Third Annual Five Star World Poker Classic: A Professional Poker Tour Special
Held at the luxurious gaming facility of the Bellagio casino hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Third Annual Five Star World poker classic is another major highlight for the professional poker Tour in 2005. One of the most heralded freeroll invitational poker tournaments for that year, the event took off wonderfully and ended in classic fashion as some of the most accomplished players of the game battled it out for international poker supremacy. With so many great talents present at the event, the competition promises to be stiff and tough as ever.
From April 9 to 16, 2005, almost 230 highly skilled and established poker players gathered for this ultimate chance to display their talents among the best of the best. Because this event is a freeroll, buy-ins was not in effect all throughout the contest. In order to be eligible for the poker tournament, certain requirements and standards were set to come up with a highly competitive atmosphere. With a grand total of $500,000 to be given away in this particular event alone, all the participants were expected to give out their best performances.
With over 200 players participating in the Third Annual Five Star World Poker Classic, only six can make it to the end and compete in the final table match. Among the most lucky and superior players who emerged on top of the contest after the elimination rounds are Doyle Brunson, Erick Lindgren, and Lee Markholt. Meanwhile, Barry Shulman, Chris Bjorin, and Dan Heimiller also proved that they truly deserve to be in the finals. After racking up impressive victories at the qualifiers, these six poker masters prepared to face each other in what was deemed as one of the most exciting finishes in the history of the game.
Right from the tip-off, every contender played conservatively while they tried to read the strategies and playing styles of their opponents. Sure to attract some serious attention in the tournament was Lindgren, who dominated the previous L.A. Poker Classic of the Professional Poker Tour. Meanwhile, Brunson was also heavily favored to win the contest, considering his extensive knowledge of the game as well as his impressive record in the past.
As anticipated, the best player of the Third Annual Five Star World Poker Classic would emerge on top of the competition with strong and wily plays. While the play resumed, Lindgren's recent championship experience proved to be insufficient against his equally talented and skilled opponents. After committing some unwise moves early on, he became the very first one to be booted out of the contest. After a few more plays, Heimiller followed him out with a fifth place and a $30,000 payoff. Bjorin, Brunson, and Schulman finished fourth, third, and second, respectively. Using smarter plays and timely moves, Markholt finished first for the title and $225,000 pot-money.