'MishkaT' Wins Six-Handed FTOPS Event #17

August 14 2008, Mickey Doft

Wednesday's Event #17 of FTOPS IX drew 1,059 entrants, and the $300+22 six-max format produced 2,239 rebuys and 727 add-ons to build a total prize pool of $1,207,500. Several big names fell just short of the final table, including Robert Williamson III in 19th place ($6,250), Chris "Moormanl" Moorman in 13th place ($9,660), Nick Schulman in 10th place ($18,112.50), and Ram Vaswani in eight place ($25,357.59). The final table itself had a familiar name. Kevin "GetPWN3D" Saul was back at an FTOPS final table for the second time in three nights, and he looked to improve upon his fourth-place finish in Event #12. The chip counts to start the final table were:

Luke "IWEARGOGGLES" Staudenmaier – 1,691,565
MishkaT – 1,616,306
Kevin "GetPWN3D" Saul – 1,439,336
eisenhower1 – 617,112
Claw1980 – 566,450
Masterhp – 470,231

Luke "IWEARGOGGLES" Staudenmaier started as the chip leader and immediately added to his lead. Blinds were 12,000/24,000 with an ante of 3,000 when Claw1980 raised to 52,555 and Staudenmaier reraised to 132,535 from the small blind. Claw1980 then moved all in with for 560,450 total and was called by Staudenmaier, who showed . No card higher than a ten hit the board and Claw1980 was out in sixth, earning $41,055.00. Staudenmaier was not finished there, as he eliminated eisenhower1 several hands later.

With blinds of 14,000/28,000 and a 3,500 ante, Staudenmaier made it 77,650 to go from the button. Eisenhower1 moved all in from the big blind and Staudenmaier called, showing . He was up against and the flop was a good one for Staudenmaier, coming out . The turn clinched the hand for Staudenmaier and eisenhower1 exited with $63,997.50 for fifth place. Kevin Saul was next to increase his stack. He raised from the button to 69,000 with and saw Masterhp move all in from the small blind for 336,731. Saul called and had Masterhp's in terrible shape. The board brought and Masterhp finished in fourth place for $89,355.00.

When three-handed play began, the chip counts were:

Luke "IWEARGOGGLES" Staudenmaier – 2,751,727
Kevin "GetPWN3D" Saul – 1,838,067
MishkaT – 1,811,206

Having already improved upon his finish in Event #12, Saul took a big step in hopes of claiming victory when he doubled up through MishkaT. With the blinds at 17,000/34,000 and an ante of 4,000, Saul raised to 78,000 on the button. MishkaT made it 238,000 to go from the big blind, Kevin Saul moved all in for 1,583,000 total and MishkaT called. Saul's led MishkaT's . The flop came to solidify Saul's lead, and the turn and river propelled him to the chip lead. Though he was then short-stacked, MishkaT got back into the match by doubling through both Saul and Staudenmaier to make it anyone's game.

Saul, however, started to pull away. He crossed the 4,000,000-chip mark and then eliminated Staudenmaier. The blinds had risen to 20,000/40,000 with an ante of 5,000, and from the small blind Saul raised to 116,250. Staudenmaier pushed all in from the big blind for 966,685 and was called by Saul, who showed to lead Staudenmaier's . The flop came out , pairing Saul's ace and giving him a straight draw. Staudenmaier flopped a straight draw as well, but was also drawing to a royal flush. The turn was the , and Staudenmaier needed to catch a spade or a ten on the river to survive. He came up short when the river brought the , and Staudenmaier was eliminated in third place for $119,542.50.

Heads-up play began with Kevin Saul holding almost a 5:1 chip lead, with 5,257,935 to MishkaT's 1,143,065. The momentum shifted though, and MishkaT claimed the lead. The battle would last for well over an hour with each gaining the upper hand but failing to finish it off. The blinds and antes were at the 50,000/100,000/10,000 level when a key hand occurred. MishkaT raised to 300,000 from the button and Saul called. They saw a flop of , and Saul check-raised MishkaT's 400,000 bet to 800,000. MishkaT called and the fell on the turn. Saul, with a slight chip lead, moved all in but was snap-called by MishkaT, who showed for a straight. Saul was caught bluffing with and needed a queen on the river for a chop. The river was the and MishkaT took a commanding lead. In the next hand Saul moved all in for 457,000 with and MishkaT called with . The flop came out giving MishkaT the nut straight and leaving Saul needing runner-runner help. The turn sealed MishkaT's triumph and the river was just a formality. Kevin "GetPWN3D" Saul finished as runner-up $167,842.50.

MishkaT outlasted a tough final table to win Full Tilt's FTOPS IX Event #17 and collect $251,763.75. The final results were:

1. MishkaT – $251,763.75
2. Kevin "GetPWN3D" Saul – $167,842.50
3. Luke "IWEARGOGGLES" Staudenmaier – $119,542.00
4. Masterhp – $89,355.00
5. eisenhower1 – $63,997.50
6. Claw1980 – $41,055.00

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