(Aug 27th, 2010)
The Bicycle Casino has been a part of the World Poker Tour schedule since the start of the tour, and our signature the Legends of Poker event has always proved to be a popular stop for poker players from all walks of life. In the eight seasons prior, The Bike has seen some of the most notable poker players on the circuit crowned Legends Champion.
Season 1: Chris Karagulleyan
Season 2: Mel Judah
Season 3: Doyle Brunson
Season 4: Alex Kahaner
Season 5: Joe Pelton
Season 6: Dan Harrington
Season 7: John Phan
Season 8: Prahlad Friedman
The yearly stop at the Bike is a tradition for the WPT, though even it saw some changes this season. Legends had originated as a $5,000 buy-in event, but the stakes were upped to a $10,000 buy-in for Season V in response to the poker boom. This season, the Legends of Poker returned to its roots and the Main Event buy-in was once again set at $5,000. The smaller buy-in and two starting days attracted a much larger crowd than last year. A total of 462 players filtered into the Bicycle Ballroom including, local Los Angeles poker pros/ 2010 WSOP November Niner Joseph Cheong and Cuong "Soi" Nguyen, Top WSOP bracelet holder Phil Hellmuth, Jr., Daniel Negreanu, 2005 WSOP Champ Joe Hashem, 2008 Legends Champ John Pham, Maria Ho, Joe Sebok, Jonathan Little, Thuy Doan, Allen Kessler, Bruce Buffer, Steve Brecher, and Justin Smith.
After six days of intense poker, the field had been narrowed down to six finalists. When the final table began, Andy Frankenberger (3,015,000), Kyle Wilson (2,854,000) , and Tom Lee (2,915,000 ) were practically even in chips. Wilson and Lee had each placed 6th in the Legends main event in seasons past and each had aspirations of winning the WPT title, the $750,00 First Place Price, the WPT Bracelet and the Poker Hall of Famer Wild Bill Hickok main event trophy this time around.
The other three finalist Jared Jaffee (1,006,000), Tom Braband (968,000), and Franco Brunetti (800,000) had their work cut out for them. The shorter stacks divided less than a ¼ of the chips in play and were looking for a double up to get back into contention. However, it was not to be. Wilson systematically cut each one down, leaving Frakenberger, Wilson and Lee to duke it out amongst each other. Frankenberger, who came to the final table deep stacked, spent the first few hours of 3-handed play as the underdog. But as any a poker player is aware, losing back to back races against a shorty can cause irreparable harm to even the deepest of chip stacks. Frankenberger doubled through Wilson then doubled again through Lee, methodically knocking Lee out in third place.
Upon Lee’s elimination, Fankenberger and Wilson faced off across the felt for heads-up battle. Rising from zero to hero in just a few hands, Frankenberger dominated Wilson with a 3-1 chip lead and it was only a matter of minutes before the chips were all in the middle. Sizing up hos Ad 3d against Frankenberger’s Ac 9c, Wilson was in bad shape. But, as we say in poker, “It is never easy.” Out kicked with the odds stacked against him, the board came 9 high, with two diamonds. Wilson had managed to flop a flush draw against Frankenberger’s top pair/top kicker. The tension filled the ballroom as everybody held their breath while the dealer finished the hand. The Jack of hearts on the turn, followed by the 6 of spades on the river squashed Wilson's hopes for taking the tile home this year.
Andy Frankenberger was crowned the 2010 WPT Legends of Poker Champion, earning $750,000, a WPT bracelet, and the bronze bust of Wild Bill Hickok. Frankenberger’s prize includes his $25,500 entry into the season ending WPT World Championship at Bellagio in May, 2011.
Congratulations to Andy Frankenberger!
1st: Andy Frankenberger - $750,000
2nd: Kyle Wilson - $370,000
3rd: Tom Lee - $174,772
4th: Tom Braband - $109,000
5th: Jared Jaffee - $86,000
6th: Franco Brunetti - $63,000
Please contact the welcome center for more Information.