How Did the 888poker Qualifiers Fare Against the Pros on PokerGO?
On Monday and Tuesday of last week, a pair of 888poker qualifiers had the experience of a lifetime when they appeared on Poker After Dark: 888poker Week, which consisted of two $10,000 buy-in Sit & Go tournaments.
The qualifiers, who won $14,000 packages for just a buck, played in their own game against six poker professionals inside the PokerGO Studios.
Before they did so, they took in the town guided by 888poker Ambassador Chris Moorman, which included golfing with the online legend. They also ate at exclusive Vegas restaurants, received some poker tips from pro Kelly Minkin, and got a good night’s rest inside the ARIA Resort & Casino.
Peter Martin Runs Smack Dab Into Maria Ho
On Monday, 24-year-old warehouseman Peter Martin was the first qualifier to take his shot at a $50,000 top prize, and he got off to an action-packed start. First, he cracked Moorman’s pocket queens with Big Slick after flopping an ace all in preflop.
Team888's @Moorman1 #PocketQueens go down in flames when #888pokerAfterDark Qualifier Peter Martin takes on his… https://t.co/Ft1KMCP31B
— 888poker (@888poker)
He later tangled with Women in Poker Hall of Famer Maria Ho. Martin held king-ten and flopped top pair against Ho, who had pocket nines. Despite Martin betting the flop and turn hard, Ho stuck around and spiked a third nine on the river. Martin called a big bet on the river that cost him most of his stack.
more heartbreak was in store for Martin once again as the river killed him when a king spiked.
Martin looked like he was going to get some revenge when he got his stack in with aces against Ho’s kings, but more heartbreak was in store as once again the river killed him when a king spiked.
Martin left emptyhanded – except for the experience of a lifetime of course – while Ho went on to defeat Eli Elezra heads up for the $50K prize.
Aces cracked twice? It's a wonder #888PokerAfterDark Qualifier, Peter Martin, made it so far...Follow his epic jour… https://t.co/JykWyNJopj
— 888poker (@888poker)
Otto Richard Comes Up One Spot Shy of Victory
On Tuesday, it was 34-year-old Otto Richard’s turn to take on Moorman, Minkin, Elezra, Jennifer Tilly, and Bill Klein. Otto, a Frenchman now living in the UK, was an experienced player with his fair share of success, including winning the 2017 WPO Dublin Event #11: €550 WPO Main Event for a career-high score of €92,000 ($110,166).
Now it's #888PokerAfterDark Qualifier Otto Richard's turn to take on Team888's @Moorman1 and 5 other pros. Will he… https://t.co/qHgGZONbwC
— 888poker (@888poker)
He was ready to see how his game would stack up against the pros. Early on, he got kings, flopped a set, and busted Moorman, who had ace-queen. From there, both Minkin and Klein hit the rail leaving Otto to battle it out with Tilly and Elezra.
Otto won $20,000; a great return on investment considering he only spent $1.
Unfortunately for Otto, he made a costly mistake shoving king-ten only to have Elezra roll over kings. The cowboys held and Otto lost the chip lead. He would later call the move “the most spewy play I could find at that moment!”
After Elezra busted Tilly in third place, Otto was guaranteed $20K in prize money with a shot at $30,000 more. However, he was as a severe chip disadvantage and it only took one hand for him to fall.
It happened when he shoved his ten big blind stack with king-nine suited and Elezra called with jack-three offsuit. They both flopped a pair but Elezra hit two-pair on the turn to bust Otto. While he didn’t outright win the heat, Otto still won $20,000; a great return on investment considering he only spent $1.
