First Aid(an)

In a very competitive and compelling season 17 championship, youth proves to be the victor. 

No-limit poker is a game of swings. Much like basketball, runs and rallies are constantly made that can yield great tonal shifts. From the start this game looked like it would be dominated by Pierre, sitting in that top spot. He won early and often and was chip leader for at least the first few levels. We had our first all-in on hand 4 where Chance Miller pushed post flop vs Stella. She pondered a bit and eventually chucked her hole cards. Chance wins the first medium-sized pot. A few hands later in a hand with Jay, Pierre turns over trips to Jay’s dismay, he mucks his cards. It was the first big pot of the night. In some ways, Jay never really emotionally recovered from that hand. He was steaming from then on out and it showed. Aidan was mostly quiet but spoke with whispering pot wins here and there. The most pivotal hand of the early levels was again, Pierre vs Jay. Jay has a very nice flush and raised $1000 post river card. Pierre comes back over the top and puts Jay to a decision for another $3000; most of his chips. He looked over the board a bit and analyzed the probables. He felt like his flush could 

 is eliminated.  Aidan is now the chip leader and things just keep going his way. He wins 5 hands in a row at one point, creating large pillars of chips on his side of the table.  The early smoke that Pierre was giving has practically turned to embers. He has had to fold a lot and pass on defending his blinds.  Dame has even overtaken him and is now in 2nd place.  Chance is the short stack and starts to play like it.  He pushes all in vs Dame and wins with QQ vs QK.  Dame is now behind and pushes in back-to-back hands for redemption. In the first, Pierre cannot even think about calling and gives over. Chance then calls him on the next all-in and cedes a load of chips to Dame. Pierre is now the short stack. Chance sees no point in playing the long game and goes for the gusto. He is again all in vs Dame. A9 vs Chance’s KJ. Dame is victorious and Chance is eliminated. We are down to 3 players Pierre, Dame, and Aidan. No time like the present, Pierre “pushes to the limit” and takes a nice pot.  Shortly after he has pocket QQs vs Aidan’s QK. He survives and doubles up.  The pillars have all but disappeared as Aidan is now short-stacked. However, he gets his chips back by doubling up at Pierre’s expense.  Aidan has pocket 55s vs KJ. The pocket pair stands up.  Pierre is again short-stacked.   Pierre would eventually go all in with Dame folding behind him. Young Aidan proudly calls with another pocket pair, this time 44s. Pierre has A8 and can find no pair or anything else after the river card has been dealt.  He is eliminated.  

We are finally heads up and will 100% have a first time winner, in this format.  Aidan has a significant chip lead with about 100K.  Dame isn’t deterred and doubles up quickly Dame continues the aggression with several all in moves. This time, no calls from Aidan. The levels are now $1000/$2000, so every hand is worth a shot at it. We get to a point where both players are looking for either a double-up or death blow, so there is much folding and the passing of blinds. Dame is aggressive while Aidan plays calmly.  Eventually, Dame K10 vs Aidan’s KQ.  Both pair Kings but Dame is outkicked. Aidan takes the tournament.