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L.A. Poker Classic a big hit
Action was hot in the L.A. Poker Classic this year, as the tournament
brought out celebs, prospect, and unknowns. When the dust had settled, Alan
Goehring, a seasoned pro who flies under the radar even though he is well
respected by his peers and already has one World Poker Tour title already,
had taken the day by eliminating Daniel Quach and the first prize pot of
$2.4 million.
Day one of the tournament saw 700 players taking their seats at the Commerce
Casino. Organizers actually had to put emergency tables up on a covered patio
next to the main room, although it didn’t take long for players to move back
into the main room as others were eliminated. Early outs were Phil Hellmuth (who
is shaping up for a disastrous season), Phil Ivey (ditto, that is three upsets
in tournament in a row), Mike Mizrachi (the defending champion) and Daniel
Negreanu. At the end of Day One, Goehring stood as the chip leader—not a
surprise to those familiar with his style of building a large stack early and
trying to maintain it throughout the tournament.
The second day started with 373 players and was down to 97 by the end of play.
Most of the screen celebrities, including Shannon Elizabeth, had been eliminated
by that point. Fabrice Soulier was the chip leader at the end of play, but he
was destroyed in day three, eliminated in 46th place, missing the money by one
spot. Chip Reese, Phil Laak, and Hasan Habib also finished just barely out of
the money, while Scotty Nguyen and T.J. Cloutier managed to hang on until the
first pay tier before getting eliminated.
James Woods made his last stand on day four, getting the boot along with three
other players in the first hour of play. Ten players remained, including chip
leader for two days in a row, Per “Nemo” Ummer. Goehring was a close second in
chips. The Day Five eliminations progressed fairly quickly, and there were few
surprises. Short-stacked David Chiu went out almost immediately. Kevan Casey,
who had amazed everyone by coming out of nowhere to amass a huge stack of chips,
failed to maintain his luck, and went out in 8th place against J.C. Tran. The
last casualty of the day was Ana Galajian, a familiar face at the Commerce
Casino and the last woman remaining.
For the final day, spectators filled the makeshift theater inside the Commerce,
and the six surviving players took their places under the spotlights to the
sound of enthusiastic applause. Tran was the chip leader, followed by Ummer,
Michael Woo, Goehring, Quach, and Steve Simmons. Ummer and Tran were the first
two players to go out, about three hours into play. Simmons and Woo followed,
and it was down to a heads-up battle between Goehring and Quach. One all-in
followed another and it was impossible to predict which way the day would go. In
the end, Goehring’s aggressive style, and some won the day. Quach went all-in,
Goehring called as an underdog, and took the lead when a king came on the turn.
The elated champion was toasted, photographed, and covered in a mountain of
hundred dollar bills before making his exit.
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