Tournament number 11 is in the books and we have another first time winner.  We had 29 players this time.  The points standings are getting extremely interesting.  Basically if you win you are almost guaranteed a seat in the final tournament.  As a matter of fact, except for the bottom few points places a second place finish should get you in.  As for this tournament Blake M was first out when he flopped trips but Tom J flopped a better set.  Scott C was next to go when Christina M got her first of 6 hits on the evening.  As players continued to exit Will M continued to accumulate an impressive chip stack.

When Matt F took out Darlene J in 11th we got down to the final table.  Kevin H was the first to leave the final table when Mat K sent him packing.  Next to go was Mat F, taken out by Jerry T.  Eighth place went to Greg E as Christina M took him out.  Mark L became this weeks bubble boy getting busted out in seventh by Mat K.  Josh G home from college for the weekend and playing for the first time this season took down the last money spot getting ousted in sixth by Mat K.  Jerry T was next out in fifth when Will M took him out.  Fourth place belonged to Christina M as Mike S got his second hit of the night. 

When we got three handed Will M had a pretty substantial chip lead.  Over thirty minutes of three way play saw the chips move there way around the table before Mike S was finally taken out by Mat K.  The heads up match lasted about 25 hands when Will M finally managed to take Mat K out.  Will got his first win and solidified his spot in the final tournament.

Sorry for the slow update for tournament #10.  When I'm the second one on the night to bust out I have a tendency to not want to post the results.  This was a big turnout with 29 players this week and was by far the longest one of the season.  Steve N saved me the embarrassment of being first out yet again by taking out Bob L first.  I was next to go to the rail after a patented Jeff J suck out (just kidding Jeff).  The players dropped slowly, we only had four players out by the first break.  Everyone was trying to play tight and survive now that the points are really starting to count. 

Greg E was this weeks bubble boy going out in sixth place when first timer Scott W sent him to the rail.  Scott then took out Kevin C who had been playing extremely tight (and "un-Kevinlike"), Kevin took the final money spot in fifth.  Dave D got in on the action and decided he'd had enough of the new guy and knocked out Scott W in fourth.  Dave took Karen D out next in third to get heads up with Jeff J.  They decided to split the money but play out the tournament for the points.  After a 10 minute heads up battle Dave's A,7 held up and Dave got his first win.  Dave's win gave him 128.42 points for the night and guaranteed his spot in the final tournament.

We are down to the final two tournaments to set a spot in the year end tournament.  A win or even second place finish almost guarantees everyone but a couple players a seat at the final table.  Even if your near the bottom don't count yourself out.

Tournament number 9 is in the books and it was another good one.  We had 27 players this week with a few late cancellations.  Will M was the first to leave when Jerry T sent him packing early in round 3.  Jerry must have had it out for the family because he then took out Christina M in second to last place in the 4th round.  Jeff J, Mat K and Blake M started accumulating chips in bunches by taking out 6 of the next ten.  We made it down to the final table late in the 8th round when Mat K eliminated Joy C in 11th place.  When the final table started Blake and Mat seemed to have about half the chips at the table.  They continued to add to their stacks by eliminating the first 3 players at the final table.  Blake took out Kelly M in 10th, Mat got Bob L in 9th and Blake then took out Scott C in 8th.  I manged to get a huge triple up from Mat and Blake when they both called my all in and I caught the nut flush taking me from about 3300 in chips to about 10,000.  Early in round 10 Mark L wast taken out in 7th by Karen D.  I took Mat K out in 6th making him this weeks bubble boy (no new golf driver for him this week).  Next out was Karen who was happy to have lasted into the first money spot after being short stacked for much of the final table.  Last weeks winner Steve N made another great showing this week holding on for a fourth place finish.  Darlene J had another great finish managing to hold out for a third place finish without having a single knockout all night.

When Blake and I got heads up he had a fairly significant chip lead and it looked like I was done, barring some very lucky cards.  They eventually came and I was able to even things up maybe even take a chip lead.  We had a great heads up battle trading the chip lead and momentum back and forth for quite awhile.  Blake did a great job whittling away at my chips when I went through a long period of terrible cards.  Just about the time I thought it was over I managed to get all in with my A,J and got a call from Blake with his A,10.  This put me in the chip lead for good.  I was able to finish it off when Blake moved all in with K,10 and I happened to look down and find aces.  Blake caught a king on the flop but nothing else.  Our heads up battle lasted almost 45 minutes and what seemed like at least 100 hands (thanks to Tom and Darlene for shuffling and dealing).  I become the third person, along with Gary and Jeff, to have two wins in a single season which had never even happened once in the prior seasons.

I'll have both the bounties on me next time as both the previous winner and points leader.  It looks like there is going to be a very tight race for the last couple of spots in the final tournament.  There is only about 40 points separating 17th and 23rd places and only 12 between 20th and 21st.  We play again on April 9th and it will be the last one before your lowest scores can start dropping if you have made every one.

