Match 19 recap

By Dennis Oehring

Two newcomers to PAD in Paul Wasicka and veteran poker player and gambler Alan "Boston" Dvorkis took center stage in Match 19, along with Mike Matusow, Jamie Gold, Antonio Esfandiari, and poker player/commentator Mike Sexton. All competed for the $120,000 winner-take-all first prize in what turned out to be a very interesting match, highlighted by the banter of Matusow and Boston.

With the blinds at $300/$600 Sexton raised preflop to $5800 with pocket nines, and was reraised all in by a short-stacked Matusow from the big blind with A (hearts), Q (clubs). Sexton called the extra $3850, and when neither player improved, Matusow was out in 6th place. Two hands later, Boston entered the pot for a raise holding Q (clubs) 10 (diamonds), but was reraised by Jamie Gold holding pocket kings. Gold's raise forced Alan to move all in, and when Gold made a set on the turn, Boston departed in 5th place.

Soon after, Jamie Gold opened the pot for a raise to $2000 and Antonio Esfandiari, with the Ah 4h, reraised to $10,000. Jamie, with pocket queens, moved all in and Antonio called, well behind in the hand. The board of Ks Js 7c 10 c 2d helped neither player, and Esfandiari was sent packing. Then at the $800/$1600 level, in a limped pot the three remaining players saw a flop of 8s 5c 2d. Gold checked, and Wasicka, holding middle pair with the Qh 5d, bet $2000. Sexton, with the 10d 8d, raised to $8000 with top pair. Gold mucked, but Wasicka pushed all in and Sexton called. A couple of 3s on the turn and river were no help to anyone, and Paul was out in 3rd place, leaving Mike and Jamie heads-up.

With the blinds now at $1500/$3000 and Sexton enjoying nearly a 2:1 chip lead, the dramatic final hand saw Gold limp in with 10d 5d and Sexton check the 7d 5c. The flop came Js 5h 8d, giving each player bottom pair. After Sexton checked, Gold bet $3000 and Sexton called. The turn brought the case 5, giving each player trips, but both players checked. The river was the 7s, filling Sexton up, and after betting $10,000 Gold moved all in and Sexton made the call, defeating Jamie and winning his first Poker After Dark title.