Event 12 in the 2017 Playground Poker Winter Festival just came to a close, and it was Claude Dufresne who emerged victorious. This event has always been a lot of fun, and tonight was no different. For some reason, seniors understand very well that poker is a game, and people are meant to have fun playing it.

This is not to say that our senior players took the task of winning a Champion’s Trophy lightly. Most of them were playing to win, especially Bob T, who was trying to defend his title, having won the Playground Poker Fall Classic’s Seniors’ Event. He was leading the tournament for a while, but missed the final table. When players got to to it, blinds were pretty high, and action was fast, especially after the ICM deal that the final 6 concluded. All featured prizes reflect that deal, which is why the winner cashed less than the runner-up, who was chip leader at the moment of the deal.

In the end, it was Laszlo Kassa and Claude Dufresne who battled Heads-up. Laszlo had a bit of a chip lead, but Claude had a few low pocket pairs that held, and this is actually how the tournament ended. Laszlo Kassa raised allin from the button with , and Claude defended with . He had just doubled up with that very same hand, and was somehow confident that his fours would do the trick once more; and they did!

Board:

Congratulations!

Event 12 Champion: Claude Dufresne – $2,809.00 and the Champion’s Trophy

Runner-up: Laszlo Kassa – $3,055.00

Last hand of play:

Due to the high blinds, play was already pretty fast, but since the ICM chop, it picked up even more speed. All eliminations were of course set up by pre-flop all-in hands, and Domenic Durante was the first one to fall, taking 6th place. He cashes his secured prize of $2,125.00.

Nasser Amoghli bit the dust next, in 5th position, and he goes home with $2,350.00. He was followed by Vital Cleary who went out in 4th, and his prize was $1,985.00. Richard Sysko also had to leave, leaving Laszlo Kassa and Claude Dufresne heads-up for the Trophy. Richard is now $1,855.00 richer.

Congratulations all for making it to the chop!

During the break, our final 6 seniors agreed upon an ICM chop. They are still playing for $354.00 and of course, the Champion’s Trophy. The following table details the secured prizes:

First Name | Prénom	Last Name | Nom	Prize | Prix
Domenic	Durante	$2,125.00
Vital	Cleary	$1,985.00
Nasser	Amoghli	$2,350.00
Richard	Sysko	$1,855.00
Laszlo	Kassa	$3,055.00
Claude	Dufresne	$2,455.00

Bryan Sheiler took finishes in 8th place, good for $630.00. Murray Conrad followed shortly after, and cashed $820.00 for his 7th place finish.

Our final 6 are now on break, and here are the current chip stacks:

First Name | Prénom	Last Name | Nom	Stack | Tapis
Laszlo	Kassa	635,000
Claude	Dufresne	442,000
Nasser	Amoghli	433,000
Domenic	Durante	336,000
Vital	Cleary	290,000
Richard	Sysko	249,000

 

 

Just before the formation of the final table, it was George Daoukakis who was eliminated in 12th place. He cashed $340.00. Then Michel Bergeron was taken out, allowing the survivors to move to the seniors’ final. Michel took $360.00 for his efforts.

Our 10 finalists got together to finish off this tournament in style. Gerald Fehr was the first player to bust, pocketing $360.00 for his quick final table appearance, followed by Jared Newcombe the very next hand. Jared leaves with 9th place money, $480.00.

Congratulations to them! Play continues 8-handed.

Event 12 has moved to the final table, after 7 and a half hours of play. Nasser Amoghli is leading the way with about 550K, followed by Richard Sysko, with about 475K. Here are the seating arrangements, followed by photos of our Event 12 finalists:

First Name | Prénom	Last Name | Nom	Seat | Siège
Gerald	Fehr	Seat 1
Domenic	Durante	Seat 2
Murray	Conrad	Seat 3
Vital	Cleary	Seat 4
Nasser	Amoghli	Seat 5
Bryan	Sheiler	Seat 6
Richard	Sysko	Seat 7
Jared	Newcombe	Seat 8
Laszlo	Kassa	Seat 9
Claude	Dufresne	Seat 10