2005/2006 WSOP Circuit Event #1: Tunica, Mississippi

2005/2006 WSOP Circuit Event #1Grand CasinoTunica, MississippiAugust 11-25th, 2005  In what was almost the only major poker event cancelled due to a hurricane, the first WSOP Circuit event of the new 2005/2006 season concluded just forty-eight hours before Hurricane Katrina struck the state of Mississippi. Perhaps due to the fact that the storm was on its way, only 179 players entered the event held at the Grand Casino in Tunica. Nine players survived three grueling days of poker, and there was a great deal of experience at the table, although John Juanda was the only genuine poker pro.  The first knock-out came when Bobby Law moved all-in and showed ace-king off-suit against Darryl Struck's pocket fives. Neither of Struck's outs materialized and he was out in 9th place, earning $34,010. John Juanda ran into Sonny Perry's pocket aces and he was eliminated in 8th place with $51,015.  Short-stacked Johnny Clements of Panama City Beach moved in for his last $25,000. Perry made a raise of another $50,000, and Bryant King moved all-in. Perry called with pocket kings, Bryant with pocket aces, and Clements with ace-five off-suit. A gut-shot straight draw appeared on the turn, but the river card was a king. Kings string of profanity at Perrys win earned him a ten-minute penalty, although it was Johnny Clements who left the tournament in 7th place with $68,020. King was soon eliminated when yet another unfriendly river card spiked, giving Steve Rassi an ace to pair up. King left the table with 6th place and $85,025.  Steve Rassi moved all-in to act on the rainbow flop of ten-nine-six. Perry called and showed nine-seven of clubs against Rassi's jack-ten of diamonds. Rassi's hand was good until the river, when a seven spiked to give Perry two pair. Rassi finished 5th place for $102,030.  Four-handed play continued for the next two and a half hours, and all the remaining players boosted their aggression levels. Jeff Wood finally made a stand against Merkow, moving over the top of Merkow's raise with king-queen off-suit. Merkow called with ace-jack. The flop was ace-queen-ten, pairing each player's hand and also giving each a gut-shot straight draw that could only be completed if the other made two pair. Wood received no help and left in 4th place with a prize of $136,040.  Both Merkow and Perry checked on a flop of nine-six-deuce with two spades. The turn came the five of hearts, and Perry led out for $30,000. Merkow raised another $80,000, Perry came in for another $80,000, and Merkow moved all-in. Perry called and showed the five-deuce of spades for a pair with a combination gut shot and flush draw, and Merkow turned up the seven-three of spades for a higher combination gut shot/flush draw. Then the ace of spades hit the river. Sonny Perry did not win a second WSOP Circuit championship ring, but earned $170,050 for 3rd place.  Merkow went into heads-up play with a $900,000 chip lead, putting consistent pressure on Bobby Law. After 27 hands of heads-up, Law re-raised all-in over Merkow's standard pre-flop raise to $69,000. Merkow called, showing ace-seven off-suit to Law's pocket fives. An ace came on the five, and when the last card hit the board Merkow remained the last man standing.  Displaying intelligent aggression usually seen from top-tier professional players, the amateur from Plano, Texas had outlasted the competition to take home the gold championship ring, $561,195, and an invitation to the Tournament of Champions on Las Vegas next year. Bobby Law earned $309,491 as runner-up.