After the elimination of Arthur W., Jean-René Gonzalez and Harrison Kaczka settled in for what was probably going to be a pretty quick confrontation. The ratio of chips was approximately 5 to 1 in favor of Harrison.

Jean-René jokingly asked Harrison for an even chop, and got a small giggle from Harrison in response. As the head’s up action got under way, Harrison was seen stacking up chips from his previous wins for quite a few hands. Jean-René even took pity on the titan and asked the dealer to stop, so Harrison could finish stacking his chips.

The confrontation between the two players got of to an intense start. The action was quick, strong and fierce. Harrison was probably thinking that this would be over quickly, and no one could have blamed him for thinking that. But after six or seven hands, the tides were turning in Jean-René’s favor. The chip ratio was now 3 to 1, still in Harrison’s favor, but much more interesting for Jean-René now.

A few hands later, Jean-René was up to 500,000 chips and Harrison had approximately 700,000 in front of him. At this point, two things were obvious to any onlooker. First of all, Jean-René was merciless, making every hand count. Secondly, he was also in the midst of a great streak. Jean-René showed hand after hand to Harrison, demonstrating that he had hit two pairs, a flush, a straight, top-top; with no end in sight.

The two players took advantage of the scheduled break after level 22, which allowed us to perform a final chip count.
With no surprise, Jean-René was now chip leader with 900,000 chips, which left Harrison with 325,000.

Head’s up

Arthur was chip leader for a long time on the final table and all was going well. That is until the Harrison-tornado came to town. In the eye of Harrison’s whirlwind storm, Arthur had lost a lot of chips. A few hands before the elimination of George Wolf, Arthur had fallen victim to a monster cooler at the hands of Harrison. Both players had flopped sets; Arthur had a set of jacks and Harrison had the queens. That brush with Harrison a cost him most of his stack. In regards to Harrison’s streak, one player at the tabled compared him to a freight train with no brakes! Everyone seem to agree that it was a pretty accurate description.

Things were looking bad for Arthur. But a few hands later, George Wolfe got eliminated in fourth place, allowing Arthur got to climb another spot in the prize pool, his small stack notwithstanding.

In the next hand, Harrison bet the pot from the small blind, for 72,000. Big blind with already 24,000 in front, Arthur called. The hand went into head’s up action and the flop came out: .

First to act, Harrison bet the pot. This meant that Arthur could either fold or go all in. He chose the latter option and opened his hand: , top-top; not too bad. Harrison tabled his hand as well: for a pair of nines and a lot of outs for a straight. A popped up on the turn, giving both men two pairs, with Arthur in the lead. Then the came out on the river, giving a straight to Harrison, and sending Arthur to rail in 3rd position.

And then there were two: Jean-René Gonzalez and Harrison Kaczka get ready for heads up action.

3rd place: Arthur W, $1,130

After a few grueling hands that saw Harrison Kaczka scoop up the chips like a Dirt Devil, George Wolf finally got hold of hand worth going to mattress with.

Under the gun, George made a pot bet to 64,000. Both Arthur and Jean-René, button and small blind respectively, quickly got out of the way. This left only big blind Harrison in the pot with George. After a small period of thinking, Harrison bet the pot, effectively putting George all-in. George wasted no time and called, then both men tabled their hands.

George showed , , hoping his rockets or diamond flush-draw would be enough. Harrison opened up and new he was in trouble. His flush draw was dead and his jacks were crushed.

The flop came out: and it made George smile; not bad at all. Harrison, who had been running like a God in the last few hands, stayed true to form when a came on the turn, giving him a straight. At this point, George seriously needed a diamond to make a flush, but the on the turn left him wanting and sent him to the rail in 4th position. Harrison scooped yet another pot into his impressive stack.

George Wolf, 4th position – $800

Enjoying a nice massage and a little lethargic, Robert Gingras was nevertheless wide awake when he called Jean-René Gonzalez’s bet on a : flop. Having not went all-in but just calling, Robert was left with only 6,000 chips behind.

Even before the turn was out, Jean-René bet 6,000, effectively putting Robert all-in. A came on the turn and Robert was already throwing his bounty chip in the mix.

Robert:
Jean-René:

The river letting Jean-René’s hand hold with two pairs.

Robert Gingras – 5th position, $560

George was involved in a hand sporting a nice 100K+ pot, with 58,000 chips in front of him, and only facing Arthur. The board was already showing .

The action was on Arthur W. and he bet 80,000, effectively forcing George to either go all-in for less, or fold. George took a few seconds to think then grabbed his whole stack and slammed it down on the table. “Let’s do this”, he said.

Both players openened their hands:

George:
Arthur:

Arthur said, “you’re good, I’ve only got the ten.” as the dealer revealed the turn: , giving Arthur trips. Never giving up, George said, “c’m’on; gimme a nine.” And sure enough, a poked it’s head up on the river, allowing George to scoop up some much needed chips.