Felix
‘Powers’ to Victory!
Felix Powers, an easy-going full-time
player who says he plays when he has the
money, captured the 10th event of Winnin’
o’ the Green 2004, $300 limit hold’em.
He came to the final table with a good-sized
chip lead, lost it Hasan Habib, who in
turn gave it up to Salt Lake City pro
Ernest Scherer III. Powers reclaimed the
lead after he won with big slick twice
in a row, then kept climbing up as he
powered his way to a win. At the finish,
Scherer had nearly caught up to him, and
two made a deal.
The
final table started with $1,500-$3,000
limits, 33:34 remaining. Scherer got off
to a fast start, winning the first three
hands. On the second hand, both he and
Emad Rayyan paired their jack on the flop,
but Scherer had the bigger kicker and
Rayyan finished 10th. Huy Lu then cut
down Powers’ stacks when a fourth spade
turned to give him a flush, outrunning
Powers’ flopped set of 8s.
Chris
Grigorian finished ninth. He raised with
Q-J, then bet all in for $1,500 on a 9-7-7
flop. The bet didn’t scare Scherer, who
called with K-5 and derailed the Armenian
Express. On hand 20, Scherer had the big
blind holding 7-5. He bet out when the
flop came 9-7-3, and Lu, holding K-Q,
put in his last $500. Two small cards
came, and the pai gow dealer was dealt
out.
Ten
hands later, Habib took the lead after
he three-bet a pot against Scherer, then
got him to fold on the river. But on the
next hand, Scherer went in with 8-6 against
Habib’s pocket jacks, flopped a 6 and
caught another on the river to take the
lead. “He walks on water,” marveled David
Smira. Now Powers took over. On hand 43
he three-bet Tony Grand holding A-K, check-raised
when the flop came K-Q-4 and took down
a nice pot. The next hand he again re-raised
with A-K, this time against Quan Tran.
The ace-high held up, and Powers was in
front for good with about 50k.
With
3-6k limits, Habib raised with Ad-Kd and
Smirna called all in with A-Q. Rags came
and Smira cashed out seventh. Next out
was Charlie Sayles, whose cash-outs include
a second in $1,000 Omaha hi-lo at the
L.A. Poker Classic. He had K-10 on the
button and called all in for $500 when
Scherer raised and won with pocket queens.
On
the next hand, Powers started with 9h-5h
on the button, made a straight flush against
Habib and increased his lead to about
75k. Then, on the next hand, he held Q-10.
He made an unoptimistic river call against
Scherer with a board of Q-7-6-7-K, was
surprised to discover he had the best
hand and now had over 100k, more than
half the chips.
Tony
Grand, the veteran player and businessman,
finished fifth. On hand 69 he was in the
big blind with the infamous “computer
hand,” Q-7. He bet his last $1,500 when
the flop showed A-2-4. Scherer called
with pocket treys, requested a five and
got it on the turn for a wheel.
Powers
now had 107k to 67.5 for Scherer and 21.5
for Quan Tran, who rejected a chip-count
deal. Tran quickly made a comeback with
a full house, then dropped back down again
when Scherer, with Ac-Kc, gambled and
caught runner-runner clubs. A few hands
later Scherer raised holding Kh-3h. Tran,
with 7c-4c, called all in. A trey flopped,
that was enough and now two were left.
Powers had somewhat over 100k and Scherer
a little over 90k. After a lot of back-and
forth quibbling, a deal was struck and
Powers was declared the winner.
BIOGRAPHY
Felix Powers, who is 50 years old
and lives in Los Angeles, did not offer
a lot of information about himself in
the post-tournament interview, deprecating
himself in a good-natured way by repeatedly
calling himself “just a bum.” He said
he’s been playing poker for 30 years,
and worked as a dealer for the Bicycle
Casino when it first opened. How long
was that? “Until my money gave out.” And
how long was that? “A few months.” So
much for his background.
He
said he’s had a few tournament wins, but
didn’t elaborate. He plays yellow-chip
side games, hold’em and stud, “when I
have the money. I’ve got a poker mind
but no money.” Tonight, he said, he was
in trouble frequently before he got some
good cards. “God was good to me,” he concluded.
Brian McCann, a friend and former poker
host at the Bike, was asked if he could
add anything. “He’s a good guy,” McCann
said.
Max Shapiro
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