Season 1: Game 6 – Deirdre Lightfoot

Girl power may have taken a week off, but it was back tonight with a vengeance.

Game 6 was a $20 buy-in no limit hold ’em tournament.  12 players entered, as they played for a smallish $228 prize pool (which no doubt had something to do with there being a Lakers game on…).  The tournament ended at only 10:35, edging out last week as the earliest finish so far.

The top three from last week all finished in the bottom four this week.  So much for momentum.  The bubble burst as perpetually unlucky Jeff Boehm got his money in as a slight favorite with 66 v. Deirdre Lightfoot’s 98 – Deirdre was down to 6 outs going to the river, but hit an 8 to send Jeff packing.  He picked up 12 points in the season standings.

The next hand, a short-stacked David Toth pushed with K7 and was called by Deirdre’s 97.  Deirdre’s dominated hand wasn’t behind long – a 9 on the flop put her in the lead; with no further help, David was out in third, earning $27 and 36 points.

Suddenly, three of the four women who had entered tonight’s tournament were all that remained.  I would like to note that not only did three women make the final three, but they were all VERY STRONG PLAYERS.  For those of you who haven’t played yet and are skeptical, you can be assured that these ladies mean business.

On a K-high flop in a raised pot, Lisa Yoshida bet nearly half her stack and was re-raised all-in by Deirdre.  With a ton of money already in the pot, Lisa made a reluctant call, hoping that Deirdre was on a draw and her AT was good or that she was at least drawing live.  Deirdre showed KJ for top pair – no ace came and Lisa was out in third, walking away with $41 and 60 standings points.

Deirdre began heads-up with about a 3-2 chip lead over Nicole Hanley, our Week 2 winner.  Nicole has made a run in all three appearances so far this season, and she was attempting to become the first 2-time winner of the EPL.  Deirdre would make it tough on her, however, chipping away slowly at her stack until she held roughly a 6-1 chip lead.  In a brutal final hand, Nicole pushed all-in on the river with Q3 on an AQT73 board, only to be quickly called by Deirdre who held AT for a higher two pair.  Nicole earned $57 for 2nd place and picked up 84 points, while Deirdre won $103 in her first foray into the EPL, and earned 120 points in the standings.

Deirdre Lightfoot – 1st ($103)

Nicole Hanley – 2nd ($57)

Lisa Yoshida – 3rd ($41)

David Toth – 4th ($27)

It was Deirdre this week who was busting players out left and right – she eliminated an amazing EIGHT players in a row en route to her victory.   This ties her with Nicole – who busted one more player tonight – for the most hits so far this year.

However, by far the most incredible thing that took place tonight is that Rommel Reyes actually showed up to play.

Through the first six weeks of the EPL, a total of 34 different players have entered at least one tourney.

-T