We here in the good old U S of A tend to be a wee bit on the self-centered side, forgetting that there are indeed other countries out there that enjoy some of the same recreation that we do. It's why the World Series (baseball version) has been won by an American team since its inception, and no one ever invites a Canadian football team to play in the Super Bowl.
In poker, we're always aware of the international aspect, but even then we forget that the show is still going on at many of the online sites that have now banned US players. Promotions have ended, like the Party Poker [Bonus code Tuaca] Sunday Million now turning to the Sunday 200k Guarantee, and the Monster jackpot rolling in to the Bad Beat Jackpot, but every Sunday there's a healthy tournament going on, full of our friends from across the pond (and those who might have an address putting them there).
These Party Poker [did I mention Tuaca?] final tables always crack me up. As soon as the final ten players are seated, someone begins the persuasion efforts to work out a deal and usually gets a majority of players to go along with them. This time it was even more comical, as all players came to the table with fairly even chip stacks. I understand time zone differences and all make it a little late for those overseas, but once you make the final table, put on a pot of coffee and win it all!
The Swiss are traditionally known for kick-ass hot chocolate and peaceful foreign relations, but Swiss player Tiefenmuehle was having none of that, knocking out half of the final table. bb_king69 ran his pocket 9s into T's pocket Jacks, and the board was no help; sending bb home in 10th place. Next out was novpe, who pushed his short stack all-in with pocket 6s and found himself up against T's Q-9. Two nines on the board sent him out in 9th place. The Swiss Reign of Terror continued when Tiefenmuehle's A-K outlasted NannaU's all-in with A-4; neither player getting any help from the board.
Out in 7th place is my selection for "Best ScreenName", Food4Fishes. Player DittieAce made a pre-flop raise and Food4Fishes respond by pushing all-in. DittieAce called with A-7 to Food4Fishes' A-9. The river brought a 7 (of course!) and Food4Fishes was out on a bad beat. Immediately following him was Egyptian1, falling to the pocket Queens of Barlor.
Down to five players, Tiefenmuehle struck again when rphmgj04 pushed all-in with pocket Aces, after a flop of 3c Kc 9s. Tiefenmuehle called with a flopped set of 9s and rphmgj04 was out in 5th place. Next victim was Barlor, who correctly read Tiefenmuehle as being big-stack agressive, and made a re-raise push with A-T. Unfortunately T had A-K at the time, called, and all the tens in the deck were out for cleaning. Runner-up for Best ScreenName is DonkeyStyle2, who lived up to his name by knocking DittieAce out in 3rd place. Dittie pushed all-in with K-7 versus Donkey's Q-T. It was essentially a coin flip, but Dittie was a slight favorite with the K-7, and even more so when the 7 hit the flop. The turn was, of course, a Q, sending Dittie out in 3rd and leaving DonkeyStyle2 and Tiefenmuehle to battle it out heads-up.
DonkeyStyle2 proposed a deal, and despite being the lone holdout in previous deal-making attempts, Tiefenmuehle agreeded, saying they should each get $36,000 and play it out for the remaining $1,000. If you've never seen the deal making function at Party, know that whoever is the chip leader at the time all players agree to discuss a deal is the person who controls the deal making feature. DonkeyStyle2 was apparently having a bit of a problem getting the system to let them play for the last $1,000, and Tiefenmuehle was nice enough to offer "Give me the chip lead and I'll do it". DonkeyStyle2 passed, remembering those important life lessons: Never go up against a Sicillian when death is on the line, and never trust the Swiss with your money*.
DonkeyStyle2 got the deal worked out, and both players returned to the table $36,000 richer to battle it out for $1,000 more. But really, when you've just won $36,000 what's another $1,000? Tiefenmuehle immediately pushed all-in with A-2 and DonkeyStyle2 called with A-J. An Ace hit the flop and all the twos were out with the tens; ending the tournament and crowning DonkeyStyle2 the winner.
1st ($37,000): DonkeyStyle2
2nd ($36,000): Tiefenmuehle
3rd ($15,000): DittieAce
4th ($12,000): Barlor
5th ($10,000): rphmgj04
6th ($8,000): Egyptian1
7th ($6,000): Food4Fishes
8th ($4,000): NannaU
9th ($3,000): novpe
10th ($2,200): bb_king69
*Yes, I know. That's why it's funny.
