Poker Throwback Thursday: Carlos Mortenson wins WSOP 2001

WSOP 2001: Report Area and Large Names

The 2001 WSOP was not the primary occasion to be televised, however the Discovery Channel upped the ante by overlaying it in fashion. Following the highs and lows of event poker by specializing in just a few key gamers, this documentary gave viewers a glimpse into why the WSOP had come to be often called the Tremendous Bowl of poker. And what a 12 months to tune in!

Whereas it appears small now, the sphere of 613 gamers was a file breaker on the time, making it the most important stay Principal Occasion area ever. That massive turnout generated a $6+ million prize pool. The Discovery Channel couldn’t have requested for a ultimate desk as filled with characters both, with Hellmuth, Dewey Tomko, Matusow, Phil Gordon and Carlos Mortenson all making the minimize.

Phil Hellmuth – already the 1989 Principal Occasion champ and seven-time bracelet winner – hoped to affix Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson to win a second Principal Occasion bracelet. Beside him was Mike “The Mouth” Matusow, recent off a bracelet win in Deuce-to-Seven.

In an interview after Hellmuth busted him in sixth, Mike mentioned “You could possibly be the very best, greatest, greatest participant on the planet and by no means get again right here.” Nonetheless, Mike beat his prediction by ending ninth in 2005.

Listed below are the ultimate outcomes for the 2005 WSOP:

Carlos Mortensen1st place, $1,500,000Dewey Tomko2nd place, $1,098,925Stan Schrier3rd place, $699,315Phil Gordon4th place, $399,610Phil Hellmuth5th place, $303,705Mike Matusow6th place, $239,765Henry Nowakowski7th placeSteve Riehle8th placeJohn Inashima9th place

Key WSOP Ultimate Desk Showdowns

Mortensen put his fearless fashion on show, bluffing key pots and knocking John Inashima out in ninth, adopted by Steve Riehle in eighth. Mike Matusow supplied his regular fireworks. After being bluffed off a giant pot by Mortensen, he shoved with pocket tens – solely to run into Tomko’s pocket kings. Crippled, he pushed with 8s, solely to run into Kings once more, this time held my Hellmuth, busting Matusow in sixth. Not lengthy afterwards, Hellmuth fell in need of his dream 2nd WSOP Principal Occasion win, ending in fifth.

Phil Gordon exited in 4th after working into Mortensen’s queens, and Stan Schrier fell in third. That left simply two gamers: the veteran Tomko towards the fearless newcomer Mortensen.

Heads-Up: Tomko vs. Mortensen

The ultimate heads-up match was the right duel: aggressive European younger gun vs. calculated American veteran. Mortensen had a couple of 2:1 chip lead and by no means slowed down. The decisive hand got here when Tomko lastly picked up pocket aces towards Mortensen’s Okay-Q of golf equipment on a J-10-3 board with two golf equipment.

Tomko was miles forward when the flip paired – however the river introduced the 9, finishing Mortensen’s straight. Similar to that, the championship was over. Tomko – all the time the gentleman – might solely shake his head, saying afterward: “I lastly bought aces for the primary time in 5 days and I went broke with them!”

Dewey Tomko’s Close to-Miss

Dewey Tomko was already a legend, with three WSOP bracelets. He had even completed runner-up as soon as earlier than, in 1982. The 2001 Principal Occasion was his greatest probability to lastly seize the large one. Tomko nonetheless took dwelling over $1 million and additional cemented his Corridor of Fame profession.