Matt Savage, Live from the final table!
The Five Diamond World Poker Classic II
This final table is now over. If you find any errors in this transcript, please let us know.
Dec. 18, 2004, Bellagio Casino, Las Vegas, NV
Final tournament results
Total Prize Pool: $5,470,800
Number of Entries: 376 Players
Number of Rebuys: None
Number of Add-ons: None
- 1st Place: Daniel Negreanu, $1,795,218
- 2nd Place: Humberto Brenes, $898,475
- 3rd Place: Vinny Landrom, $462,851
- 4th Place: Jennifer Harman Traniello, $299,492
- 5th Place: Steve Rassi, $217,812
- 6th Place: Nam Le, $152,468
The final table transcript
Welcome to the Final Table for The Five Diamond World Poker Classic from the Bellagio in Las Vegas! Here's the chip count going into the final table.
- In 6th position sitting in seat #4 with $510K in chips is Humberto Brenes from San Jose, Costa Rica.
- In 5th position sitting in seat #6 with $875K in chips is Jennifer Harman Traniello from Las Vegas, NV.
- In 4th position sitting in seat #1 with $950K in chips is Steve Rassi from Morton, IL.
- In 3rd position sitting in seat #5 with $970K in chips is Nam Le from Huntington Beach, CA.
- In 2nd position sitting in seat #3 with $1.14M in chips is Vinny Landrom from Canoga Park, CA.
- And our chip leader sitting in seat #2 with $6.865M in chips is Daniel Negreanu from Las Vegas, NV.
Matt's analysis
Daniel will attempt to dominate this final table and with his huge stack he could be in for a short day. Expect him to see a lot of flops and bully this table.
Jennifer Harman's no-limit game has improved greatly over the last two years. She had claimed to me at that time she needed a lot of work on her no-limit game. Her hard work seems to have paid off this week as she was short stacked for much of the event.
Humberto Brenes while coming in short is still dangerous. Look for him to try to double up early. I predict he will be out early or finish at least 2nd.
Shuffle up and deal!
The antes start out at $5K with blinds at $20-$40K.
Nam wins the first pot.
Humberto wins the second pot.
Steve raises Humberto all in. Humberto folds.
On hand #7, Daniel wins his first pot with a raise before the flop.
Daniel raises Jennifer all in. Jennifer decides not to call and folds.
Hand #14, 4 way action before the flop. Humberto bets $80K. Nam makes it $200K. Everyone folds.
On hand #15, Nam raises Jennifer $610K. Jennifer would have to go all in. No call.
Hand #22, Humberto wins $1.4M pot against Daniel. Humberto now has over $2M in chips.
Hand #26, antes are now $10K, blinds are $30-$60K.
Hand #27, Daniel vs. Jennifer. Daniel wins a $420K pot.
Nam Le finishes 6th
Hand #28, Vinny bet $210K. Nam went all in. Vinny called. Nam had K Q, Vinny had K J. Flop comes 7 J 3. Nam doesn't improve on the turn or river. Vinny wins the hand. Nam finishes in 6th place. Players take a 5 minute break.
Current chip counts:
- Daniel has $6.23M
- Humberto has $2.05M
- Vinny has $1.57M
- Steve has $770K
- Jennfer has $570K
Hand #29, Jennifer raises to $160K. No call.
Hand #31, Steve bets $740K and goes all in. Jennifer calls for $670K. Jennifer has A
Q. Steve has pocket Qs. An Ace hits the board! Jennifer wins the hand.
Steve finishes in 5th
Hand #32, Steve goes all in for $50K. Daniel calls with A Q. Steve has Q 5. Daniel wins the hand. Steve finishes in 5th place.
Hand #34, 3 way action for a $180K pot between Daniel, Humberto and Vinny. Daniel bets $250K on the turn. No call. Daniel takes down the pot.
Hand #37, Jennifer raises to $190K. Daniel re-raises $300K more. Jennifer decides not to call and folds.
Hand #42, Humberto raises $400K, Daniel goes all in. Humberto chooses not to call. Daniel shows everyone his A 3.
Hand #47, $10K antes. Blinds are now $50-$100K.
Hand #49, Daniel gets make up.
Hand #51, Vinny bets $200K. Humberto goes all in for $1.3M. Vinny thinks about it, then folds.
Hand #53, Vinny bets $300K. Daniel calls. Flop comes J J 3. Daniel goes all in. Vinny folds.
Hand #54, Humberto bets $300K. Of course, Daniel goes all in. Humberto folds. Daniel is playing his favorite role as table bully.
Hand #57, Humberto goes all in and gets no callers.
Jennifer finishes a strong 4th
Hand #61, Vinny goes all in for $800K. Jennifer calls for $580K. She has A 7. Vinny has pocket 3s. Flop misses, but a 3 hits the turn and busts Jennifer. Jennifer finishes in 4th place.
Hand #68, Humberto goes all in for $1.19M. Vinny calls with $1.3M. Humberto has pocket 3s. Vinny has A
Q. Flop comes K 6 3. The turn comes 5. Vinny needs a club to win the hand and bust Humberto. But the river comes an offsuit J. Humberto doubles up. Vinny is crippled with $135K. Players take a 5 minute break.
The current chip count:
- Daniel has $8.685M
- Humberto has $2.46M
- Vinny has $135K
So far tonight it has been a lot of all in poker. Vinny will more than likely have to go all in the next hand
With a short stack Vinny finishes 3rd
Hand #69, Vinny goes all in for $135K. Both Daniel and Humberto call in the dark. Flop comes A
2 3. Turn comes 7. The river is an offsuit Q. Vinny turns over a K high hand. Daniel, without looking, turns over a 4 5, flopping a straight. Humberto mucks. Vinny finishes in 3rd place.
Chip count:
- Daniel has $9M in chips
- Humberto has $2.3M in chips
Daniel makes an important announcement
During the money presentation, Daniel gives the audience a poker tip: "Throw away all those books that teach you to play tight. I've done better with 6 4 offsuit."
It was announced that Daniel has just become the all time World Poker Tour money winner. It was also announced that the World Poker Tour is going to tape a special with the young guns of poker including David Williams, Scott Fischman, Peter Lawson and Joe Cassidy.
The girls brought in the money and dropped it on the floor. They are going to do it again.
Down to the final two: Daniel and Humberto
Hand #77, The antes go up to $15K. blinds are now $80-$160K. Daniel goes all in. Humberto calls. Daniel turns over a Q J. Humberto has pocket Qs. The flop comes J 4 7. The turn is a K. The river is a harmless 4. Humberto doubles up.
Hand #78, Both Daniel and Humberto are in pre-flop for $160K each. The flop comes Q 2 2. Humberto bets $320K. Daniel raises $620K. Humberto goes all in for $930K more. Daniel goes into the tank. Humberto gets up from the table and runs away. Humberto runs around the floor while Daniel thinks. Daniel announces he knows Humberto has a Q. Daniel thinks some more then shows his Q and folds. Humberto then shows the bluff of A K.
Hand #81, final hand. Before the flop both Humberto and Daniel call. Flop comes 7 4 3. Humberto bets $400K. Daniel raises to $1M. Humberto thinks a moment and then goes all in. Daniel calls instantly. Humberto turns over a 7 8. Daniel turns over K 7. Turn comes a 6, giving Humberto a straight draw. But the river is a harmless 3. Humberto places 2nd.
Daniel wins!