Whilst European attentions were firmly focused on events in Poland, our friends from across the pond were busy fighting it out for the latest WPT Event, the Bay 101 Shooting Star Championship.
In what became a star-studded event, it was high stakes poker pro, Ted Forrest, who came out smelling of roses, snapping up first place and the $1,100,000 first prize.
A five-time bracelet winner, Ted Forrest is a regular in the biggest cash game in Vegas, this including being a member of ‘The Corporation’ that played the ultra-high stakes game against the banker Andy Beal. Of his five bracelets, three of which came in 1993, the others coming in 2004, one is from NLH, one from Omaha Hi-Lo, one from Razz and the remaining two in 7-Card Stud.
But although Ted is considered to be one of the games greatest 7-Card Stud players, he has once again proved that he is no slouch at Hold'Em, fending off a tough final table that included WPT Bellagio finalist, James Van Alstyne, who fell in 4th for $250,000.
Also worthy of a mention are Joe Sebok, son of poker star Barry Greenstein, and Jeff Madsen, the 2006 WSOP player of the series who stunned everyone by capturing two bracelets and two third place finishes. Both of these esteemed pro's just missed out on their first WPT final table, finishing in 7th and 8th positions respectively.
Ted's toughest foe actually came in the form of Joanne Liu, a charismatic poker enthusiast whose biggest win prior was 24k last year in Aruba. Heads-up, their battle would last almost three hours, Joanne proving more than a worthy match to her more renowned opponent.
After Amir Shayesteh had been eliminated in 3rd (his K-K being outdrawn by Forrest's A-8), it was Joanne who held the chip lead, with a 5.3 to 3.7 million advantage, but perhaps utilising his vast experience, Forrest managed to pull back that deficit (and more) by finding a King high flush at just the right time, Joanne having made a straight with Q-J.
2am in the morning, and we saw our final hand, Ted Forrest finally taking the title when his Pocket Sevens held up against Joanne's A-8, all-in pre-flop. Super Ted rose triumphantly and added yet another accolade to his seemingly endless set of results. A fine win from a fine poker player.