Full Tilt FTOPS Main Event Recap - First Prize a Whopping $336k

May 21 2007, Haley Hintze

The Full Tilt Online Poker Series [FTOPS] concluded its ten-day run with a magnificent Main Event. The event --- more specifically, FTOPS #10 --- drew nearly 4,000 players with an eye on more than a third of a million in first-prize money and irrevocable FTOPS bragging rights.

Full Tilt FTOPS #10 (Main Event): $1,500,000 Guaranteed NL ($500+35 buy-in)

This season's FTOPS Main Event saw 3,798 players registered for the event, building a prize pool of $1,899,000. That purse wasn't the largest of the night, but the first-place money of $336,217.95 was easily the evening's largest prize. 522 players made it to the money, and the top 15 spots each made at least $10,000 for their night's work. 'John_McClane17' lived up to his 'Die Hard' nickname by amassing over $3.1 million in chips, leading the way to the final table.

The first final-table exit occurred immediately, as a short-stacked 'SN8WMAN' made a move from the small blind with , only to be called by 'RastaAl' from the big blind with . RastaAl took down the pot and notched the knockout when the board offered . A couple of dozen hands later it was RastaAl on the wrong side of the elimination equation. On this hand, RastaAl had to the of 'IdahoQueens,' but the board gave IdahoQueens the Broadway straight.

The chain of knockouts continued moments later. IdahoQueens opened with , then saw 'KingDan23' make an all-in re-raise. KingDan23 had made several re-raises in earlier hands to take down pots pre-flop, but this time IdahoQueens made the call to find KingDan23 with a real hand . It got worse from there, as KingDan23 flopped a set and won easily when the board was complete. The hand pushed KingDan23 to nearly $8 million in chips, twice the level of second place. KingDan23's stack jumped again when he won a race with against 'boNeZee's , the board arriving . boNeZee's departure left five players in the running.

KingDan23 made it three in a row by picking off 'amatos,' who was low on chips and made a move with . KingDan23 made the call from the big blind with , and picked up the pot as the board showed . 'CroqueMonsieur' finally slowed KingDan23's run by doubling through with queens against KingDan23's sixes.

A huge three-way pot saw 'sicklol' bounced to the rail in fourth. KingDan23, with over $9 million in chips and the blinds at $60,000/$120,000 pushed all-in from the button with . Both John_McClane17 and sicklol, the small and big blinds, respectively, were under $2 million at this point. John_McClane17 made the call from the small blind with , and sicklol thought it over and also made the call from the big blind, with . The board itself presented a diamond flush --- --- but John_McClane17 held the for the nut flush and the knockout, having sicklol slightly outchipped.

John_McClane17 caught a fortunate river to continue his surge back to the lead. This time he held to KingDan23's and after a flop, a turn, and a river for the straight, induced a call from KingDan23 on a $1.8 million-chip river value bet. KingDan23, though, doubled through against CroqueMonsieur moments later to climb back into the war, winning an ace-vs.-king kick matchup when both players missed a garbage board. The two players butted heads in two more large pots soon after, with KingDan23 getting the better of the trade after winning with pocket kings against CroqueMonsieur's A-8.

CroqueMonsieur's night finally ended when he moved in for his remaining chips with , and KingDan23 made the call with . The board came , pairing KingDan23's ace and marking the start of heads-up play.

Heads-up action started with KingDan23 holding a narrow lead, which he gradually worked up to a 3;1 margin. John_McClane17 roared back, however, first doubling through with pocket queens, then doing so after rivering a straight and getting KingDan23 to call an all-in push. KingDan23 wasn't quite through, catching two jacks --- the second on the river --- to stay alive after catching the worst end of an AJ-against-QJ matchup.

The end came in similar fashion. The chips went in with KingDan23 having the better of it with to John_McClane17's . A flop paired John_McClane17's seven, but left KingDan23 with twelve outs twice for survival. None of those outs arrived, however, as the turn and river dashed KingDan23's last chance. John_McClane17's pair of sevens held up for the clincher in a $336,000 win.

Final standings:

1st ($336,217.95): John_McClane17
2nd ($203,193): KingDan23
3rd ($132,930): CroqueMonsieur
4th ($104,824.80): sicklol
5th ($78,618.60): amatos
6th ($58,299.30): boNeZee
7th ($43,677): IdahoQueens
8th ($34,182): RastaAl
9th ($25,446.60): SN8WMAN

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