Forgotten WSOP Champions: Brad Daugherty

I remember it like it was yesterday. The Main Event of the 2007 World Series of Poker had just begun and Nolan Dalla, acting as master of ceremonies, was at the microphone.

One by one, he was introducing the most recognizable players in attendance - "recognizable" being defined by fame and/or accomplishment.

“Also in attendance today,” Nolan continued, “is poker’s 1991 World Champion. A round of applause please, for Mr. Brad Daugherty!” It was at that point that a man at the table I was standing next to raised his hand as the room lightly applauded.

This was Daugherty, 16 years removed from his triumph. Neither I nor the nine players sitting with him had any clue they were in that kind of proximity to a champion.

Daugherty’s win was sandwiched between those of two other forgotten champions: 1990’s Mansour Matloubi and 1992’s Hamid Dastmalchi. The anonymity of each of the three has probably had some effect on that of their contemporaries. Daugherty, a dealer-turned-professional, was backed by 1996 champion Huck Seed and coached by 1990 runner-up Tuna Lund. He ran of high circles, remembered or not.

Daugherty entered the final table with just T150,000, but he tripled up on the hand that eliminated Perry Green, the most experienced player at the table. The hand gave Daugherty a real shot, but when he made the final two against Tucson Don Holt, he was at a chip disadvantage and it would get worse before getting better.

His stack got as low as a quarter-million chips to Holt’s T1.9 million. Still Daugherty fought his way back, then won a T1.15 million pot. He’d never give up the lead when he did.

On the final hand, Daugherty raised T70,000 and Holt called to see the flop of Jc-9h-8d. Holt, holding just 7h-3h, had been getting impatient, and it showed in his decision to move all-in.

Daugherty finally made the call with Ks-Js, good for top pair, and when the turn and river came 5c and 8s, Daugherty was the champion. He got to hold $1 million cash, even if he didn’t get to keep it for very long.

Gary Wise

gary@wisehandpoker.com

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