Farewell Wishes

Carter Phillips — originally from Virginia and now a resident of Charlotte, North Carolina — just eliminated an opponent to secure a boost to his starting stack.

We came on the hand just as the chips were going in on the flop, with Philips on a big draw and his opponent hoping to fade Phillips with a made hand. But the draw came for Phillips, and as his opponent got up to leave he shared a few parting words.

"Good hand," he said to Phillips. "That's a draw you can't get away from... good luck everybody."

He moved to go, then hesitated. "Except for you," he said to Phillips with a wry grin. "I need you to die slowly tonight." Amid the laughter at the table, he added "I mean that in a good way."

He left, and the table continued chuckling about his delivery of the lines, timed a little better than that of his last hand.

"At least he wants me to die in a good way," said Phillips with a smile.