Online Poker > Online Poker News
Poker News
October 31st 2006
WPT North American Championship: O Canada! Turkewitsch wins $1.3 million
The first ever World Poker Tour event to be held in Canada drew a stellar roster of star players and a huge crowd of dedicated fans. In total 497 players took their turn at the green baize to try for their share of the $4.8 million prize pool, and when just six remained the final table was a perfect mix: one poker superstar and five hopeful Canadians.
For the poker superstar read John Juanda, a man with six WPT final tables, eight top ten finishes and 14 cashes to his name, not to mention a tournament career that includes three WSOP bracelets and over $6 million in prize money. He arrived at the final table last in the chip count, but was still regarded by his lesser known table mates as the biggest threat to them all. Here’s how they lined up to start the final table:
1. Jason Sagle - $2,970,000 (seat 3)
2. John Lam - $2,285,000 (seat 4)
3. Soren Turkewitsch - $1,690,000 (seat 5)
4. James “KrazyKanuck” Worth - $1,305,000 (seat 1)
5. Marc Karam - $1,290,000 (seat 2)
6. John Juanda - $425,000 (seat 6)
The first excitement of the day came on the 14th hand, when John Lam raked a monster pot from Jason Sagle. Both players hit trip jacks on the J-J-6 flop but Lam had an ace kicker, and an ace on the turn made him a full house. He raised Sagle’s $400,000 river bet to $1 million and Sagle called, flashing J-T as he mucked, giving Lam a pot worth $2.36 million.
Shortly afterwards we saw our first elimination, when the 26-year-old pro Marc Karam ran his jacks into Soren Turkewitsch’s aces. The board blanked after the two players got all their chips in preflop, and Karam was out in sixth, $169,027 richer.
The aces struck again a few hands later, and this time it was the shortstack who benefited. John Lam raised from under the gun with 5-5 and Sagle re-raised from the big blind with A-A. Lam, spotting his chance to knock Sagle from the tournament, moved all-in and was instantly called by Sagle. Once again the board blanked out and Sagle had gained some revenge for his earlier beat, winning a pot that put him back up to around $2.4 million in chips.
In the midst of this action John Juanda was repeatedly moving all-in and repeatedly being snubbed by his opponents. In all Juanda moved in 11 times without receiving a single call! This enabled Juanda to move from $425,000 to $900,000 but meant he never had the chance to get any real momentum. Finally the Full Tilt pro got his chance when Soren Turkewitsch moved all-in from the small blind and Juanda, with A-Q, called from the big blind. Up against 9-9 it was a text book race, but although Juanda had a flush draw after the turn, that was as close as he got, and he was sent to the rail in fifth, for $217,320.
With four players left Turkewitsch now had a clear chip lead with $4.7 million, followed by Jason Sagle with $2.5 million and James Worth with $1.7 million. John Lam was bringing up the rear with $1.3 million.
A series of re-raises then forced Jason Sagle down to around $1.7 million, before the veteran Canadian went on a brutal run that saw him rocket to the top of the leaderboard. It started with the elimination of James “KrazyKanuck” Worth, who moved all-in over the top of a Jason Sagle raise. After some contemplation Sagle called, and was in great shape with A-K of clubs against Worth’s A-Q of hearts. The board blanked out and Sagle raked in a $2.5 million pot; Worth collected $289,760 for fourth.
Sagle then began winning pots like there was a time bomb under his chair, repeatedly re-raising his opponents and putting them to the test, more often than not forcing them to lay down their hands. It was an impressive display of aggressive poker and Sagle was completely in charge of the table, quickly moving from around $3 million in chips to nearly $6 million.
Eventually Sagle’s constant raising got the better of Soren Turkewitsch, and the car factory worker decided to make a stand, moving all-in over the top of yet another $450,000 Sagle raise. The problem was that by this time Turkewitsch didn’t really have enough chips to make Sagle fold, and after some deliberation Sagle made the call with A-5. It turned out to be a great play, as Turkewitsch only had T-8, but as so often is the case, the great call turned sour when two tens and an eight hit the board to give Turkewitsch a full house and a new lease of life.
Despite the loss Sagle still maintained the chip lead, but Turkewitsch had gained some ground on John Lam, and he then catapulted himself into the chip lead when he picked up As-Ks and called John Lam’s all-in. Lam had A-J and was in bad shape; the board blanked and he was crippled. A few hands later Turkewitsch collected the last remaining chips of Lam when he called Lam’s all-in with Ah-Qh. Lam just had T-5 off suit, and a queen on the flop ensured his elimination. He won $352,541 for third spot.
As a result of that pot Turkewitsch took a $6.1 million to $3.8 million chip lead into the heads-up battle, and a good deal of momentum along with it. That showed as Turkewitsch won three out of the first four pots, taking $1.8 million out of Sagle’s stack.
Sagle was not about to lie down however, and after doubling through Turkewitsch with 4-4 against A-Q he regained some of his previous aggression, and once again took control of the table. With the blinds at $200,000/$400,000 it wasn’t long before Sagle took over the chip lead once again, and the situation began looking ominous for Turkewitsch.
It was then that Turkewitsch delivered a brutal blow to Sagle, effectively ending his chances of winning the title. In keeping with the super-aggressive nature of the final table Turkewitsch moved all-in from the button with A-3, but this time Sagle had a hand, and after going into the tank Sagle announced “I think you’re bluffing” and made the call with A-9. It should have been the end of the tournament, but when the cards were dealt a board that read 9-5-2-4-8 meant that Turkewitsch had hit a miracle straight and taken an unassailable $9.6 million to $400,000 lead.
At least it looked unassailable, but three hands later it was starting to look distinctly vulnerable, as Sagle doubled up twice and moved back up to $2 million. From that point on Turkewitsch exercised some caution, clearly not wanting to double Sagle up again, and Sagle won five of the seven five pots.
Then it came. Turkewitsch moved all-in from the button and Sagle decided to make the call with A-5. It was yet another good call and he was a 2:1 favourite against Turkewitsch’s K-2. No matter, a two on the flop sealed the victory for Turkewitsch. Sagle took a valiant, but ultimately unfortunate second place.
Final table payouts:
1st Soren Turkewitsch (Can) $1,352,224
2nd Jason Sagle (Can) $676,107
3rd John Lam (Can) $352,541
4th James Worth (Can) $289,760
5th John Juanda (US) $217,320
6th Marc Karam (Can) $169,027
Submitted: 31/10/2006 11:15:05
Page 1 of 1
Monthly Archive