Tournament Details

What do you get when you put together five of the toughest, most unpredictable, entertaining, and colorful characters in the poker world with an unwitting sweepstakes winner for a final table at the luxurious Bellagio in Las Vegas?

The WPT Bad Boys of Poker, that's what.  In Seat 1 - the minnow in the shark tank - was sweepstakes winner Mark Richards, a bank teller from the suburbs of Chicago who won his way in through a field of 88,000 with a chance to earn a $25,000 seat at the WPT Championship. In between Mark and his dream, however, were five pros, each of them WPT event champions: In Seat 2, Antonio "the Magician" Esfandiari (S2 L.A. Poker Classic). In Seat 3, David "Devilfish" Ulliott (S1 World Poker Open). In Seat 4, Paul "the Truth" Darden (S1 Gold Rush Tournament). In Seat 5, Gus "the Great Dane" Hansen (three-time WPT winner). And in Seat 6, Phil "Unabomber" Laak (S2 L.A. Invitational). Richards was in for one hell of a ride.

Action was brisk and aggressive from the start and it wasn't until the fourth hand that play reached the flop - even then Antonio semi-bluffed Gus on the turn to take it down. Carrying his magic right into the next hand, after Gus brought it in for a raise of 21,000 with A-J offsuit, Antonio looked down to find Kh-Kd, and re-raised. Devilfish, with Ac-Kc, came over the top of both of them, going all-in. Everyone, including Gus, got out of the way, but Antonio called. Devilfish was not happy to see the Magician's cowboys, and even less happy to hear that both Paul and Gus had folded an Ace each, meaning his effective outs were reduced to one! The flop came 9-J-Q with two clubs, giving Ulliott a few outs, any club or T, but the turn and river came 6s, Jh and the Devilfish was caught and released, busting out in 6th place.

The minnow, Mark Richards, played well early, picking up a pot with a good pre-flop bet, making an uncannily good laydown with top pair against Antonio's straight, and holding his ground to get a split pot with Darden. Meanwhile, Hansen further extended his reputation as one of the wildest and most dangerous players in the game, routinely raising with rags, yet somehow coming out ahead after going into the flop with the worst hand. The Magician got a personal lesson in the Great Dane's whimsical mania on the next critical hand...

Antonio (with 7h-7d) made it 29,000 to go, and Gus (with Td-8d) re-raised, making it 100,000. Antonio considered a bit, then came back over the top of Gus, all-in. Gus, after mumbling something like "how can I call with ten-high?" proceeded to call the bet! With all the players shaking their heads about how Gus could make such a ridiculous call with T high, the flop came 8-6-5, giving Gus top pair and a commanding lead! The turn and river came A, 3, and a confounded Magician took his broken wand to the rail, going out 5th.

Now with a massive chip lead, and antes and blinds up to 2,000, 6,000 and 12,000, Gus became truly scary. Two hands later, Phil Laak brought it in for 36,000 with Tc-Td, only to have Gus go over the top all-in with Kc-Jc (a massive hand for him). Laak called, but once again, after being a dog on the flop, Gus caught a card when it came J-8-7 rainbow, giving him the overpair of J's. After the turn and river came Q, Q, another dazed competitor fell to the Dane, with the Unabomber busting out in 4th place.

Immediately after this Mark Richards doubled up, hitting a miracle J on the river, then went on a hole-card rush taking down consecutive pots with all-in bets. It was starting to look like there might be a showdown between the Great Dane and the little minnow. Until, that is, he made the miscalculation of "you guessed it" being the favorite against Gus with all his chips on the line.

After Gus (with Jh-Tc) made it 84,000 to go, Mark (with pocket 5's) came over the top - all-in. Seemingly in accordance with fate, the flop came T-8-7 yardsale, giving Gus the overpair. The turn and river then followed 6, Q, and the dreams of an Illinois kid who'd only ever played nickel-and-dime kitchen table tourneys came to an end, as he busted out in a very respectable 3rd place.

Amazingly, when it got to heads-up play, Gus downshifted, allowing Darden to take a series of pots with pre-flop raises. Gus was content to wait for a hand, and with the increased blinds chewing up chips, it wasn't long before he got the chance. Gus (with wired 6's) brought it in for 42,000. Darden, finding Kd-Qc, a big hand in head to head play, came over the top, all-in for 184,000, and Gus called. When the flop came 9s-8d-5d, and the turn came Jd, Darden had some good outs, but befitting the night, Gus picked up a 7h on the river, giving him a straight. A congenial Darden smiled his way to the rail in 2nd place, and Gus "the Great Dane" Hansen had added another title to his resume, becoming the first official WPT "Bad Boy of Poker."