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| 2005 Harrah's Las Vegas Poker Tournament World Series of Poker Circuit Event Tournament Results |
| World Series of Poker Circuit Events 2005 Harrah's Las Vegas Poker Tournament Main Event No Limit Hold'em Final Results |
| September 16, 2005 Harrah's Las Vegas Poker Tournament Harrah's Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada |
Buy-In:
Prize Pool:
Entries:
Prize Pool:
Entries:
| Chris Ferguson |
|
Tournament Report
Chris Ferguson Wins His Second WSOP Circuit Championship
The three-day World Series of Poker Circuit Championship in Las Vegas came
to a conclusion on Friday. A smaller-than-expected field of 107 players was
down to the final nine, ready to play for their share of a million-dollar prize
pool.
ESPN had a skeletal crew on hand to record the results for posterity, but it
could never be broadcast as a stand-alone episode. There were no hole
cams in the table, and no stationary cameras to record the flops. But all of
the big moments were captured, and they might be edited together into a
montage that will be aired during another broadcast. And when the 2006
Tournament of Champions rolls around, ESPN will definitely need footage of
the winner, to show how they earned their seat.
The final table began with the following chip counts:
1. Chad Layne - $197,500 (seat 7)
2. Kevin Song - $154,500 (seat 8)
3. An Tran - $140,000 (seat 9)
4. Tom Pniak - $139,000 (seat 2)
5. Chris "Jesus" Ferguson - $129,500 (seat 4)
6. Tom Foley - $95,000 (seat 1)
7. Gregg Fund - $80,500 (seat 3)
8. Jim McCrink - $78,500 (seat 5)
9. Michael Fetter - $58,000 (seat 6)
With relatively small blinds of $1,500-$3,000 ($500 ante), it looked like it
could be a marathon final table. (There was over an hour left at that level,
and upcoming levels would be two hours long.) The players and spectators
settled in as the first dozen or so hands were played for small pots.
Hand #14 started normally, with Tom Pniak coming in for a standard raise of
$10,000 from early position, and he was called by Jim McCrink. The flop came
Js-10d-9d, Pniak checked, McCrink moved all in, and Pniak called -- with
pocket aces (Ah-As). McCrink showed Qh-Jh (top pair, open-ended straight
draw), giving him plenty of outs. McCrink needed an eight, jack, queen, or
king to stay alive. But the last two cards fell 7h-9h, and Jim McCrink was
eliminated in ninth place, earning $30,174.
With none of the delays usually seen at TV final tables (exit interviews, etc.),
the next hand (Hand #15) started as soon as McCrink left the table to get
paid. Everyone folded to chip leader Chad Layne in late position, he made a
standard raise to $10,000, and Tom Foley reraised all in for $37,000 from the
big blind. (Foley was short stacked after losing half of his chips in Hand #10
when his A-J was outkicked by Pniak's A-K.) If Foley had more money left in
front of him, he might have taken the pot right there. But Layne had a deep
stack, and made the call, showing Jh-10c. Foley held pocket eights, and it
was a race situation. Layne took the lead on a flop of Qs-Js-6h, and Foley
missed his two-outer when the last two cards fell 6d-4d. Tom Foley was
eliminated in eighth place, earning $40,232.
The final table was just half an hour old, and two seats were already empty.
Perhaps this wouldn't be such a lengthy final table after all.
If you were in the hall outside the tournament room, you would think that
Hand #27 was a big one as the crowd cheered. In reality, Chris Ferguson
made a standard preflop raise on the button, and he took the blinds and
antes. Not only was it the first time he won a hand, it was the first time he
even played a hand. Ferguson threw his arms triumphantly into the air,
getting laughter and cheers from the spectators.
In Hand #32, Michael Fetter raised to $8,000 in early position, and the next
three players called. It had the potential of becoming a five- or six-way hand,
but the blinds folded, and four players saw the flop of Ac-7h-3c. Fetter was
first to act, and immediately said, "I'm all in." Kevin Song called the additional
$25,000, and the other two players folded. Fetter showed As-Qd (pair of
aces), while Song held Jc-10c (flush draw). Fetter was in the lead, but the 8d
on the turn gave Song additional outs with a gut-shot straight draw. Sure
enough, the 9h fell on the river to complete Song's runner-runner straight,
and Michael Fetter was eliminated in seventh place, earning $50,290.
