One would think carrying a target on one’s back would make winning at poker just a little bit tougher. When the target is bright like a supernova, it has to get tougher still. Apparently, that math doesn’t add up.
The WPT’s Bay 101 Shooting Star began today. The Shooting Star is different from other tournaments in that fifty players started with $5,000 bounties on their heads; the player who knocked them each out would claim that prize equal to half the buy-in. Apparently, that increased incentive to knock out the stars didn’t make for greater opportunities today.
209 players started this half of day one, with only seventy running the gauntlet. Of the twenty-five shooting stars who started the day, ten made it through, actually increasing the ratio of stars-to-players. Leading the way with inspired play was David Williams.
Williams tangle with fellow chip leader Peter Feldman in the hand that would define his day. With the flop of Qd-10s-7h and a turn of 4c, Williams checked and Feldman bet T11,000. Williams, sitting on an open-ended straight draw with Kc-Js, made the call, feeling that Feldman held nothing.
The river was 2c, a total brick. “I knew he had nothing and that if I bet he’d just fold, so I decided to check and call if he bet.” Williams recounted afterwards. As predicted, Feldman made a bet, for T20,000, and Williams called instantly. Feldman threw his hand in the muck without waiting for the reveal; Williams showed his king-high anyways.
Williams would rake in the chips over the last few minutes to finish with the chip lead, a distinction that comes with a $10,000 bonus at Shooting Star. Tomorrow, the other half of the field will compete; be sure to check back then to see what happened.
Gary Wise
gary@wisehandpoker.com
