Eight Deuce · Tournament #26

Steve McLean Ends Seventeen Months Without a Win

He knocked out the three men who finished behind him in the money, and Juan Lopez was second for the second month running.

Steve McLean had not won an Eight Deuce tournament since the January 2022 opener. On Friday he won one by eliminating everyone else who got paid — the players who finished second, third and fourth were all his — and took $335 after five hours and eight minutes.

It is his third here and the seventh of his career. He also holds the Tournament of Champions, won in November.

Juan Lopez was second for $235 after under eight minutes heads-up, four weeks after winning #25 — two finals in a row. Shawn Miller took third and $155, his second third place in a row and his fourth top-four of the season.

Jeff Holderman rebought and came fourth for $115, cashing for the third tournament running and keeping the points lead.

Where the money went

The undercard

Angela Cain bubbled in fifth again, as she did in April. Lee Ugarte was the first player out after two hours and ten minutes — the first time the man with six Eight Deuce wins has gone out last of all.

The bigger picture

Six tournaments, five winners, and nobody has more than two: Jeff Holderman has February and April, Lee Ugarte has January alone, and the other three went to three different men.

Holderman leads on 217.89, thirty-four ahead of Lee. Thirteen players and two rebuys made $840, the third tournament in a row under $1,000.

Eight Deuce #26 — Friday, June 9, 2023. 13 entrants, 2 rebuys, four paid from an $840 prize pool. Player of the Year counts each player’s best eight scores.