It was just over an hour into the final table, and one-third of the table was
gone. The blinds were going up to $2,000-$4,000 ($500 ante), and the
players had the following chip counts:
1. Chad Layne - $287,500 (seat 7)
2. Gregg Fund - $175,000 (seat 3)
3. Kevin Song - $174,500 (seat 8)
4. Tom Pniak - $161,500 (seat 2)
5. Chris Ferguson - $136,500 (seat 4)
6. An Tran - $134,000 (seat 9)
At that point, play slowed down, and smaller pots were traded back and forth
for the next hour and a half. Until Hand #60. Gregg Fund was first to act,
and he raised to $14,000. Kevin Song reraised to $44,000 from the button,
and Fund stopped to think for a few minutes. He broke the tension in the
room when he asked if he could go to Chris Ferguson's refrigerator to ask for
advice. (He was alluding to the WSOP commercials where Ferguson is hiding
in a refrigerator, offering poker advice.)
But Fund was on his own, and he decided to call to see the flop of 8c-6c-6s.
Fund bet $25,000, Song raised to $95,000, and then Fund really went into
the tank. ESPN's video camera and various photographers surrounded the
table, and spectators were out of their seats, trying to get a hint as to
whether or not Fund would fold. After about five minutes, Fund finally said,
"All in," and Song immediately called. Fund asked Song if he had aces, but
Song was reluctant to answer. Fund showed pocket tens (10d-10s), and
then Song showed pocket queens (Qc-Qs). Song let out a sigh of relief,
because the question about aces suggested that Fund held kings. But Song's
queens were in the lead, and Fund would need to catch a ten or a
runner-runner straight to eliminate Song. The turn was the Ad, and the river
was the Qd, giving Song an unnecessary full house to double up through
Gregg Fund. It was the biggest pot of the tournament so far, and it made
Song the chip leader, while Fund was dropped to last place.
Three hands later (Hand #63), Pniak raised to $14,000, Fund called from the
button, Ferguson reraised to $38,000 from the small blind, Pniak folded, and
Fund called again. The flop came Ac-6c-5h, Fund bet his few remaining chips,
and Ferguson automatically called. Fund showed Qc-Jh (queen high), while
Ferguson held Ah-Js (pair of aces). Fund was nearly drawing dead, needing
to catch running queens or a runner-runner straight to stay alive. The last
two cards were 9d-2s, and Gregg Fund was eliminated in sixth place,
earning $60,348.
An Tran was having a very quiet final table, not getting involved in too many
hands. He'd pick up some small pots from time to time, but he was slowly
moving down in the chip counts. He was short stacked in Hand #71, when
Song raised to $13,000 from the button, and Tran moved all in from the small
blind. Song asked for a count, and it would be another $26,500 to make the
call. Tran was trying to sell the call, telling Song, "It's cheap!" But even with
the pot odds, Song was reluctant, admitting he was embarrassed to show
his hand. He finally called, showing 3d-2d. Hey, at least it was a suited
connector. Tran had the preflop lead with Ac-Kh.
But the flop of 6c-5c-3c evened things out considerably. It was nearly 50-50
as Tran had overcards with a flush draw against Song's pair with a gut-shot
straight draw. The turn card was the Qs (a blank that favored Song), and the
river card was the 4s, unnecessarily completing Song's straight. An Tran was
eliminated in fifth place, earning $70,406.
About this point, The blinds increased to $3,000-$6,000 ($1,000 ante), and
the players agreed to play another hour (half a level) before taking a dinner
break. But things would move quickly to change those dinner plans. The chip
counts were as follows:
1. Chris Ferguson - $333,000 (seat 4)
2. Chad Layne - $325,000 (seat 7)
3. Kevin Song - $285,000 (seat 8)
4. Tom Pniak - $127,000 (seat 2)
In Hand #78, Pniak raised to $18,000, Ferguson reraised to $55,000, and
Pniak thought for about two minutes before making the call. The flop came
Ah-3c-3d, Pniak pushed all in, but Ferguson called with Ac-Qd (pair of aces).
