Online Poker Weekend – 'Balla-B13' Triumphs at PokerStars

Steve Horton

Nov 19, 2007 6 min read

Online Poker Weekend – 'Balla-B13' Triumphs at PokerStars 0001

Like last week, the presence of the FTOPS series had little effect on attendance numbers at rival poker sites. The big events at FTOPS may have drawn many of the biggest names, however, leaving newer players to shine in Sunday's majors at PokerStars, Party Poker and Bodog, where the final tables were filled with new blood. Time will tell if some of these new winners will pop up again – perhaps at the next big online poker tournament series.

PokerStars Sunday Million

PokerStars attracted several thousands once again for its weekly Sunday Million – 6,637 to be exact. This created a $1,327,400 prize pool. The usual 900 places were paid, and, assuming no deal was made, first place would receive $190,880.12.

Despite the aforementioned dearth of online stars, a few players were spotted at both the Sunday Million and the FTOPS, with Corwin "mig.com" Mackey and Matt "mattg1983" Graham finishing out of the money in this event at 959th and 1,664th, respectively. PokerStars-exclusive pros in this tournament were Chris "Money800" Moneymaker, Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, Humberto "Humberto B." Brenes, Hevad "RaiNKhAN" Khan, Ray Rahme, Steve "stevejpa" Paul-Ambrose, Victor Ramdin, and Isabelle "NoMercy" Mercier, all finishing out of the money, and Andre "aakkari" Akkari, who ended in a respectable 75th.

First out at the final table was G0T T!LT?, 20 minutes into the final nine. He made a standard raise in the cutoff to 1,050,000 and head2842 re-raised to 3,200,000, putting half of T!LT?'s chips to the test. G0T T!LT? instead three-bet to 5,600,000 – not quite all in. head2842 raised yet again, putting G0T T!LT? all in, and he finally called, showing 9♣9♥ to head2842's Q♦Q♠. The board was 7♣K♦3♦4♥2♣ and G0T T!LT? left in ninth for $8,229.88.

Next, skg0909 shoved in second position. WeTruck called with A♥8♥, and skg0909 turned over K♠Q♠. The board was 7♥6♥J♦5♣10♣ and skg0909 was out in eighth, earning $13,274.

At the 45-minute mark, Balla-B13 made a standard raise and WeTruck called. Tifton TAO pushed in the big blind and Balla-B13 instantly re-raised all in to force WeTruck out. It worked, and Balla-B13 had K♣K♦ to Tifton Tao's 8♣8♦. The board read 3♦6♥6♣Q♠5♣ and Tifton TAO went out in seventh for $21,902.10.

History repeated itself when Balla-B13 made another standard raise and wNwNw 1 re-raised all in. Balla-B13 called with the deadly A♦A♠ to wNwNw1's Q♥7♦. The board was 10♥Q♣A♣9♠5♥ and wNwNw1 received $30,530.20 for sixth.

After the final table hit one hour, head2842 made a standard raise under the gun and pat5star re-raised all in. It was the wrong time, though, as pat5star had but 6♠5♣ to head2842's A♣A♥. The board came Q♠4♥J♠9♥2♠ and pat5star got $42,609.54 for fifth.

It would take only five more minutes before Balla-B13 made a standard raise under the gun and yesss re-raised all in over the top, turning over 5♣5♥ after Balla-B13 called with K♣J♠. The board was 9♦J♦6♥A♥8♣ and Balla-B13 claimed another casualty, taking out yesss in fourth for $55,750.80.

Two hands later, Balla-B13 standard-raised on the button and WeTruck, in the big blind, went all in. Balla-B13 called with 8♣7♣ this time, to WeTruck's A♦4♦. The flop, turn and river were 7♥5♣K♥2♦2♠ and WeTruck was out in third for $71,546.86.

Balla-B13 entered heads-up action with head2842 up 3:1, and head2842 wouldn't get much closer over the next 17 minutes. In the last hand, head2842 raised to 4,000,000 and Balla-B13 put him all in. head2842 called with Q♥9♥ to Balla-B13's A♠3♦. The board was 2♦8♥A♦6♣6♠ and head2842 collected nearly six figures for second place, $99,422.26. First-place Balla-B13 won $190,880.12 and the Sunday Million.

Final standings:

1st: Balla-B13 — $190,880.12

2nd: head2842 — $99,422.26

3rd: WeTruck — $71,546.86

4th: yesss — $55,750.80

5th: pat5star — $42,609.54

6th: wNwNw1 — $30,530.20

7th: Tifton TAO — $21,902.10

8th: skg0909 — $13,274.00

9th: G0T T!LT? — $8,229.88

PartyPoker $300,000 Guaranteed

For the third straight week, PartyPoker passed its guarantee. This time, 1,643 players entered, making a $328,600 prize pool. Two hundred places were paid, and first place received $65,720.

As the final table started, JADER_15 made a 4x raise from early position and Sem_Deus re-raised all in. JADER_15 called with A♣A♠ to Sem_Deus's A♥Q♠, and the board was 8♣7♠4♣K♥8♥, putting Sem_Deus out in tenth.

Then, dparaskakis shoved under the gun and PSG55 was the only caller. PSG55 showed K♥7♥ to dparaskakis' 7♣7♦. The board was 8♥3♣10♥10♣A♠ and PSG55 left in ninth for $4,436.10.

