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 he Guardian Poker Column |
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| Elkan Allan in Las
Vegas writes for the Guardian News Group |
| Thursday July 15 2005
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| Nine millionaires left standing
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There are no Brits left, but Irishman Andy Black still has a crack
at the $7.5m first prize
The final table of the World Championship
of Texas Hold'em Poker will enter its climactic stage tonight with just nine
players standing. The whole event moved yesterday from the cavernous Rio Suites
Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip to its relatively tiny but traditional home,
Binion's Horseshoe, downtown. But so overwhelmed are the organisers that they
have announced next year it will stay at the Rio all through.
Today's 27
hopefuls - from 6,000 starters - were whittled down to nine after play finally
finished past 3am Las Vegas time. Earlier Tiffany Williamson, who won her entry
at London's Gutshot Club for a £5 fee, was knocked out. But she walked
away with $400,000 for her 15th place.
Still in was Connor Tate from
Bury, Lancs., who has been barred from 30 casinos for card-counting in
blackjack - a fact he is proud of, as it proves his superior skill at
memorising cards. This skill has been holding him in good stead as he has
progressed through the vast field here.
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 Also in with a
chance is Dublin's Andrew Black. He stayed in the game while last year's
winner, Greg "Fossilman" Raymer, and the much-fancied young professional
whizzkid Phil Ivey were eliminated from his table, giving him a great chance to
follow an earlier Irish winner, Noel Furlong, to victory and this year's first
prize of $7.5m - easily the biggest purse of any annual sporting
event.
The only British player in the semi-finals, London cab driver
John McGrane, was knocked out earlier yesterday - but with the substantial
compensation of $304,680.
The final table will consist of: Joe Hashem
Andy Black Tex Barch Daniel Bergsdorf Mike Matusow Aaron Kanter Brad Koudrachi
Steve Dannenmann
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