Canterberry Poker League · Tournament #39

Eight Knockouts, and a Deal at the End

More than half the field went out at her hands, and the last two players agreed terms rather than play it out.

Fourteen players had to be eliminated and Ashley Lee handled eight of them — more than half the field, and equal to the most anybody has managed in a Canterberry Poker League tournament. When it got down to two, she and Warren Mervin made a deal: the money split evenly at $95 apiece, and the win recorded in Warren’s name.

For Ashley it is comfortably the biggest night of a league career that began in July 2010 — seven tournaments, and until now a third place was the best of it. Eight knockouts from fifteen players is the sort of card that usually ends with a trophy.

For Warren it is a fifth league win and his first in twenty-one months, on a night he made a single knockout. The two of them arrived at the same place by routes that could hardly be less alike.

Tom Buzbee was third for $40, his second straight money finish. Kelly Kruegel took fourth and $30 for a third in a row, Brian Albers fifth and $20, and Charlie Drotar completed the money in sixth for $5 with two knockouts.

Where the money went

The undercard

Seventh was shared by Dawn Buzbee and Mandy Denny, a place outside the money. David Doole, who leads the standings, was the first player out after two hours and eight minutes — and six of the nine players who finished below the money went out at Ashley’s hands.

The bigger picture

Nine tournaments, eight different winners, and the standings have tightened into something worth watching. Doole is on 104 points, Charlie on 101 and Tom on 100 — three men inside four points with one night to play.

Doole has led since November and has not won a tournament since September.

Canterberry Poker League #39 — Friday, March 16, 2012. 15 entrants, six paid from a $285 prize pool. The last two players split the top two prizes evenly. Points shown are the league standings after nine tournaments of the 2011-12 season.