Aruba Classic Final Table Showdown
Here is the chip count as the players easer their way to the final table
Travis Rice: 1,549,000
Brad Smithson: 1,495,000
James Mordue: 997,000
Nick Blackburn: 949,000
Jordan Rich: 700,000
Jason Gray: 247,000
In true Aruba Classic fashion, the final table action was held outside. In oven conditions, Travis "the Turkey" Rice, known to his friends as "TravestyFund" dominated the action, beating the elements. Enduring the hilarious attraction of a huge dragonfly, who kept buzzing at his head. In true professional fashion, "The Turkey" ignored the distraction and domination field to take down the title and a cool $800,000 first prize purse.
Jordan "Jolly" Rich from Portland struggled from the offset. The run of cards seemed to desert him at the final table. Flittering away about 2/3rd of his stake, he found himself with pocket 7's. He took this chance to get back into the game and found himself in a preflop all in position with Smithson, who was holding AK. With slightly over a 50% chance of holding on "Jolly" Rich knew it wasn't his day when the flop came AAK. You could see the apathy in his face as he went out in 6th & collected $77,075 for his efforts.
Jolly's, buddy, Aruba roommate, and fellow Portland player Jason Gray didn't fare much better. Although holding on well for a while, he found himself landing a great hand with pocket AA, which was ultimately his downfall. Shortstacked,he eased his way into the hand, hoping to double up and get himself back into contention. Again with Smithson in the midst of the action after the flop, which was showing 9-8-6, Gray did a swift check raise and threw his chips all in. Holding pocket 77's Smithson called the all in. Although behind, Smithson had an open ended draw, the turn showed up blank but on the river, another 7 landed to give smithson trip's to crack Grays Aces. Unlucky, but out in 5th for a nice $106,310, Gray and his flatmate "Jolly" vowed never again to play another poker game with a 7 in the deck.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, "The Turkey" Rice was beginning his march to the title, winning a couple of big hands and grabbed a notable lead over the remaining three players after he caught Smithson with his J8, and a sick flop of J-8-8. This time it was Smithson's turn to be on a loser with pocket aces, Slow playing the hand, "The Turkey" simply called on the flop and turn. When Smithson made his move on the river, throwing $600k into the pot, the trap was set and "The Turkey" moved allin. Smithson call and swiftly flicked over his cards to expose his pocket rockets. you could see the disgust in Brad's face as "The Turkey" flipped over his J8, fro the full house. This killed Smithson's stack and gave Travis a chip lead of 3.3 million.
On a roll, Travis "The Turkey" Rice did another number on Nick Blackburn. Low on chips and in dire straights, Blackburn, first to play pushed in 320k holding KQ. From the small blind, Rice called with his marginal hand of 4-4. The flop of 9-6-4 delivered Rice his trip fours. Steve Mordue must have been kicking himself, folding pocket 6's in the big blind position. Allin, Blackburn need some unlikely luck and funnily enough, he didn't get it and was out in 4th, for $146,180.
Up against it, Smithson had a glimmer of hope when he managed to double up, landing with his K9 over Mordue's pocket seven's. Working back his lost chips, Smithson landed AJ and got into a bidding battle, again with Mordue. The aggressive betting put Smithson allin. They both flipped over the cards and Mordue revealed a damaging blow, showing AK. The flop landed both players two pair, showing A-K-J. Not a great flop for Smithson as he still needed another J to stay in the game. The turn and river provided Smithson with no joy and he dropped out in 3rd place for a handsome $252,490.
Now on to the serious battle, Rice and Mordue in a heads up battle for first place. Rice the clear favorite with 3.5 million in chips to Mordue's 1.9 million. Both aggressive players with nerves of steel, enduring elements the late Steve Irwin would be proud of.
A cheeky early play by "The Turkey" set the tempo for the conclusion. Mordue's raise was matched, followed by a decent reraise fro Rice. Mordue folded and Rice flipped over a J3. That showed he meant business and wasn't going to be pushed around.
With an identical play soon after, Mordue decided to take a stance and threw all his chips in the middle, declaring allin. Rice gave this considerable thought. Did Mordue think he was on another cheeky steal? Rice decided to call to find out, showing a fairly decent hand of K-10. Mordue wasn't bluffing, he did have a strong starting hand of AK suited. Now Rice was at the mercy of the cards. The flop showed 8-4-Q, helping neither player. To win "The Turkey" needed a 10 or faced losing his lead. With the luck of the Irish, he landed his 10 on the turn. Now it was Mordue's turn to sweat. It was last chance saloon and he now needed a Jack or Ace on the river to survive. No joy, and he collected $478,405 for runners up spot.
"The Turkey", otherwise known as Travis "TravestyFund" Rice, when home a happy man with the Aruba Poker Classic Title and a sweet $800,000 for his long days work.
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