Poker Forum - John Earle Wins the Caribbean Poker Classic

The 2004 Caribbean Poker Classic held in St. Maarten at Casino Royale was a big success. The $5,000 no-limit event drew 157 players vying for more than $750,000 in prize money. The event began on December 8 and the final six players took their seats in front of the television cameras at 2:30 p.m. on December 10.

Matt Goldman from Seattle, Washington was in seat 1 with $196,000, Chip Penney from Las Vegas, Nevada was in seat 2 with $173,000, John Earle from England was in seat 3 with $358,000, Paul Frampton from England was in seat 4 with $117,000, chip leader Aleksander Vathne from Norway was in seat 5 with $422,000 and Sharbel Koumi from England was in seat 6 with $309,000. Play resumed from the night before with a $1,000 ante and $3,000-$6,000 blinds.

Paul Frampton won the first pot of the day after raising $15,000. On the fourth hand Chip moved all-in and was awarded the pot showing pocket aces. On the fifth hand of final table play there were five preflop callers. The flop came 7-5-3, Matt Goldman bet $20,000, John Earle called, Paul Frampton called, and Aleksander Vathne called. The turn card was an ace, Matt checked, John bet $60,000, Paul moved all-in for $52,000 more, Matt folded and John called. Paul showed A-6 and John turned over A-3 for two pair. The river card came a king and Paul was forced to take a 6th place finish and pocketed $30,458.

On the 18th hand of final table play Sharbel Koumi raised $35,000, Chip moved in for $180,000 and Sharbel called. Chip turned over A-K of diamonds and Sharbel showed pocket tens. The board came J-J-Q-5-4 sending Chip home in 5th place with $38,073.

At 3:15 Matt raised $40,000 on the small blind, John moved all in on the big blind and Matt called all-in. Matt showed pocket fours and John turned over pocket kings. Matt's luck ran out when the board came J-6-9-A-Q sending him to the rail in 4th place with $53,302.

Fifteen minutes later Sharbel made a $40,000 preflop bet and Aleksander called. The flop came Q-7-6, Aleksander checked, Sharbel moved all in for $190,000 and Aleksander called. Sharbel showed pocket nines and Aleksander turned over Q-8 for a pair of queens. Neither the turn or the river produced a nine and Sharbel had to settle for $83,760 for a 3rd place finish.

Within an hour of final table play it was heads-up between Aleksander with $900,000 and John with $670,000. The ante remained at $1,000 and the blinds increased to $5,000-$10,000. On the sixth hand of heads-up play John won a $160,000 pot taking the chip lead from Aleksander. Three hands later John won another $160,000 pot that increased his lead. Play slowed down for the remainder of that level and at 4:25 the ante rose to $2,000 and the blinds increased to $8,000-$16,000.

At 4:50 Aleksander had managed to regain the chip lead with $879,000 to John's $696,000. At 5:05 the ante increased to $3,000 and the blinds rose to $12,000-$24,000. On the 63rd hand of heads-up play John recaptured the chip lead after winning a $300,000 pot. At 5:35 the ante went to $5,000 and the blinds rose to $20,000-$40,000.

After 100 hands of heads-up play John was still in the lead and at 6:05 the ante and blind increase for the last time. The ante went to $10,000 and the blinds rose to $30,000-$60,000.

Six hands later John raised $100,000, Aleksander moved all-in for $410,000 more and John called. Aleksander turned over 10-7 and John showed A-8. The board came J-2-4-5-3 and John's ace high won the pot and the tournament.

Aleksander Vathne from Norway added $137,061 to his bankroll for a 2nd place finish.

John Earle from England was declared the winner of the first Caribbean Poker Classic and awarded $213,205 for his 1st place finish.