Pniak was in deep trouble with Kc-Jd (king high), and he'd need to catch
something runner-runner to stay alive. The last two cards were 8d-7c, and
Tom Pniak was eliminated in fourth place, earning $80,464. Ferguson
increased his lead even further, holding about $479,000 in chips.
Down to three players, Ferguson raised to $18,000 in Hand #84, and Song
called from the big blind. Both players checked the flop of 10h-8s-5h, and
Song check-raised Ferguson to $105,000 when the Kc hit the turn. Ferguson
thought for a few minutes before raising to $300,000, and Song immediately
called all in, showing 10s-8d (two pair). But Ferguson held Kd-5c for a higher
two pair. Song was down to four outs, needing to catch an eight or a ten to
stay alive. The river card was an ace, and Kevin Song was eliminated in third
place, earning $110,638.
Just fifteen minutes before, Ferguson and Layne were nearly tied for the chip
lead. But Ferguson eliminated two players, inheriting their chips to build a
stack of $770,000 that was more than 2.5-to-1 over Layne's $300,000. They
immediately continued playing, with their scheduled dinner break 45 minutes
away.
They finished three quick hands before Harrah's stepped in, asking for a
15-minute break to present the prize money and place it on the table. (ESPN
was taping, and with audience-favorite Ferguson playing heads-up, this
would definitely make it to television in some form.)
The 15-minute break was extended to almost 40 minutes amidst some
confusion, and play was ready to resume about 7:00 pm. But since it seemed
silly to start the dinner break after a 40-minute break, they agreed to play it
out to the end of the level. The revised dinner break wouldn't come around
until nearly 8:40 pm. Many of the spectators and media were hoping it would
be over by then. It wouldn't.
Heads-up play began on Hand #85. If Ferguson had been up against a less
experienced player, there might have been some preflop all-in bets early, as
a rookie might try to negate the pro's advantage, and rely on luck. But Chad
Layne is a strong, experienced player, and he was more than willing to play
Ferguson post-flop, testing his skill (with a short stack, no less) against one
of the best.
Hand #102 was a big one. Ferguson raised to $18,000 preflop, and Layne
called. The flop came Jd-8d-4c, and Layne check-called $25,000 from
Ferguson. The turn card was the 10s, and Layne check-called $75,000,
although he spent about two minutes on the decision. The river card paired
the board with the 10d, also completing a potential diamond flush draw.
Layne checked again, Ferguson bet $80,000, and Layne thought long and
hard for several minutes before eventually calling on a tough board.
Ferguson showed pocket queens (Qc-Qs), and Layne mucked, probably with
a jack in his hand. Ferguson won the pot.
Layne was in trouble now, with about $160,000 in chips against Ferguson's
stack of about $910,000. Ferguson had over a 5.6-to-1 chip lead. Ferguson
made a diamond flush on the river of Hand #111 to drop Layne down even
further, to about $115,000. Layne's hopes of victory were slipping away.
Short-stacked, Layne reraised all in on Hand #114, but Ferguson folded. The
next hand, it was Ferguson's turn to reraise, but Layne immediately called all
in, showing Ah-Js against Ferguson's Ks-Qc. The board came 4c-3c-2s-5s-7s,
giving Layne a five-high straight to double up to about $260,000. He was still
dramatically outchipped, but at least Layne had enough chips to breathe, and
could play poker without pushing all in.
They continued to play for small pots, neither one interested in taking
unnecessary chances at this point. When the dinner break finally rolled
around at 8:40 pm, there was just a $10,000 swing from when heads-up
play began 57 hands before. Ferguson had $762,000 to Layne's $308,000.
Dinner lasted an hour, and play promptly resumed at 9:40 pm.
The battle over small pots continued, with Ferguson slowly but steadily
increasing his lead. In Hand #167, Layne raised to $24,000, Ferguson
reraised enough to put Layne all in, and he thought for a minute before
calling. Ferguson showed Ac-Jh, and Layne said, "I didn't want to see that."
He was dominated with Ks-Jc. The flop of Qc-10c-3d improved Layne's
chances, as he had an open-ended straight draw and could win with a nine
or an ace (7 outs). The turn card was the 8h, and the river card was -- the 9c.