Well another great tournament is over.  We had 25 players this week.  We made it into the third round before we lost our first player of the night Greg E.  He was followed soon after by Adam B.  Jeff J had the extra 4 point bounty on his head but was taken out by a non league player Darlene J.  Scott C had a nice evening with 3 hits and a trip to the final table but eventually was taken out in 7th by Gary R.  Yours truly was extremely short stacked most of the night but managed to make the final table.  I tried to avoid confrontation and back my way into a money spot but Gary R had different plans.  He took me out in sixth leaving me this weeks bubble boy, much to Matt F's delight considering that he didn't have many more chips than me.  Once he made the final money spot he was taken out by Christina M.  Darlene was next to go when Steve N took her out in fourth.  When Steve, Christina and Gary got to three handed Gary had an enourmous chip lead and I assumed I was going to have to put his ugly mug up on the website for a third time this season.  Steve and Christina managed to slowly but surely chip away at his stack and eventually Christina knocked him out in third.  That led to the shortest heads up battle of the season lasting exactly one hand.  Steves 10,10 held up against Christina's K,J and he got his firs GPL win.  Steve will have one of the bounties on his head next week and points leader Jeff J will have the other.

Also congratulations to Kelly M on her non league win at our Super Bowl party tournament.  She outlasted the other 8 and beat me heads up.  I wish the Steelers could have done the same but they'll be back next year.

Tournament #7 is in the books and it was our biggest one of the season.  We had the maximum 30 players for the first time.  Kevin H decided he didn't like crowds and exited first for the second tourney in a row.  We didn't lose another player for almost another hour until Scott C left in round four.  The pace certainly picked up as we lost four more before the end of the fourth round.  Mike S earned 4 bonus points when he sucked out  against me busted me out in 12 place.  The hitman of the night was certainly Will M who had an incredible 8 knockouts.  Jerry T had the misfortune of being this weeks bubble boy going out in 7th with Will's help.  Matt F was able to hold on to sixth place and pick up some cash.  Mike S was next to go in fifth followed by newcomer Blake M who finished fourth.  Amazingly that gave Will his fourth consecutive knockout and an amazing chip lead.

Will got three handed with Darlene J and Jeff J with virtually all the chips.  At one point Darlene was down to 500 and Jeff had about 1500 in chips and they were both all in against Will who had the remaining 43,000 chips.  Darlene went home in third and Jeff was able to double up and stay alive.  With a 10:1 deficit in chips when they got heads up Jeff basically made two plays, fold or all-in.  In the most amazing come back I've seen in our league. Jeff managed to avoid Will when he had big hands and tangle with him when he didn't.  After about 15 minutes of heads up Jeff completed the miracle come back and knocked Will out  Congratulations to Jeff on his second win of the season.  Of course as the current chip leader and previous winner both bounties will be on Jeff's head next time.

Well tournament number 6 is in the books and it was my personal favorite so far.  We had 28 players this week including 26 league members.  Kevin H was the first to go, heck I think the Ravens were still winning when Linda K busted him out.  The first of the special bounties was awarded to Don G when he took both Darlene J and Gary R out on the same hand.  Don earned the extra 2 points for taking out Gary the points leader coming into the week.  Tom J went out in eighth place as his pocket kings were cracked not once but twice in back to back hands.  Karen D got the bonus points for taking out Tom.  Matt F followed Tom out the door busting out in seventh and earning this weeks distinction as the bubble boy. Adam B made the money by finishing sixth followed by Kevin C's first tournament cash this season with his fifth place finish.  We played four handed for about 20 minutes before we finally lost Jeff J in fourth.  Jerry T soon followed in third leaving just Karen D and myself.  After seeing Karen repeatedly suck out with the worst hand all night I was a little nervous playing her heads up.  Luckily the good karma from the Steeler's awesome come from behind win stuck with me and I was able to win my first tournament of the season.

With this week's win I am also now the points leader meaning I will have both bounties on my head next time.  The next tournament is the 29th of January, hope to see everyone then.

Happy New Year to everyone.  Sorry for the slow posting on the results but the holidays and year end at work got in the way.  Tournament number five is in the books and it was another good one.  We had 28 players including a few first timers.  I almost managed to be the first player out two weeks in a row when first timer Simo H managed to cripple me early.  I had 9,9 and managed to get all of his chips in while he had A,7.  I was looking great when the flop brought a third 9 for me and an ace for Simo.  Unfortunately the board also brought an 8,6,10 so that Simo backed into a straight leaving me with only about 200 in chips.  Fortunately for me Christina M must have had some last minute shopping she remembered about because she decided to be the first to leave.  Mike S took her out and that started to turn into the theme for the night.  Mike took out 5 of the first 11 players of the night. 

Dave M ended up being the bubble boy for the night busting out in 7th place.  Jeff J took the last paying spot finishing sixth followed by the nights hitman Mike S.  Mat K was next to go followed by Dominic D.  Tom J and I had a great heads up match that lasted over 30 minutes.  The tournament finally ended when I got pocket aces and managed to beat Tom's pocket 10's.  Oh wait, Tom's picture is at the top not mine you say?  That can't be right unless of course he sucked out and caught his ten on the board and finished me by cracking my aces.  And of course that is exactly what happened.  Congratulations to Tom on his win.  Tom will have the extra bounty on him next tournament as well as Gary who continues to be the points leader.  The next game is January 15th, hope to see everyone there.