JC Tran Victorious At Party Poker Premier League III

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The Party Poker Premier League III came to its conclusion as six players battled it out at the final table. Last year’s champion, Andy Black, would narrowly miss the final table while the first champion, Juha Helppi, would make his second appearance at the final table.

The other five competitors at the final table were JC Tran, Tony G, last year’s runner up Roland de Wolfe, online professional Tom Dwan and 2009 WSOP Main Event Champion Peter Eastgate.

The WSOP champion, Peter Eastgate, would exit in sixth place after he tried to steal a pot from JC Tran and got caught. Eastgate reraised JC Tran before the flop and shoved all-in after the flop came down king-high. JC Tran was holding onto pocket aces and made the call, thereby taking the rest of Eastgate’s chips. Peter Eastgate would add $30,000 to his already considerable poker winnings in 2009.

Roland de Wolfe would be the next to fall, doing so when he pushed all-in with pocket kings and had to survive Juha Helppi’s [Ad][Qc]. Helppi only had two outs as Tom Dwan had folded an ace and let everyone know it. One of those two aces would show on the flop to give Helppi the lead. No king would fall for de Wolfe, who would exit in fifth place for a payday of $40,000.

Tom Dwan would fall to Tony G in fourth place when his hand could not overcome Tony G’s dominating hand. Dwan raised Tony G all-in after a flop that fell [8c][7s][5h] with Dwan holding [8h][6s] and Tony G holding [Jc][8d]. Tony G had the better kicker but Dwan had some chances with an open-ended straight draw. The turn card would fall [2d] and with one card yet to come Dwan needed a nine, a six, or a four to survive. Instead, the river card landed as the [Kd]. Tom Dwan’s would collect $50,000 for his fourth place finish.

Tony G would then knock out Juha Helppi, ruining his chances at becoming champion for a second time. Helppi moved all-in preflop with [As][10d] and Tony G called with a dominating [Ad][Qc]. The flop delivered a queen for Tony G while the board delivered no help for Helppi. Juha Helppi exited in third place, richer by $80,000.

The two surviving players, Tony G and JC Tran, would begin their heads-up battle with Tony G holding the chip lead. Tony G held the chip lead for a long time but would eventually give it up to Tran, who would keep surging to take out Tony G. In the final hand JC Tran limped with [9c][7d] and Tony G would just check his option. The flop fell [7h][6h][5d], giving Tony G and his [Ks][8d] an open-ended straight draw and JC Tran top pair with a gutshot straight draw. Tony G check-raised all-in and Tran called the all-in. With both players nervously watching the dealer delivered the [Jc] on the turn and the [2d] on the river to seal JC Tran’s victory.

Tony G collected $150,000 for finishing in second place and JC Tran collected $300,000 for his victorious performance at Party Poker Premier League III.

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