Sunday, Sept. 2, 2007

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Gazes wins WPT: Ladies Night V

Kristy Gazes was victorious at the WPT: Ladies Night V.

By Arthur Crowson

Kristy Gazes joined some elite female poker players by winning the WPT: Ladies Night V on Saturday.

The day started with Melissa Hayden, J.J. Liu, Pam Brunson, Mimi Tran, Linda Johnson and Gazes all competing for the $25,000 seat into the Season VI WPT World Championship.

Pam, the daughter of poker legend Doyle Brunson, won her way into the final table by taking down the first portion of the tournament. J.J. Liu was the defending champion while the remaining four players were invited.

There was no shortage of excitement at the final table. On the very first hand Liu raised to $24,000 from UTG and Gazes made the call from the button and then exclaimed, "I came to gamble. This is a freeroll, right?"

The flop came K 10 7 and Liu bet $50,000; Gazes called. The turn came 8 and both players checked. The river card paired the board with 8 and Liu bet out another $50,000. Showing no fear Gazes quickly moved all-in for $174,000. Liu thought for a bit but eventually made the call showing A K for two pair but Gazes, who had cashed in more WPT events than anybody at the table, flipped over a dominating 10-10 for a full house.

That was it for the defending champ and Gazes raced into the chip lead. All that in the very first hand!

The next player to leave was Melissa Hayden who shoved all-in on a board of 9 7 5 with pocket queens but was called by Johnson who had J 8 for a flush draw and a double gutshot straight draw. The turn was 5 and Hayden maintained her hold on the lead but the river came 2 giving Johnson her flush.

Tran was the next to head for the door when her A 10 was beaten by Johnson's QQ.

It was down to Pam, Johnson and Gazes with a place in heads-up play on the line. Eventually Pam became somewhat short-stacked and she pushed with K 5 against Gazes' A 9. Gazes' hand held up and Pam was busted from the tournament in third place. Not a bad showing for the Texas Dolly's daughter.

Gazes took a 2-1 chip lead into heads-up play against Johnson and after trading blows back and forth for awhile Gazes shoved and Johnson immediately called with pocket jacks. Unfortunately for Johnson, Gazes showed a dominating KK. The cowboys held and Gazes won the tournament.

Gazes joins an elite roster of female poker players who have won the tournament in the past including Isabelle Mercier, Jennifer Tilly, Clonie Gowen and of course the player she knocked out first, J.J. Liu.

Gazes also won the $25,000 seat into the WPT Championship event which gives her the chance to win a truckload of cash.

Related Articles:

• J.J. Liu Set to Defend Title
• Brunson Wins Seat at Ladies Night V
• Liu Falls to Forrest
• J.J. Liu Wins WPT Ladies Night IV

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