Layne made a king-high straight to double up to about $324,000. Layne had
room to breathe again, but it wouldn't last long.
Ferguson raised to $20,000 in Hand #172, and Layne called. The flop came
Ad-Qc-6s, Layne checked, Ferguson bet $35,000, and Layne thought a bit
before reraising to $135,000. Ferguson went into the tank for a few minutes,
eventually reraising another $100,000. The crowd was ready for an all-in
confrontation, but Layne quickly folded. Once again, Layne was desperately
short stacked.
In Hand #175, Layne raised to $24,000, Ferguson reraised to $200,000, and
Layne quickly called all in. Ferguson showed Ad-Jc, but Layne dominated him
with As-Kh, and was looking to double up here to get back in the game.
Earlier, Layne received a reprieve when he outdrew Ferguson in Hand #167.
This time, the poker gods demanded payment. The flop came Js-8h-6d, and
Ferguson made a pair of jacks to take the lead. Layne needed to catch a
king, but it never came. (The last two cards were 5c-7c.) Chad Layne was
eliminated in second place, earning $201,160.
Chris "Jesus" Ferguson won the WSOP Circuit Championship in Las Vegas,
earning $362,088 and a gold-and-diamond ring. In the short history of the
WSOP Circuit (the first event was back in January), this is Ferguson's second
victory in a championship event, and today's win guarantees his entry into
the 2006 WSOP Tournament of Champions. (Ferguson's other victory came in
early March at the Rincon in San Diego.)
Ferguson can be an intimidating presence at the poker table, dressed in
black and sitting motionless behind sunglasses and a black cowboy hat.
When he's playing, Ferguson never moves without a purpose. He doesn't
shuffle his chips, or make any other unnecessary movements. All of his
thinking is done on the inside, and when he decides to bet, he simply grabs
the necessary chips and makes the bet. When he folds, he simply pushes his
cards to the dealer. There's absolutely no wasted effort, and it's a refreshing
sight compared to some rookies who think chip shuffling and overacting are
the only ways to play.
Don't let the intimidating image fool you. Away from the poker table,
Ferguson is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet, always friendly and
smiling, and signing autographs for poker fans. But as a professional
tournament poker player, Ferguson is all business at the table. And in 2005,
business has been very, very good.
Reported by BJ Nemeth
Chris Ferguson Wins His Second WSOP Circuit Championship
The three-day World Series of Poker Circuit Championship in Las Vegas came
to a conclusion on Friday. A smaller-than-expected field of 107 players was
down to the final nine, ready to play for their share of a million-dollar prize
pool.
ESPN had a skeletal crew on hand to record the results for posterity, but it
could never be broadcast as a stand-alone episode. There were no hole
cams in the table, and no stationary cameras to record the flops. But all of
the big moments were captured, and they might be edited together into a
montage that will be aired during another broadcast. And when the 2006
Tournament of Champions rolls around, ESPN will definitely need footage of
the winner, to show how they earned their seat.
The final table began with the following chip counts:
1. Chad Layne - $197,500 (seat 7)
2. Kevin Song - $154,500 (seat 8)
3. An Tran - $140,000 (seat 9)
4. Tom Pniak - $139,000 (seat 2)
5. Chris "Jesus" Ferguson - $129,500 (seat 4)
6. Tom Foley - $95,000 (seat 1)
7. Gregg Fund - $80,500 (seat 3)
8. Jim McCrink - $78,500 (seat 5)
9. Michael Fetter - $58,000 (seat 6)
With relatively small blinds of $1,500-$3,000 ($500 ante), it looked like it
could be a marathon final table. (There was over an hour left at that level,
and upcoming levels would be two hours long.) The players and spectators
settled in as the first dozen or so hands were played for small pots.
Hand #14 started normally, with Tom Pniak coming in for a standard raise of
$10,000 from early position, and he was called by Jim McCrink. The flop came
Js-10d-9d, Pniak checked, McCrink moved all in, and Pniak called -- with
pocket aces (Ah-As). McCrink showed Qh-Jh (top pair, open-ended straight
draw), giving him plenty of outs. McCrink needed an eight, jack, queen, or
king to stay alive. But the last two cards fell 7h-9h, and Jim McCrink was
eliminated in ninth place, earning $30,174.
