Friday, September 01, 2006

Before Wednesday night's 2006 World Poker Tour (WPT) Legends of Poker Main
Event victory, young poker professional Joe Pelton's largest tournament
success was a 2005 super-satellite entry into the World Series of Poker
(WSOP) Main Event. The payout for that event was $25,700, a nice chunk of
change, but mere pennies compared to the $1.5 million Pelton received for
taking home the fourth tournament in the WPT season five schedule. Although
Pelton has cashed in two WSOP events in his young career, his win was
unexpected, especially considering he was playing with some of the best
players in the world at the 2006 Legends of Poker Main Event Final Table.
Defeating a group of six that contained WPT superstars Hoyt Corkins and
Scotty Nguyen, Pelton is no longer flying under the radar. He joins the
large group of young players who are making big names for themselves in
major WPT events. Pelton began the day in third chip position with
$1,100,000, but drew an unfortunate seat, sandwiched between the two chips
leaders, Frankie O'Dell ($3,880,000) and Kevin O'Donnell ($2,345,000).
O'Dell, who came into the final table as the chip leader after cracking
Scotty Nguyen's pocket aces on the hand before the final table was set, was
almost able to hold onto the chip lead for the entirety of the final table,
not giving it away until play was heads-up. A WSOP bracelet holder (2003
Omaha High-Low Split), O'Dell played well enough to win, removing his
greatest threat (O'Donnell) when the two players were first and second in
chips. The near double-up allowed O'Dell to enter three-handed play with a
2-1 chip lead over Hoyt Corkins and Pelton.

Not able to play many pots during the final table play, Corkins moved all-in
over the top of a Pelton raise and was quickly called by the eventual
champion. Corkins showed a pair of threes and Pelton flipped over a J-10
off-suit. Pelton hit a Jack on the flop, bouncing the popular Corkins from
the final table.

After doubling through O'Dell, Pelton again found himself facing a
significant re-raise when O'Dell moved all over the top with pocket Sixes.
Continuing his fearless play, Pelton did not hesitate, calling with his A-7
offsuit. The Ace on the flop improved Pelton and the hand held up, giving
the rising star his first major tournament victory.

The WPT continues to roll on with the next stop coming in Atlantic City, New
Jersey for the Borgata Poker Open. The televised $10,000 WPT event will
begin on September 15.

Here are the final table finishes and payouts:

1.) Joe Pelton - $1,577,170

2.) Frankie O'Dell - $776,385

3.) Hoyt Corkins - $381,540

4.) Kevin O'Donnell - $226,260

5.) Randy Holland - $177,460

6.) Scotty Nguyen - $133,095