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PokerPlayer News
World Poker Exchange Host the London Open
And It’s Red Carpet Treatment All Round!
by Phil Shaw
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The $10,000 World Poker Exchange London Open was held at the Old Billingsgate Market on the banks of the River Thames early in August, and the red carpet that paved the way to the opening party proved a keynote for a week of high quality poker and entertainment for all involved.
American pro attendees included Doyle Brunson, Phil Laak, Scott Fischman and Chip and Karina Jett, the Scandinavians had a big band of challengers including Ken Lennard, Gus Hansen and Michael Thuritz, and of course there was a major home team which included Dave Ulliott, Peter Costa, Harry Demetriou and three of the four Hendon Mob. Celebs included WSOP ladies champion actress Jennifer Tilley and actor Willie Garson, from Sex and the City. A 24 hours a day concierge service was provided to arrange excursions, transport and theatre trips, and all drinks and food were on the house for the duration. Around a thousand people turned up for the party and were suitably entertained by Grace Jones, Dirty Vegas and DJs Guy Preston and Jason Moore. The World Poker Exchange also put up $44,000 for a charity tournament in aid of the London Bombings Relief Fund, won by American Phil Laak with Willie Garson in runner-up spot.
Despite all these names though, the winner was almost total unknown Iwan Jones, a 35-year-old TV producer from Wales, with only a handful of small European festival event cashes to his name. He overcame the 140 strong field, which was sweetened noticeably by a $600,000 shortfall in the guaranteed prize pool of $2,000,000 which was met by the sponsors!
He started out quietly and after day one had only managed to increase his starting stack of 20,000 chips to 27,000 when many were pushing the 100,000 mark. Similarly on day two his strategy of hanging around saw him end on 84,000 which put him in 12th spot, when chip leader Chip Jett had over 500,000, second placed Willie Tann (who won the last event at the 2005 WSOP) had 322,000 and Marcel Luske of Holland 225,000. And again when there were just six remaining he was fourth in chips with 351,000 against leader Mikael Thuritz chip count of 924,000.
But this is where the tide started to turn and a crucial double through came from a virtual cold deck against Chip Jett when he held 7-4 and saw a not unhelpful flop of 8-6-5 rainbow. Things got even better when his straight was paid off as Chip moved all in with two pair! This took him into second and the rush continued as he dispatched Dane Henrik Joern with pocket aces v AK, and saw him heads up with Mikael Thuritz with 1.8 million chips and almost a two to one advantage.
The heads up battle lasted for all of four hours with the lead changing hands several times, but Iwan had a small lead when Mikael made a straight on the turn but lost to a full house on the river, with KT vs Q9 on a board of Q-J-6-9-Q. The chips went in at this stage and the newcomer to the big stage took the title and $750,000. Mikael collected $400,000 for his gallant runner-up performance.
Sept. 05, 2005
by Phil Shaw
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