Dana K. Takes Down the 2010 Legends of Poker Event #22: Mariani/Buss Laker's Youth Foundation $1070 NLH
 

EVENT #22 - MARIANI/BUSS LAKER'S YOUTH FOUNDATION
No Limit Hold’em
$1000 +$70 Buy-in
PRIZE POOL: $61,770
ENTRIES: 71

The 2010 Legends of Poker had its twenty-second overall event in the Bicycle Casino’s Event Center. The $1070 buy-in no limit hold’em turbo tournament was a 2 day event which began with a total of 71 players and a prize pool of $61,770. In addition to a first prize of $26,560 the winner also received the title, and the trophy. Final table play began at level 9 with antes at 200, and blinds at 800/1600. Dana K. entered the final table as the chip leader holding 151,800 of the 712,000 chips in play.

CHIP COUNTS ARRIVING AT FINAL TABLE
Seat 1	Jeremiah Plager	47,400
Seat 2	Dana K.	151,800
Seat 3	Denny Robinson	87,600
Seat 4	Kenney Dickenson	48,500
Seat 5	Bobby Suer	81,400
Seat 6	Michael Shelton Guilford Ct	88,200
Seat 7	Eric Dam	55,500
Seat 8	Joseph Serock	75,900
Seat 9	Jirair Poladian	63,400
Seat 10	Johnathan Persekian	11,900

The Mariani/Buss Laker’s Youth Foundation No Limit Hold’em Tournament was a great opportunity to raise money for a wonderful charity and an opportunity to play some poker at the same time. The atmosphere was light while Frank Mariani and Dr. Jerry Buss were still in the tournament, but with their exits that mood changed. As the players came closer to the money and played later into the night the field became more serious and somber. There was a chill in the air in the Bicycle’s Event Center as the players moved to the final table, and it had nothing to do with the air conditioning. The final table was one of the quietest of the tournament with no trash talking, comments, or reactions throughout play. The players had no love loss for each other as they let their chips, hushed raises, and all-ins carry the conversation. Big Slick would play a dominating part at this final table as it accounted for first five eliminations.

On the 5th hand of the final table we had our first elimination. Jirair Poladian was all-in after the flop came 6-8-6 with two diamonds holding pocket K’s against Denny Robinson. Denny made the call turning over A-10 diamonds giving him the nut flush draw. The Jack of hearts would not help Denny on the turn but the 5

	FINAL TABLE RESULTS
	1st	Dana K.	$26,560
	2nd	Jeremiah Plager	$14,210
	3rd	Johnathan Persekian	$7,410
	4th	Michael Shelton Guilford Ct	$4,325
	5th	Denny Robinson	$3,705
	6th	Michael Shelton	$3,090
	7th	Bobby Suer	$2,470

of diamonds on the river would give him the flush and the win, eliminating Jirair in 10th place.

Twenty five hands later Denny Robinson raised from late position pre-flop with A-K, he was re-raised by Kenney Dickenson who pushed all-in one off from the button with A-J, Denny made the call as the cards were turned up. The flop came 2-8-5 with a 10 on the turn, keeping Denny in the lead. An A on the river would give both players top pair, but Denny’s K Kicker would take down the pot as Kenney was sent out in 9th place.

On the 39th hand we would have a replay of our previous elimination hand. Michael Shelton raised from late position pre-flop with A-K, only to be re-raised all-in by Eric Dam on the button with A-J suited diamonds. Michael made the call with both players turning up their cards in anticipation to the flop. The flop came 4-6-4 keeping Michael in the lead and with a 7 on the turn and an 8 on the river the hand would end as did Eric’s tournament, leaving in 8th place.

Five hands later Bobby Suer found himself all-in pre-flop with A-Q against Denny Robinson with A-K. A-K would hold up yet again as two kings hit the flop giving Denny an unbeatable set of K’s and his third knockout of the final table. Bobby was out in 7th place, taking home $2,470.

Dana K.

On the eighty-third hand Joseph Serock, the short stack, raised pre-flop under the gun with A-Q, Dana K. made a minimum re-raise from late position, Joseph pushed back all-in and Dana made the call. Dana’s K Kicker would be the difference yet again at the board came 6-4-J-2-5 giving the win to Dana and knocking Joseph out in 6th place, earning $3,090.

We would have our final elimination of the tournament on the 99th hand. Denny Robinson limped under the gun pre-flop, Johnathan Persekian called from the button, Jeremiah Plager called from the small blind, and Dana K. raised the minimum, Denny re-raised all-in, both Johnathan and Jeremiah folded, and Dana made the call. The cards were turned up with Denny holding pocket 10’s, while Dana showed pocket A’s. The flop came 9-2-J keeping Dana in the lead and leaving Denny to hope for one of the two 10’s left in the deck. Neither out came as a J hit the turn and a 6 hit the river, eliminating Denny in 5th place worth $3,705.

The remaining four players discussed a chip count and after the staff ran the numbers the players were in agreement to a deal. Dana K. was declared the winner of the Legends of Poker twenty-second event earning him the title, the championship trophy, and the first place prize of $26,560.