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Search results for keyword(s): ‘2012’
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WSOPE Winning Hand
My final hand (the winning hand) of the 2012 WSOPE Main Event. So cool to have it framed!
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Family Ties
This year marked my first win in our annual holiday Family Poker Championship! Here’s our traveling bracelet: sterling silver with initials engraved on the back. Do you think I can count this as WSOP #14?
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Poker News Interview
By Tatjana Pasalic, via Poker News…
Tatjana Pasalic: Hi Phil and welcome! How was your experience in China?PH: I love it here! I mean, from a poker point of view, I sat down at the small blind five hours late, busted on the big blind. I lasted one round! I did take an incredible beat. It was a dream come true scenario – blinds were 150/300, I open for 1k. I had already come over the top once. This is my 5th hand. The guy behind calls, button makes it 2900. I call with JJ. The other guy starts studying and studying…and I think: ‘God, I hope he moves in!’. He looked like he wanted to call and he did. Then came 2, 3 7, with the 7 and 3 of clubs, excuse me the 7, 2 of clubs, 3 of spades. I checked, the other guy checks. The button bet 5300 and I am studying and thinking. My mind says I have to fold this as I do not want to jam 60 BB but I just won the WSOPE and my instincts, I have all my bracelets on my instincts, so I have to go with them. I feel like he does not have AA or KK. I am really good at reading those hands.
I start talking to him and I see he is nervous. He doesn’t even have queens. I ship it! 10300 more and the other guy folds right away and it gets back to him and he starts studying. The minute 10 seconds pass, I am like alright, he does not have queens but once 20 seconds passed I knew he did not have queens and I am thinking ‘This is beautiful! I have the best hand and I am proud of the way I played it.’
I started joking, I walked over to Matt Savage and Adam Pliska from the WPT and the director of the casino, Andrew Steel. They are all standing there and I say, ‘God, I can’t believe I moved all in for 60BB with JJ already. So unlike me! But now I am about 95% sure I have the best hand.’
I go back to the table and it has been announced that I am all in, a big crowd gathers around and I say to the guy, ‘Hey, you can be famous if you call and bust me.’ He flips over the J2 of diamonds. I was in shock! It can’t get better than this. He can’t even make a backdoor flush. He’s drawn to a duck! I mean, it is so beautiful; I am a 1:11 favorite.
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From the Archives
Madison (WI) Magazine, 1990. I haven’t aged a day, right?
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Calligraphy from Royalty
This progression shows a nephew of the last Emperor of China doing Calligraphy (a Dragon) for me. Such an honor to meet him and to receive this gift.
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Forbidden City, Shanghai, and WPT
Mom, Dad, and me in the Forbidden City.
Mom and Dad in the Forbidden City, in front of the main palace (which was used mostly for political meetings).
