The L.A. Poker Classic: A Professional Poker Tour Season 1 Highlight
Held at the spacious and vivid casino floors of the Commerce Casino in California, the L.A. poker classic tournament was the second feature of the professional poker Tour during its one and only season in 2005. Aired on television by the Travel Channel in 2006, this poker tournament was one of the major highlights of the entire season. After a successful debut with the World Poker Finals, the tour plans to build on this initial accomplishment to move the tour to greater heights.
Just like all the tournaments featured in the Professional Poker Tour, this Los Angeles event was a freeroll invitational tournament, where only the crème dela crème of poker can participate. With $225,000 of pot money to be given away, each entrant delivered some impressive performances in what was dubbed as a tournament of champions and proven winners in the international poker circuit. Right from the very beginning, all the participants showed flashes of brilliance, which catapulted them among the greatest players of the game.
From the hordes of talented poker players present at the L.A. Poker Classic, only six individuals can move on towards the final table event of the tournament. Among the players who were heavily favored to win the competition are Daniel Negreanu, Erick Lindgren, and second-time Professional Poker Tour finalist Chris Bigler. Completing the final roster are Dennis Waterman, Allen Krell, and Asher Derei. All of these outstanding individuals promise to bring in some intense and high quality poker action.
As anticipated in all-star poker games like this, this poker tournament is expected to go down the wire for another classic finish that can be added to the rich record books of the entire poker world. First to be eliminated from this classic tournament was Krell, who made some wrong moves in the early parts of the competition. Despite his strong finish during the elimination rounds, the lack of experience worked against his favor. Soon to follow his ill-fated path was Derei, whose huge plays still fell short against his more experienced opponents.
While the play continued at the L.A. Poker Classic, the remaining four contenders proved that experience is not enough for anyone to win some title. In addition to this, the appropriate use of highly effective strategies and techniques can be very helpful in winning especially during major events. Despite parading over 30 years of professional poker experience, Waterman was unable to withstand the stronger plays of Negreanu, Bigler, and Lindgren.
In the ensuing plays, Bigler used his previous Professional Poker Tour experience to outwit Negreanu, which leads to a final showdown between him and Lindgren. However, Bigler's experience is not enough to withstand the toughness and talent that Lindgren exemplified all throughout the tournament. With better plays and stronger hands, Lindgren outclassed Bigler in the end to claim the title and the illustrious pot money.