Crowning A College Champion – APCC Highlights

There might have been torrential rain pouring out of the unusually murky LA sky, but the sun was shining on our all-star cast of college poker talent indoors at Bluff Studios on Thursday.  If you didn’t tune in live to watch five college students fight for their tuition, you missed some exhilarating action.

(from left to right:  Greg, Bryan, Mike, Frank, Vincent)

Here’s how the chip count looked at our live final table when play got underway Thursday morning:

FUHRANKLAN (Frank Alberts) 23,100
MSBHVNTWIN (Mike Hofer) 17,500
CRISSTOOPHER (Greg Shevach) 14,100
MOONLIGHT220 (Vincent Lay) 10,200
KAZIBETTA (Bryan Wooley) 4,200

BROCK_1923 (Brock Solveson) couldn’t make the trip from Wisconsin and settled for 6th place and $2000.

It was all smooth sailing at the APCC Final Table at least until 2:00 p.m. PT.  That’s when the pace finally started to pick up and the otherwise conservative play went out the window.

Frank, the original chip leader, was the 1st to fall. Frank’s Q5 pocket cards (left below) were no match for Vincent’s pair of kings and fours at the showdown.

18-year-old Frank won $2250 for 5th place, which isn’t too shabby considering that this future English teacher already has his tuition paid for.

AP Pro Matt Vengrin and Joe Sebok (pictured with the final 4 above) provided live commentary

Vincent also delivered the 2nd blow of the afternoon, knocking Bryan out with Aces and 6s.

Bryan will be taking $3,000 back to sunny Florida for finishing 4th.

After a quick meal break, the tables finally turned on Vincent.   He went all-in holding 76 and lost to Mike’s AQ with KA5A on the table.

Vincent will be returning to the Big Apple with $3500.

And suddenly there were two…

After dominating all afternoon, Mike had the upper hand at the start of the heads-up battle with 59,000 chips vs. Greg’s 10,200.

It only took a few seconds for Greg to be forced all-in.

With 4c Ac to Mike’s Ad 9h, Greg needed a 4 on the river. When the 7 of clubs hit the felt, a winner was crowned.

Congratulations go out to 28-year-old Phoenix native Mike Hofer who earned $10,000, an APCC ring, and a profile in Bluff Magazine. Greg Shevach takes home $5,000 for second place.

See you all next semester!