After four long days of top-class poker, we finally have a winner. As Christer Johansson raised his hard-won trophy in the air and shiny confetti was thrown over him to the sound of enthusiastic applause from the rail, no one could find a bad word to say about the popular Scandinavian -- his play was apparently flawless. On top of that, the general consensus seemed to be that he is a jolly nice chap who thoroughly deserved his victory.
As the TV crew started to pack up the final table and the last remaining sickos headed for the cash tables until it was time to catch their flights home, everyone agreed that it had been a tournament to remember. Many thanks to PaddyPower.com for putting on a thoroughly excellent festival, and of course many congratulations to the winners.
After two hands which got as far as the flop and then went to the button raiser with a flop bet, one played out to the river:
Kara Scott minraised on the button (120,000), called by Christer Johansson. He check-called her 175,000 bet on the flop. Both players checked the turn, Scott only after a hand re-check and a bit of a think. Johansson checked the river. Scott bet 250,000, and he made the call -- but mucked when he saw her for the flopped straight.
First hand back, Christer Johansson raised from the button, but passed with a giggle to a reraise from Kara Scott.
Kara folded her button the next hand, and the hand following that Johansson raised his button again to 140,000. Once more, Scott reraised -- now to 330,000. A pause from Johansson, and a call.
Flop:
Kara very quietly and deliberately pushed her whole stack across the line, but before it had got even halfway, Johansson handed his cards back to the dealer, and we play on.
There is currently a pause in the action owing to some sort of unexplained "technical difficulties" with the TV crew, and the clock has been stopped until they are resolved. Hopefully it shouldn't be too long now.
After a few cagey button-raise-fold type hands, it's Kara Scott's button and she makes it 100,000 to go. Christer Johansson calls. They both check the flop. On the harmless-looking turn, Johansson check-calls a 100,000 bet from Scott quickly. But there's more to this than meets the eye -- the river sees Johansson bet out 250,000, only to find Scott moving all in!
He takes his time considering the bet, and her, but eventually, smiling, he passes with a table tap.