KEN HARDING TAKES
$82,079 FOR THE WIN!!
The $3000 No-Limit Hold'em Championship of the 2008 Foxwoods Poker Classic attracted a total of 132
players competing for a prize pool of $358,512. Ken Harding of North Bellmore, NY, was able to convert his chip
lead at the Final Table into victory. Michael Farris took 2nd place and the championship trophy and Ken claimed
the commemorative leather jacket and $82,079!!
The Final Table began just after Noon and the first hand Eugene Todd of Brooklyn, NY, called Jesse
Martin's all-in with AK. Jesse had pocket 8's; Eugene got no help from the board and he was the 10th place winner of
$7,170. Shortly thereafter, James Campbell took a chance with KQ; Ken called with pocket J's which held up.
James had 9th place money of $8,966 to take home to Marlborough, MA. Mark Dickstein, a resident of New York,
NY, was the first of 4 players knocked out by Kush Patel. Mark had A6 but he could not top Kush's pocket 6's and
Mark was left with $10,755 for 8th. Matt Brady of Havertown, PA, took the final table short stack to 7th place.
He was all-in with AQ but Kush had AK; with no help from the board, Matt was the winner of $12,548. George Smith
went all-in for 75K over Kush's 30K bet; Kush called and turned over J10. George had A3 but a 10 on the flop left
George in 6th place with $14,341. Jamie Rosen was also all-in over a Kush Patel bet; Kush called Jamie's A6 with
pocket 8’s. Jamie picked up a 6 on the flop but got no further help and Jamie had $17,925 for 5th to take back to
Orlando, FL.
Jesse Martin of Shrewsbury, MA, went out in three-way action which changed the landscape of the final
table. Jesse had pocket J's and bet 105K; Michael was all-in for 74K with AK and Ken went all-in with pocket Q's.
Jesse decided to call and, with 5667K on the board, Mike took the main pot; Ken had an 80K chip advantage which left
Jesse with 4th place good for $25,096. Michael was now back in the hunt for the championship and Ken solidified his
position.
Michael further leveled the field by winning an all-in with AK to Ken's AQ. Kush's chip advantage had
been whittled away and with the chip stacks virtually identical a deal was struck. The players each locked up $60,000
and played for the balance with 2nd place worth $65,500 and 1st place $82,079. Kush Patel of Southborough, MA,
had lost the hot hand and his chip stack was disappearing. He was finally all-in with A10 but Ken had AK and Kush
took 3rd place and $60,000.
Ken now had almost a 4 to 1 chip advantage over Michael Farris of Pelham, NH. The players agreed that
Michael would take 2nd place, the championship trophy and $65,500.
Ken Harding was the winner of the 2008 Foxwoods Poker Classic $3000 No-Limit Championship!
Reported by Jeffrey
A. Toth for Foxwoods Resort Casino |
