when his A-Jo open jam was called by K-brick...and the player spiked the brick. Look for Bill to break out big soon!!!
Other Notable Players: Gavin Smith, "Atlanta Josh" Arieh, Pham, Steve Dannaman, Fred Berger, Alan "Chainsaw" Kessler...along with the normal crowd of regulars from the coast...TK, Cub, Nick Gillespie, Gabe, ...etc
LOCAL PLO SPECIALIST TAKES 1st
Local Poker pro Jason
Gladden wins the PLO tourney at the Harrah's New Orleans Bayou
Poker Challenge.
Jason
is a former student of USM, and has lived in many places on the
Gulf Coast. We have some mutual friends (GeneD), and Jason and I
wound up watching Wide Spread Panic together at the Jazz fest
several years ago. He is a really great guy, and a world class
poker player. He has cashed in several big tournaments as is
known on the coast as a tough ...High Limit Cash Game
player....Congrats J !!!!!!!!
Other Updates
Local player from Thibodaux Teddy Trosclair wins 2nd place for a cool 20k...Local player David "Davey" Bourg gets over 4k for a 7th place finish in the $500 3pm tourney yesterday (I will get a pic of you one day)...Brandon Ruttley bubbles this same tourney, I just hope he didn't have Jacks...Famed Pro sightings...Fred Berger, Alan "Chainsaw" Kessler, Adeeb Harb, Herbie "Louisiana Lightning" Montalbano, Tim "Raisin Cajun" Hebert and a host of other local pros...Cub, TK, Tex, Fish, Monkey...see ya there
DR. DELL WALKER,
FORMER LSU FOOTBALL PLAYER, WINS FIRST TOURNAMENT
Nipping Matt "Cub" Culberson by spiking a miracle 9 on the turn, Dell turned his pocket 9s into a set and prevailed over the top pair of queens for Cub. Culberson finished second for the second time at a circuit event. Along with a fourth place finish he's getting close.
Dr. Dell is an orthopedic surgeon who practices in Houma, Louisiana. This is the first tournament win and cash for the Harrrahs regular and good doctor.
BAYOU POKER CHALLENGE
Two days away from the big daddy local tournament. We are curious to see how many turn out after the economic downturn, the rising prices of oil, and the news Norman Chad will not be in the building.
Check back here for complete coverage of Harrahs WSOP Circuit Event; The Bayou Poker Challenge. Most of team GCP and friends will be playing at least one of these donkaments.
Action starts May 9th. Complete Schedule Here: TOURNEY SCHEDULE
We are looking forward to welcoming all of ya'll to the big easy.