by Josh Harris

Coushatta Casino Resort has completed the $270+30 buy-in tournament for the “Seven Clans Poker Cup Series” February 17-23. Eric Yates of Friendswood, TX took first place in the event and won $16,924. He chopped the event with the second place finisher and jumped with joy when the event ended.

The final table came together at 9 pm and the players were in a hurry to move slow. One player didn’t even show up to play his seat.

Blinds were to $8k-$16k when the first person found himself burnt out. Mitch Bono raised the pot to $40k and Ron Brown moved all-in with $59k. Bono called the all in with pocket Kings and Brown showed his two Jacks. The board had Brown packing up his jacks and moving out in 10th place.

In the next hand, Raymond Racca’s chip stack was all in on the blind. Gilbert Ball called and sent Racca’s empty chair away from the table in 9th place.

Several hands passed and Gilbert Ball decided to move all in with $61k. He got a call from Damian Negrin who showed pocket sevens. Ball flipped over his pocket sixes and flipped out in 8th place when the board provided no hope.

Blinds increased to $10k-$20k with Derrick Le Blanc in the big blind. Steve Jordan called the blind and they headed to the flop of 7 6 A. Jordan moved all in for $30k with J 8 and Le Blanc called with A 10. Steve Jordan headed home when the turn and river came out flat and put him 7th place.

The button moved all the way around the table before Damian Negrin made a move with A 5, raising the pot to $65k. Big blind Steven Brooks called all in with a 10 3. Neither player hit the board so Steven Brooks hit the hay in 6th place.

Play slowed down until Negrin found Kings in the pocket. He raised the pot to $65k and Curtis Cavazos shot back with an all in . Negrin called and then saw his Kings facing Cavazos bullets. The board brought another king so Cavazos’ bullets backfired and shot him off the table in 5th place.

The button made eight rounds before anyone dived into the action again. Blinds were increased to $20k-$40k and Eric Yates raised the pot to $125k. Damian Negrin called and the flop came 9 K Q. Both players checked and the turn was 2. Yates bet $125k and Negrin was all in with pocket fours. Yates showed Q 10. The river was a king and Negrin was snuffed in 4th place.

Two hands later, Negrin moved all in with K 2. Mitch Bono made the call with pocket rockets. Negrin was shot out in space with 3rd place.

After the hand, Eric Yates and Mitch Bono made a deal and chopped heads up. Yates was deemed first and enjoyed having his cake and eating it too.

Congratulations Eric!

____________________

RSF Medias, LLC
J. Harris, Tournament Press

e-mail: rsfpoker@aol.com