ITH Leagues - what a win!

InternetTexasHoldem.com have started a series of leagues which include a Euro-friendly league, a freeroll for newer members, and a VIP league for regular posters of the forum. The points leaders for each league go through to an end-of-season freeroll with the first prize being an entry into one of the World Series side events (usual entry fee around $1500). The winners of each VIP game go through to a seperate freeroll with the winner earning the prize of an entry into the World Series main event (entry fee $10,000).

The first event was the Euro League. I had a mediocre first game finishing 12th out of 24. I was doing ok until my AQ ran into both AA & KK. Bad timing. That just about crippled me and I was out a couple of hands later.

The next event was the VIP league at Poker Stars. This had arguably the strongest field as it contained many experienced tournament players.

I started steady enough, but never really able to build my stack. I made a couple of failed bluff attempts which put me back to around 1100 in chips. I got back up to 1510, then I called SuitedPair's all-in with JJ. She was short-stacked and I had her covered. She had QQ and I was down to 760 in chips. I was then moved to another table. My stack dwindled to 310 in chips as I couldn't get a hand in which I could push all-in with. Eventually with blinds at 75/150, I had to push with JT. I got called by TT. I was looking to be eliminated when the miracle Jack came on the river. I still wasn't safe, I still had to do the same again very soon. A few hands later, I was dealt A9. I pushed first in but got called by Pottymouth in the big blind holding AJ. Again, It looked like I was going out when I caught my 9 on the river again. Now I was up to over 2000 in chips.

I doubled up again a few hands later when I held KJ on a board of K23. ChrisJP decided to push all-in with 77. He didn't improve and my pair of Kings were good to take me to 4170. Then with the final table looming, I had a tough call to make against Nardo11. The previous hand, he had lost a big pot with JJ, losing to a full house. I was dealt AQs and raised to 600. He re-raised all-in. He had over 6000 in chips so if I called and lost, I would have been out. I took time in making my decision as I couldn't decide if he was on tilt and just playing anything, or if he genuinely had a hand. I decided that either way AQs was still a strong enough hand to risk calling. I called and he showed 99. A queen came in the flop, and I was up to 9430. My stack improved even further when I knocked ChrisJP out with my AK v AQ. I was now leading with 15,000.

At this point, I was level pegging with Context, until we clashed. I held AK and he raised to 1200. I re-raised to 4000. He called. Flop was 75K. This was almost a perfect flop for me. I had top pair with top kicker. I expected Context to come out firing, and he duly obliged by betting 1200. I re-raised all-in and he folded. Another pre-flop re-raise with KT took me up to over 21,000, and then we were at the final table. I was leading, and knew I had a perfect opportunity to win.

I took a bit of a hit soon after. On a flop of 78J (all hearts), I held J3. I raised, but Kevbo who had 5000 re-raised me all-in. I called. He held QT with 1 heart. A 2 of hearts made his flush and I was down to 14,000.

On, the final table, everyone was playing very cagey. People were not allowing blinds to be stolen as there were often re-raises all-in from the blinds. The lead kept changing, and basically anyone could have won it. I managed to knock out Context when my JJ beat his 77, and then later Ohjay when my A2 held against his K3. We down to last 3, and then heads-up when Kevbo knocked out Bergeroo.

So, down to last 2. We were almost even with chips. I had 39k, Kevbo had 41k. First hand I get dealt 6s4c. Kevbo just calls the SB and I check to see a flop. Flop was 9h6h3c. Kevbo bet 8000. I was sure he wasn't ahead. I was also aware that my heads-up play isn't that strong. I was sure that he was just trying to bully me off the pot. I had middle pair. I decided to re-raise all-in. If he had the 9, then so be it, but that would just be unlucky. He called showing 7h8h with both a straight and a flush draw. His call was understandable as he had lots of outs (9 for the flush, 4 for the straight - don't count the 5h or 10h, 3x7s and 3x8s). A total of 19 outs!! Luckily for me, he didn't catch any of them, and my pair of sixes held. It was all over next hand when T7 held against his 76.

I had won! Not only did I win a nice $162 for winning, but I also won an automatic entry to the WSOP Main Event freeroll. I had also come back from 310 in chips. Easily my best ever win in any tournament. I had just beaten a load of very good players. A week later, I'm still on cloud 9.