Shepsky Prevails in Full Tilt $1K Monday
Despite coming to the final table as the second-shortest stack, Matt “shep2k” Shepsky fought his way back into contention and eventually took down this week’s Full Tilt $1K Monday. The last Full Tilt $1K Monday before the start of the World Series of Poker drew 341 entrants, setting the first-place payday at $85,250. Notable finishes that didn’t quite reach the final table included Rafal “lilfishy897” Michalowski in 12th ($4,262.50), ChrisChun in 14th (3,410), mad00house in 15th ($3,410), Stephen “stevie444” Chidwick in 21st ($1,875.50), Scott “SCTrojans08” Freeman in 22nd ($1,875.50), Scott “cool0813” Zakheim in 25th ($1,875.50), Andy “BKiCe” Seth in 26th ($1,875.50), and Evan “NEONPILS99” Parkes in 28th ($1,534.50). The chip counts at the start of the final table were the following:
Greg “gregior” Howard – 304,797
kismatwala03197 – 232,988
Karl “discomonkey” Fenton – 209,814
djflunk – 209,539
jgmrt3 – 156,300
alexmich – 156,064 leave
Keven “Stamdogg” Stammen – 148,418
Matt “shep2k” Shepsky – 147,512
J Clhampion – 139,568
Alexmich was the first player to get the boot, at 4,000/8,000/1,000. From the small blind, alexmich shoved for 124,064 and Karl “discomonkey” Fenton called. It was alexmich’s J♦9♦ against Fenton’s K♥2♦. The board ran out A♣3♣Q♠J♥K♠ as Fenton’s rivered king gave him the pot and sent alexmich to the rail in ninth place for $6,820. Following that hand, Fenton admitted he had mis-clicked, but was satisfied with the result. J Clhampion busted a few hands later after getting it in with J♣J♥ against Matt “shep2k” Shepsky’s A♥K♠. This race went to Shepsky as the board fell 6♠3♣K♥Q♣10♦ and J Clhampion came up short, leaving in eighth place for $8,525.
Djflunk was felted at the 5,000/10,000/1,000 level. Under the gun, kismatwala03197 raised to 30,000 and djflunk shipped it in from the small blind for 166,039 with A♦Q♣. Kismatwala03197 made the call with the dominated A♠7♠, but the board failed djflunk as it rolled out 2♠3♠4♣8♣Q♠ to give kismatwala03197 a flush. For the seventh-place showing, djflunk earned $11,082.50. The next out was jgmrt3, following a shove from the small blind for 78,300. Greg “gregior” Howard called out of the big blind with 7♣7♦ and was leading jgmrt3’s J♠2♦. The community cards came down 9♠8♠3♠9♦K♣ as Howard faded the flush draw to bust jgmrt3 in sixth for $17,050.
Howard was the next player out, ejected at the 6,000/12,000/1,500 level. Keven “Stamdogg” Stammen raised to 27,000 from the cutoff and Howard called out of the big blind. Both players checked the 3♥J♥5♣ flop. When the 9♣ landed on the turn, Howard bet 36,000 and Stammen shoved with the bigger stack. Howard called all in with J♣10♣, to find himself well behind Stammen’s 9♥9♠. Only a club on the river could save Howard, but the river was the 4♦ as Howard headed for the exit in fifth place for $23,870.
Stammen’s taste of victory was brief, however, as he joined Howard on the rail only three hands later. Matt “shep2k” Shepsky put Stammen to the test on the board of 8♥Q♦K♠8♦8♣. With over 350,000 in the pot, Stammen checked to Shepsky, who moved in for just about the same amount as the pot. Stammen went into the tank, opting to call just as his time was set to expire. Unfortunately for him, Shepsky tabled A♥8♠ for quads to send Stammen packing in fourth place for $31,542.50.
Down to three-way action, it only took four hands for Matt “shep2k” Shepsky to dispose of his remaining two opponents and claim the top prize. First, he held J♦J♥ against Karl “discomonkey” Fenton’s K♦9♦ and Shepsky’s knaves held up as the board ran out eight-high. Fenton collected $40,290 for third place. On the final hand, holding a sizable chip lead, Shepsky got it in with A♣8♣, trailing kismatwala03197’s 10♦10♥. However, Shepsky spiked his ace on the turn as the board fell J♦6♠Q♣A♦6♥ and kismatwala03197’s tournament was over in second place for $54,560. The winner of the Full Tilt $1K Monday was Matt “shep2k” Shepsky for $85,250.
Final Results:
1. Matt “shep2k” Shepsky - $85,250
2. kismatwala03197 - $54,560
3. Karl “discomonkey” Fenton - $40,920
4. Keven “Stamdogg” Stammen - $31,542.50
5. Greg “gregior” Howard - $23,870
6. jgmrt3 - $17,050
7. djflunk - $11,082.50
8. J Clhampion - $8,525
9. alexmich - $6,820