With none of the delays usually seen at TV final tables (exit interviews, etc.),
the next hand (Hand #15) started as soon as McCrink left the table to get
paid. Everyone folded to chip leader Chad Layne in late position, he made a
standard raise to $10,000, and Tom Foley reraised all in for $37,000 from the
big blind. (Foley was short stacked after losing half of his chips in Hand #10
when his A-J was outkicked by Pniak's A-K.) If Foley had more money left in
front of him, he might have taken the pot right there. But Layne had a deep
stack, and made the call, showing Jh-10c. Foley held pocket eights, and it
was a race situation. Layne took the lead on a flop of Qs-Js-6h, and Foley
missed his two-outer when the last two cards fell 6d-4d. Tom Foley was
eliminated in eighth place, earning $40,232.
The final table was just half an hour old, and two seats were already empty.
Perhaps this wouldn't be such a lengthy final table after all.
If you were in the hall outside the tournament room, you would think that
Hand #27 was a big one as the crowd cheered. In reality, Chris Ferguson
made a standard preflop raise on the button, and he took the blinds and
antes. Not only was it the first time he won a hand, it was the first time he
even played a hand. Ferguson threw his arms triumphantly into the air,
getting laughter and cheers from the spectators.
In Hand #32, Michael Fetter raised to $8,000 in early position, and the next
three players called. It had the potential of becoming a five- or six-way hand,
but the blinds folded, and four players saw the flop of Ac-7h-3c. Fetter was
first to act, and immediately said, "I'm all in." Kevin Song called the additional
$25,000, and the other two players folded. Fetter showed As-Qd (pair of
aces), while Song held Jc-10c (flush draw). Fetter was in the lead, but the 8d
on the turn gave Song additional outs with a gut-shot straight draw. Sure
enough, the 9h fell on the river to complete Song's runner-runner straight,
and Michael Fetter was eliminated in seventh place, earning $50,290.
It was just over an hour into the final table, and one-third of the table was
gone. The blinds were going up to $2,000-$4,000 ($500 ante), and the
players had the following chip counts:
1. Chad Layne - $287,500 (seat 7)
2. Gregg Fund - $175,000 (seat 3)
3. Kevin Song - $174,500 (seat 8)
4. Tom Pniak - $161,500 (seat 2)
5. Chris Ferguson - $136,500 (seat 4)
6. An Tran - $134,000 (seat 9)
At that point, play slowed down, and smaller pots were traded back and forth
for the next hour and a half. Until Hand #60. Gregg Fund was first to act,
and he raised to $14,000. Kevin Song reraised to $44,000 from the button,
and Fund stopped to think for a few minutes. He broke the tension in the
room when he asked if he could go to Chris Ferguson's refrigerator to ask for
advice. (He was alluding to the WSOP commercials where Ferguson is hiding
in a refrigerator, offering poker advice.)
But Fund was on his own, and he decided to call to see the flop of 8c-6c-6s.
Fund bet $25,000, Song raised to $95,000, and then Fund really went into
the tank. ESPN's video camera and various photographers surrounded the
table, and spectators were out of their seats, trying to get a hint as to
whether or not Fund would fold. After about five minutes, Fund finally said,
"All in," and Song immediately called. Fund asked Song if he had aces, but
Song was reluctant to answer. Fund showed pocket tens (10d-10s), and
then Song showed pocket queens (Qc-Qs). Song let out a sigh of relief,
because the question about aces suggested that Fund held kings. But Song's
queens were in the lead, and Fund would need to catch a ten or a
runner-runner straight to eliminate Song. The turn was the Ad, and the river
was the Qd, giving Song an unnecessary full house to double up through
Gregg Fund. It was the biggest pot of the tournament so far, and it made
Song the chip leader, while Fund was dropped to last place.
Three hands later (Hand #63), Pniak raised to $14,000, Fund called from the
button, Ferguson reraised to $38,000 from the small blind, Pniak folded, and
Fund called again. The flop came Ac-6c-5h, Fund bet his few remaining chips,
and Ferguson automatically called. Fund showed Qc-Jh (queen high), while
Ferguson held Ah-Js (pair of aces). Fund was nearly drawing dead, needing
to catch running queens or a runner-runner straight to stay alive. The last
two cards were 9d-2s, and Gregg Fund was eliminated in sixth place,
earning $60,348.
