UBOC5: Kroon and Seif Run Deep in Heads-Up Event; Mackey Final Tables Event #6
The Ultimate Bet Online Poker Championship Series’ fifth installment continued Saturday with two more UBOC5 tournaments. The UBOC, which is hosted by UB and AP (Absolute Poker) in conjunction with the CEREUS Network, is one of the most anticipated online poker series and is offering a combined $4 million in guaranteed prize pools in the latest edition. For those who can’t afford the buy-in, the Mini-UBOC, which runs simultaneously with the UBOC and offers the same tournament at one-tenth of the buy-in, is an excellent option. The winner of each UBOC event not only receives a nice payday but a championship watch, as well. In addition, anyone who manages to eliminate a Team UB pro receives $200 and a UBOC T-shirt.
The first event of the day, Event #5 $1,000 + $50 No-Limit Hold’em Heads Up, is one of the UBOC’s most expensive and prestigious. It drew 147 players and created a prize pool of $147,000, far surpassing the $128,000 guaranteed. As usual, the event drew a number of UB pros including Gary “DEBO 34” Debernardi (66th) and the event host ,Annie Duke (55th). Both fell short of the money, but two other pros, Mark Seif and Mark “Poker Ho” Kroon, made it deep into the money and found themselves squaring off against one another in the round of eight.
Their match lasted 124 hands and came to a head when Seif (76,000 in chips) raised to 1,920 and Kroon (116,000 in chips) made it 5,760. Seif then reraised all in and Kroon made the call.
Kroon- K♠A♣
Seif- 9♠A♥
Seif was in big trouble and couldn’t improve as the board ran out 4♠3♣7♦5♥7♥. Seif was eliminated in seventh place while Kroon moved on to face Joe “ENDER555” Ebanks in the round of four. In that match, Kroon found himself at an early chip disadvantage, and it didn’t take long for the final hand to develop. In that hand, the board read 7♠J♦9♦Q♦ when all the chips found their way into the pot. Kroon showed J♣J♥ for a flopped set but ENDER555 held K♦3♦ for a flush. Kroon didn’t improve when the 2♠ hit the river and his day came to an end in fourth place, the best finish of a UB pro in the UBOC5 to date.
ENDER555’s victory led him to the final match against THEBRIMMER. After a lengthy back-and-forth match, THEBRIMMER (482,169 in chips) raised to 10,555 and ENDER555 called. The flop came down 5♣3♣K♦ and ENDER5555 checked. THEBRIMMER bet 14,444, ENDER555 called and the turn came 6♣. Both players checked as the Q♦ fell on the river. ENDER555 checked, THEBRIMMER bet 35,555 and ENDER555 moved all in. THEBRIMMER called and showed J♣K♥ for a pair of kings, which was good enough to beat ENDER555’s A♣7♠. THEBRIMMER became the UBOC5 Heads Up champion and took home the $39,690 first-place prize.
UBOC5 Event #5 (No-Limit Hold’em Heads Up)
Buy-in: $1,000 + $50
Guarantee: $128,000
Prize Pool: $147,000
Entrants: 147
1. THEBRIMMER - $39,690
2. Joe “ENDER555” Ebanks - $22,050
3. SZEXIBIRS - $11,760
4. MarK “Poker Ho” Kroon - $11,760
5. Joshua “BBBBB33” Weizer - $5,145
6. Joe “CHADBATISTA_” Urgo - $5,145
7. MARK SEIF - $5,145
8. DRIZZLE222 - $5,145
Notable Finishes: Dan “JEFFGRESSARD” Kelly (15th - $2,205), Nick “BLUEFLARE” Saxon (16th - $2,205), Scott “R_A_Y” Montgomery (20th - $1,470), Corey “CMB8757” Burbick (21th - $1,470), Mark “DIPTHR0NG” Herm (23rd - $1,470), Chris “INYOUREYE111” Moorman (26th - $1,470), Jon “APESTYLES” Van Fleet (29th - $1,470), Jeffrey “JPSTATION” Papola (30th - $1,470), David “DOCTORDOKTOR” Sonelin (32nd - $1,470)
The Mini-UBOC5 Event #5, $10 + $1 No-Limit Hold’em Heads Up, hosted by online pro FEINT, drew 335 participants and created a prize pool of $3,350. Gary “DEBO 34” Debernardi (149th) and Mark “Poker Ho” Kroon (142nd) were the only two UB pros to test their abilities, but both came up far short of the money. In the end, it was __MANIAC1__ facing off against CC PILSNER in what turned out to be a quick match.