After that, kunkku23 made a standard raise under the gun, and KolliMong called. The flop was 2♦7♣10♦. KolliMong checked. kunkku23 bet 300,000 into a 402,000 pot. KolliMong shoved with J♦8♦ and kunkku23 called with A♠10♠. The turn and river were 6♦8♥ and kunkku23 was gone in eighth, earning $5,750.50.

StingelingXX then made a big 4x raise in early position. Eric7theking called all in with A♦9♣ to StingelingXX's 9♠9♦. The board was 10♣4♠7♠5♦8♠ and Eric7theking returned to his castle in seventh, $8,707.90 richer.

karaskakis was the next player to shove, and smuldersnr1 called. karaskakis showed A♣8♥ to smuldersnr1's A♠K♠. The beat was applied with a board of 4♣10♣Q♠5♥8♣, and smuldersnr1 finished in sixth for $11,336.70.

A long five-way battle ensued, which ended when StingelingXX shoved with 10♦6♦ and dparaskakis called with K♠Q♥. The board was 2♦2♣3♦A♠A♥ and StingelingXX left in fifth, earning $15,115.60.

Unable to come to a chop agreement four-handed, the remaining players played to another bustout. That would happen with KolliMong made a 3x raise and mrwho888 re-raised to 750,000. KolliMong put mrwho888 all in and mrwho888 called, showing A♠8♠ to KolliMong's K♥K♦. The board was K♠7♦2♥9♥10♣ and mrwho888 left in fourth for $17,908.70.

The final three players easily agreed to a chop based on chip count, and the tournament was over, with dparaskakis declared the winner.

Final standings:

*1st: dparaskakis — $47,261.04

*2nd: KolliMong — $41,878.02

*3rd: JADER_15 — $35,400.36

4th: mrwho888 — $17,908.70

5th: StingelingXX — $15,115.60

6th: smuldersnr1 — $11,336.70

7th: Eric7theking — $8,707.90

8th: kunkku23 — $5,750.50

9th: PSG55 — $4,436.10

10th: Sem_Deus — $3,121.70

* Reflects the results of a three-way split

Bodog $100,000 Guaranteed

Bodog paid another substantial overlay this week. With 764 entrants, that meant the site would provide an additional $23,600 to reach the $100,000 guarantee. As ever, 63 places were paid and first received $25,000.

Finishing in ninth as the final table started was MD85, when he went all in, from late position, and jonnyseaview and camp0439 called. The flop was 7♦10♦10♣. Both side players checked. The turn was 5♥. Both checked. The river was 3♥, and again, the side pot players checked. camp0439 showed 7♥6♥ and took it all, eliminating MD85 in ninth for $1,600.

Next, Big Nard, camp0439, and cambiasso all limped in. Capt Cabernet checked. The flop was 10♥9♦A♥. cambiasso checked and Capt Cabernet bet 55,000. Big Nard called all in and had A♠Q♦ to Capt Cabernet's 10♦10♣. The turn and river were 2♥Q♥ and Big Nard left in eighth, earning $2,500.

Soon after, johnnyseaview limped in. CatBiteIt shoved for 177,001.04. camp0439 re-raised all in and jonnyseaview folded. camp0439 showed A♣Q♣ to CatBiteIt's J♥8♥. The board came 7♦K♦K♠K♣3♦ and CatBiteIt bit it in seventh for $3,500.

At around the 45-minute mark, jonnyseaview shoved under the gun with 10♣8♦ and GibinMauler called with A♠5♣. The board was 2♥K♠7♠A♣8♠ and jonnyseaview went back to the ocean with a nice $4,500 in sixth.

Only a couple hands later, Capt Cabernet went all in under the gun and camp0439 and cambiasso both called. The sides checked down a board of 2♠Q♣9♠8♥Q♠ and cambiasso shows 2♥10♦ versus camp0439's A♦5♠ and Capt Cabernet's muck. cambiasso won the hand and Capt Cabernet was eliminated in fifth for $5,500.

On the next hand, I_BET100K raised to 79,875 and camp0439 moved all in from the button. GibinMauler called with A♥J♥ to camp0439's A♠7♣. The board of K♠Q♥8♣9♥5♣ sent camp0439 back to camp with $6,900 in fourth.

A mere couple hands after that, I_BET100K went nearly all in and cambiasso re-raised him all in. I_BET100K called with K♥9♠ to cambiasso's 10♦10♠. The board brought 7♥A♠A♦6♠7♦ and I_BET100K was out in third, earning $9,200.

Though the last several bustouts were frantic, heads-up play would last a bit longer. cambiasso came in at $971,600 to GibinMauler's $887,300, and over the next 14 minutes, GibinMauler would take the lead and keep it. In the last hand, with GibinMauler up almost 4 to 1, GibinMauler limped and cambiasso checked. The flop was 9♠8♠5♦. cambiasso bet 70,000 and GibinMauler went all in. cambiasso called with 8♥3♣, second pair to GibinMauler's 7♥6♣ for the made straight. The turn and river were J♦2♣ and cambiasso was out in second for $14,300, giving the weekly tournament and $25,000 first-place money to GibinMauler.