An Tran was having a very quiet final table, not getting involved in too many
hands. He'd pick up some small pots from time to time, but he was slowly
moving down in the chip counts. He was short stacked in Hand #71, when
Song raised to $13,000 from the button, and Tran moved all in from the small
blind. Song asked for a count, and it would be another $26,500 to make the
call. Tran was trying to sell the call, telling Song, "It's cheap!" But even with
the pot odds, Song was reluctant, admitting he was embarrassed to show
his hand. He finally called, showing 3d-2d. Hey, at least it was a suited
connector. Tran had the preflop lead with Ac-Kh.
But the flop of 6c-5c-3c evened things out considerably. It was nearly 50-50
as Tran had overcards with a flush draw against Song's pair with a gut-shot
straight draw. The turn card was the Qs (a blank that favored Song), and the
river card was the 4s, unnecessarily completing Song's straight. An Tran was
eliminated in fifth place, earning $70,406.
About this point, The blinds increased to $3,000-$6,000 ($1,000 ante), and
the players agreed to play another hour (half a level) before taking a dinner
break. But things would move quickly to change those dinner plans. The chip
counts were as follows:
1. Chris Ferguson - $333,000 (seat 4)
2. Chad Layne - $325,000 (seat 7)
3. Kevin Song - $285,000 (seat 8)
4. Tom Pniak - $127,000 (seat 2)
In Hand #78, Pniak raised to $18,000, Ferguson reraised to $55,000, and
Pniak thought for about two minutes before making the call. The flop came
Ah-3c-3d, Pniak pushed all in, but Ferguson called with Ac-Qd (pair of aces).
Pniak was in deep trouble with Kc-Jd (king high), and he'd need to catch
something runner-runner to stay alive. The last two cards were 8d-7c, and
Tom Pniak was eliminated in fourth place, earning $80,464. Ferguson
increased his lead even further, holding about $479,000 in chips.
Down to three players, Ferguson raised to $18,000 in Hand #84, and Song
called from the big blind. Both players checked the flop of 10h-8s-5h, and
Song check-raised Ferguson to $105,000 when the Kc hit the turn. Ferguson
thought for a few minutes before raising to $300,000, and Song immediately
called all in, showing 10s-8d (two pair). But Ferguson held Kd-5c for a higher
two pair. Song was down to four outs, needing to catch an eight or a ten to
stay alive. The river card was an ace, and Kevin Song was eliminated in third
place, earning $110,638.
Just fifteen minutes before, Ferguson and Layne were nearly tied for the chip
lead. But Ferguson eliminated two players, inheriting their chips to build a
stack of $770,000 that was more than 2.5-to-1 over Layne's $300,000. They
immediately continued playing, with their scheduled dinner break 45 minutes
away.
They finished three quick hands before Harrah's stepped in, asking for a
15-minute break to present the prize money and place it on the table. (ESPN
was taping, and with audience-favorite Ferguson playing heads-up, this
would definitely make it to television in some form.)
The 15-minute break was extended to almost 40 minutes amidst some
confusion, and play was ready to resume about 7:00 pm. But since it seemed
silly to start the dinner break after a 40-minute break, they agreed to play it
out to the end of the level. The revised dinner break wouldn't come around
until nearly 8:40 pm. Many of the spectators and media were hoping it would
be over by then. It wouldn't.
Heads-up play began on Hand #85. If Ferguson had been up against a less
experienced player, there might have been some preflop all-in bets early, as
a rookie might try to negate the pro's advantage, and rely on luck. But Chad
Layne is a strong, experienced player, and he was more than willing to play
Ferguson post-flop, testing his skill (with a short stack, no less) against one
of the best.
Hand #102 was a big one. Ferguson raised to $18,000 preflop, and Layne
called. The flop came Jd-8d-4c, and Layne check-called $25,000 from
Ferguson. The turn card was the 10s, and Layne check-called $75,000,
although he spent about two minutes on the decision. The river card paired
the board with the 10d, also completing a potential diamond flush draw.
Layne checked again, Ferguson bet $80,000, and Layne thought long and
hard for several minutes before eventually calling on a tough board.