On just the second hand, CC PILSNER (614,421 in chips) raised to 15,360 and __MANIAC1__ (921,579 in chips) made the call. The flop fell J♦8♣2♠ and CC PILSNER bet, __MANIAC1__ raised to 30,720, and CC PILSNER made the call. When the 6♣ hit the turn, __MANIAC1__ bet 46,080, CC PILSNER raised 122,880, and it was __MANIAC1__’s turn to call. The river was the 3♠ and after a check, CC PILSNER moved all-in for 445,461, which __MANIAC1__ called. CC PILSNER showed 3♣3♥ for a rivered set, which was good enough take down the 1,228,842 pot.
The final hand came a short time later when __MANIAC1__ (253,398 in chips) got all-in preflop with A♦5♠ against the A♠K♥ of CC PILSNER. The board ran out 9♥4♣4♠2♦10♣ and the championship match came to an end in just 25 hands. CC PILSNER became the Mini-UBOC5 Event #5 champ and took down the $904.50 first-place prize.
Mini-UBOC5 Event #5 (No-Limit Hold’em Heads Up)
Buy-in: $10.00 + $1.00
Guarantee: $2,560
Prize Pool: $3,350
Entrants: 335
1. CC PILSNER- $904.50
2. __MANIAC1__- $502.50
3. JUSSABEAST- $268.00
4. NDROUNDER008- $268.00
5. BABELICIOUS1- $117.25
6. WRONGPRICE- $117.25
7. OMGLADYGAGA- $117.25
8. DE4LT- $117.25
The $200 + $15 Pro Bounty NLH Turbo 2x Short Stack tournament, Event #6 of the UBOC5, had one optional rebuy, players started with just 1,000 chips, and the blinds were raised every five minutes. Needless to say, it didn’t take long to complete this event. Three hundred and fifty-six players entered to compete for their share of the $100,000 guaranteed prize pool. UB pro Annie Duke fell just short of the money in 43rd place, while Matt Graham (82nd), Mark “Poker Ho” Kroon (103rd) and Gary “Debo34” Debernardi (189th) made deep runs but ultimately came up short. In the end, it was a stacked final table including James “MIG_NET” Mackey, Igor “LECHUCKPOKER” Kurganov and Chris “GETTINDAIZEY” Oliver. While all of these players came close, it was ACEGIRL123 who overcame them all and claimed victory along with the $25,000 first-place prize.
UBOC5 Event #6 (Pro Bounty NLH Turbo 2X Short Stack)
Buy-in: $200 + $15
Guarantee: $100,000
Prize Pool: $100,000
Entrants: 356
1. ACEGIRL123- $25,000
2. Igor “LECHUCKPOKER” Kurganov- $15,150
3. Chris “GETTINDAIZEY” Oliver- $10,500
4. James “MIG_NET” Mackey- $7,750
5. MARUKIN- $6,500
6. TARHEELKID23- $5,250
7. PIMPLYTEEN- $4,250
8. ELDUQUEDELSOL- $3,250
9. TOOTSIESREG- $2,250
The second Mini-UBOC5 event of Saturday, Event #6 $20.00 + $2.00 Pro Bounty NLH Turbo 2X Short Stack, hosted by Vincent “AIRKID3” Moscati, drew 399 players that created a prize pool of $10,560, barely surpassing the $10,000 guaranteed. Because it was a turbo tournament, action was fast and furious. Robert “PERKY264” Perkins made the final table, finishing in sixth place, but it was SUREFIREBETS who bested NHORUNG in heads-up action to take down the title and a $2,634.72 payday.
Mini-UBOC5 Event #6 (Pro Bounty NLH Turbo 2X Short Stack)
Buy-in: $20.00 + $2.00
Guarantee: $10,000
Prize Pool: $10,560
Places Paid: 45
1. SUREFIREBETS- $2,634.72
2. NHORUNG- $1,584.00
3. HOPIN- $1,082.40
4. JKAVANAGH84- $739.20
5. Robert “PERKY264” Perkins- $633.60
6. DCARLC- $528.00
7. HOKIEHILL- $422.40
8. DILLPICKER- $316.80
9. IMALILTEAPOT- $211.20
Not only can you sill play in most of the UBOC and mini UBOC events left in the current festival, there is still time for our exclusive $1500 UB Freeroll at the end of UBOC.
PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.
