Canterberry Poker League · Tournament #14

Fifteen Months, and Eric Finally Wins One

Five knockouts, four of them on the men who finished behind him in the money, and a heads-up match over in ninety-eight seconds.

He has been here since the first night this league ever ran, in June 2008, and he had never won one. Eric Denny put out five of the nine, played four and a half hours and then needed one minute and thirty-eight seconds to finish it — the quickest heads-up match the league has had. It pays $90.

The four he did not eliminate were taken by two other men, and the four he did include every single player who finished behind him in the money. He beat the whole podium himself.

Dan Myers was second for $55, reaching the final two without a knockout to his name. Josh Reel took third and $35 with three of his own, a second money finish in three. Warren Mervin completed the money in fourth for $20.

Where the money went

The undercard

Charlie Drotar bubbled in fifth, his best night in three league tournaments. Tom Buzbee was the first man out after two hours, sent home by Josh — a rough month for the man who won April’s finale and was runner-up in July.

The bigger picture

Four tournaments, four different winners, and not one of them has won twice.

Rick Mazza keeps the lead on 46 points despite finishing eighth, seven ahead of Josh. Behind them Warren and Eric are level on 32, and there are nine men inside twenty-five points of the top. Last season the leader after four had a two-point cushion; this one is not much safer.

Canterberry Poker League #14 — Friday, September 18, 2009. 10 entrants, four paid from a $200 prize pool. Points shown are the league standings after four tournaments of the 2009-10 season.