Hurrah for Hoyt! - Hoyt Corkins Wins Event 30

By Arthur Crowson Jun 20, 2007 | 1 year ago

Hoyt Corkins wins Event 30, No-Limit Hold'em/Six Handed.

Going into the final table of Event 30 it seemed like there could be only one outcome. Despite talented players like Alan Sass and Terrence Chan, Hoyt Corkins seemed to have laid claim to this particular bracelet and nothing was going to stand in his way. Corkins played deep stack poker perfectly.

He was patient when he needed to be and he was aggressive when he had to be. After he won the tournament, Corkins was awarded the WSOP bracelet by Doyle "Texas Dolly" Brunson himself. A perfect end to pretty perfect day of poker for the Alabama cowboy. PokerListings.com talked with Corkins after his big win:

First of all, Hoyt, how does this bracelet compare to the one you won back in 1992?

Actually this one is a lot better than the first one, even though I was probably more excited about the first. I guess now that I'm older and more of an established pro you're expected to do things and win gold bracelets. It's a big thrill to have two.

You basically dominated today's final table what were your feelings on it?

I caught a couple of good hands and played them very well. I built up a huge chip lead, I mean I had probably 50% of the chips in play, but I did get a little sloppy. I got really lucky on one hand but besides that I thought I played well.

Hoyt Corkins claims some cash.

Which hand did you get lucky on?

The ace-king against the ace-10. I flopped an open-ended straight draw but I hit the 10 to win. If I wouldn't have lost that pot I would have had a very average chip stack.

What did you think of heads-up competition, Terrence Chan?

I think Terrence is a very good player. I was in good position on him a couple of times and it just worked out for me.

Is short-handed/six a table one of your preferred games?

I do like short-handed. It's fun but I also like nine-handed. Either way is OK with me.

Hoyt Corkins being interviewed after Event 30.

Was there a turning point in this tournament for you?

Actually I took a big gamble on a pair of nines against a gentleman that had ace-king and it was for 80% of my chips. I do that in tournaments, though. I take big gambles. Especially late, early on I'm a bit more conservative. That hand really paid off for me though. I had around $570,000 and after that I was up to $1.3 million. Had I lost that pot I would have been down to like $180,000. After that I won a few races and here I am.

Doyle Brunson shows off Hoyt Corkins' bracelet.

You've been playing very well in the last year. Is there anything you attribute that to?

There was one thing that really turned my life around. Before that I got divorced and stayed drunk for 10 years but I got to listening to proverbs, my sister gave it to me on CD. I'm not a very religious person, I don't go to church a lot, but I really like what it says. It's just been working for me.

You stayed away from the poker scene during the late '90s, is this bracelet a sign that you're back in full-force?

It's a big thrill. You can go bust anytime and a lot of great players don't have a gold bracelet.

Is it a bit of validation for you?

Well I've always had a lot of confidence in myself so that was never an issue. I don't mean to sound arrogant or anything but that's just the way I feel.

Finally what does the future hold for Hoyt Corkins, are you going to be playing a lot of events this summer and what about after that?

I'm going to play until the World Series is done and then I'm going to take six weeks off in September.

Thanks so much, Hoyt.

 

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A true cowboy Hoyt Corkins is a throw-back to the poker players of the old days. He wouldn't look out of place in an old saloon with grizzled pioneers. That said Corkins can play poker with the best of them and seems to be picking up steam lately. Perhaps he is just getting back into the swing of things after his hiatus from the game. If he keeps up his excellent play there is no telling what this cowboy could accomplish.