Ferguson showed pocket queens (Qc-Qs), and Layne mucked, probably with
a jack in his hand. Ferguson won the pot.
Layne was in trouble now, with about $160,000 in chips against Ferguson's
stack of about $910,000. Ferguson had over a 5.6-to-1 chip lead. Ferguson
made a diamond flush on the river of Hand #111 to drop Layne down even
further, to about $115,000. Layne's hopes of victory were slipping away.
Short-stacked, Layne reraised all in on Hand #114, but Ferguson folded. The
next hand, it was Ferguson's turn to reraise, but Layne immediately called all
in, showing Ah-Js against Ferguson's Ks-Qc. The board came 4c-3c-2s-5s-7s,
giving Layne a five-high straight to double up to about $260,000. He was still
dramatically outchipped, but at least Layne had enough chips to breathe, and
could play poker without pushing all in.
They continued to play for small pots, neither one interested in taking
unnecessary chances at this point. When the dinner break finally rolled
around at 8:40 pm, there was just a $10,000 swing from when heads-up
play began 57 hands before. Ferguson had $762,000 to Layne's $308,000.
Dinner lasted an hour, and play promptly resumed at 9:40 pm.
The battle over small pots continued, with Ferguson slowly but steadily
increasing his lead. In Hand #167, Layne raised to $24,000, Ferguson
reraised enough to put Layne all in, and he thought for a minute before
calling. Ferguson showed Ac-Jh, and Layne said, "I didn't want to see that."
He was dominated with Ks-Jc. The flop of Qc-10c-3d improved Layne's
chances, as he had an open-ended straight draw and could win with a nine
or an ace (7 outs). The turn card was the 8h, and the river card was -- the 9c.
Layne made a king-high straight to double up to about $324,000. Layne had
room to breathe again, but it wouldn't last long.
Ferguson raised to $20,000 in Hand #172, and Layne called. The flop came
Ad-Qc-6s, Layne checked, Ferguson bet $35,000, and Layne thought a bit
before reraising to $135,000. Ferguson went into the tank for a few minutes,
eventually reraising another $100,000. The crowd was ready for an all-in
confrontation, but Layne quickly folded. Once again, Layne was desperately
short stacked.
In Hand #175, Layne raised to $24,000, Ferguson reraised to $200,000, and
Layne quickly called all in. Ferguson showed Ad-Jc, but Layne dominated him
with As-Kh, and was looking to double up here to get back in the game.
Earlier, Layne received a reprieve when he outdrew Ferguson in Hand #167.
This time, the poker gods demanded payment. The flop came Js-8h-6d, and
Ferguson made a pair of jacks to take the lead. Layne needed to catch a
king, but it never came. (The last two cards were 5c-7c.) Chad Layne was
eliminated in second place, earning $201,160.
Chris "Jesus" Ferguson won the WSOP Circuit Championship in Las Vegas,
earning $362,088 and a gold-and-diamond ring. In the short history of the
WSOP Circuit (the first event was back in January), this is Ferguson's second
victory in a championship event, and today's win guarantees his entry into
the 2006 WSOP Tournament of Champions. (Ferguson's other victory came in
early March at the Rincon in San Diego.)
Ferguson can be an intimidating presence at the poker table, dressed in
black and sitting motionless behind sunglasses and a black cowboy hat.
When he's playing, Ferguson never moves without a purpose. He doesn't
shuffle his chips, or make any other unnecessary movements. All of his
thinking is done on the inside, and when he decides to bet, he simply grabs
the necessary chips and makes the bet. When he folds, he simply pushes his
cards to the dealer. There's absolutely no wasted effort, and it's a refreshing
sight compared to some rookies who think chip shuffling and overacting are
the only ways to play.
Don't let the intimidating image fool you. Away from the poker table,
Ferguson is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet, always friendly and
smiling, and signing autographs for poker fans. But as a professional
tournament poker player, Ferguson is all business at the table. And in 2005,
business has been very, very good.
Reported by BJ Nemeth
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$9,400 + $600
$1,005,800
107
$1,005,800
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| 2005 Harrah's Las Vegas Poker Tournament World Series of Poker Circuit Events Championship Event No Limit Hold'em Final Results |
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