Farewell from the 2008 WTCC Race Trophy
After nine months of exciting action the curtain has fallen on the 2008 WTCC Race Trophy, and what an amazing journey it has been! It started out all the way back in March with Race Trophy Brazil and since then we have crisscrossed the globe to Spain, Czech Republic, UK, Germany and Italy before finishing it all off with the $500,000 Race Trophy Final in Austria. Fast cars, big parties, great poker and $500,000 of cold, hard cash - the Race Trophy has had it all!
In the end it was Finnish player DoggyP75 who came out on top, beating out Marky_Crash in heads up play to take down the Race Trophy Final and the massive $285,000 first prize. DoggyP75 was a popular and deserving champion and had an amazing journey throughout the event, firstly winning a freeroll to qualify for Race Trophy Spain before outlasting and outplaying all challengers to take down the Race Trophy crown.
With a large contingent of DoggyP75's friends and family making the trip to Austria to watch the final, the celebrations went long into the early hours of Sunday morning as everyone celebrated not only Doggy's win, but also what a fantastic success the 2008 WTCC Race Trophy has been.
Well that's all from the 2008 WTCC Race Trophy. It has been an absolute pleasure to be involved in this series and I hope all you loyal PokerRoom.com readers have enjoying following it as much as we have enjoyed reporting on it. I will leave you with one last look over all the highlights of the amazing 2008 WTCC Race Trophy journey, including a video we put together with highlights from the first four races;
Congratulations to DoggyP75 - Race Trophy Champion
The Race Trophy Final has been run and won and it is Finnish player DoggyP75 who came out on top. It was an amazing effort by DoggyP75, knocking out 5 of his 6 opponents and crippling the one opponent who he didn't bust.
The quiet and composed Finn managed a big smile when picking up his $285,000 and even a few celebratory fist pumps. His entourage of supporters who had made the trip to watch him play certainly had a great time and enjoyed every moment of Doggy's win. Very loudly!
It was a great effort by all the players and there were certainly no losers from the Race Trophy Final. Here is a quick recap of the prizes;
DoggyP75 - 1st Place $285,000
Marky_Crash - 2nd Place $100,000
Masterka7x - 3rd Place $50,000
Puggy82 - 4th Place $35,000
VikoBosse 5th Place $20,000
4erkess - 6th Place, $10,000
Well that's all for tonight from Vienna, join us tomorrow as we bring you all the photos from tonight celebrations as I am sure it is going to be a night to remember! Thanks for following the tournament on PokerRoom.com, and make sure you stay tuned for all the action still to come. Goodnight!
DoggyP75 is Race Trophy Champion
Just a few hands into the heads up battle, DoggyP75 has knocked out Marky_Crash to take home the $285,000 first prize.
Marky_Crash was able to double up once in heads up, but the definitive hand would be a all-in preflop showdown with DoggyP75 pushing all-in with 44, and Marky calling with KJ.
The board ran out with neither player connecting and Marky_Crash was out in 2nd with a $100,000 pay day and the Finnish maestro DoggyP75 become the inaugural WTCC Race Trophy Champion.
Congratulations to all players! It was a fantastic Final and DoggyP75 is a very worthy champion.
Masterka7x Finishes in Third - $50,000
Masterka7x has just busted in third place after pushing all in on a 4c 9c 6h board with Ac 8h, but was called by DoggyP75 with 4c 8s.
4d on the river gave Doggyp75 trips and a huge chip lead going into heads up against Marky_Crash.
DoggyP75 - 49,000 in chips
Marky_Crash - 11,000 in chips
Masterka7x - 3rd Place $50,000
Puggy82 - 4th Place35,000
VikoBosse 5th Place $20,000
4erkess - 6th Place, $10,000
Puggy82 Busted in 4th Place - $35,000
Puggy82 has crashed out of the Race Trophy Final in fourth place after getting on the wrong end of two consecutive pre-flop all-in showdowns. The Scottish marvel had actually moved back into the chip lead by stealing some blinds and pushing his opponents around, but his night would come to an end after two big hands in a matter of minutes.
In the first hand Puggy82 pushed all-in from BB with deuces facing a min raise from DoggyP75 on SB. Doggyp75 called with 15K and turned over QQ for the big pre-flop advantage. The board ran out with neither player improving their hand and Puggy82 was suddenly the shortest stack on the table.
Two hands later Puggy82 pushed the remainder of his stack in from the button holding KT and was called by Masterka7x on BB with AQ. An A on the Turn was enough for Masterka7x to almost double up and send Puggy82 to the rail in fourth spot with $35,000 for his days work.
With three players remaining DoggP75 has a big chip lead with a 2-1 advantage over both opponents.
DoggyP75 - 32,000 in chips
Masterka7x - 14,300 in chips
Marky_Crash - 13,200 in chips
Puggy82 - 4th PLace $35,000
VikoBosse 5th Place $20,000
4erkess - 6th Place, $10,000
Blinds Up Again
The blinds have just moved up to 600/1200 with a 200 ante meaning the 4-handed play will be fast and furious from now on. Masterka7x is under the most pressure, only having 5 or 6 big blinds left.
Marky_Crash Doubles with Aces
Marky_Crash has just doubled up through Puggy82, with his Aces holding up against Puggy82's JsTs. With the action folded to Puggy82 on the button, he pushed all in over his two shorter stacked opponents on the blinds. Marky_Crash snap called with his stack of almost 9k before Masterka7x folded the BB.
Marky_Crash was well ahead when he turned over his AsAh agaisnt Puggy's JsTs, but Puggy got some outs on the flop with two spades giving him a flush draw. The turn then blanked and Marky_Crash doubled up to over 17k when he dodged a spade on the river.
The hand moved DoggyP75 to a clear chip lead, and Marky_crash has now moved his stack into second place. Full chip counts will come at the next break.
VikoBosse Busted in Fifth Place - $20,000
VikoBosse's amazing Race Trophy journey has ended with the Swede getting busted in fifth place holding KdQd. VikoBosse opened the pot with a raise to 2k from the button and was re-raised all in by Finnish player DoggyP75 on BB. VikoBosse went to the tank before making the call and pushing his remaining 4,625 into the middle.
VikoBosse turned over his KdQd and was just behind Doggyp75 who turned over Ac9s. The flop came Jd 4c Td giving VikoBosse plenty of outs with the open ended straight-flush draw. A Qs then came on the turn, giving VikoBosse a pair and putting him at about 85% to take the hand and double up. Unfortunately for our Swedish Team Member, a dreaded 8h dropped on the river giving Doggyp75 an unlikely straight and ended VikoBosse's night in fifth place.
It has been a truly amazing ride for Vikobosse, who qualified for Race Trophy Germany via a freeroll and then beat out a quality field including flushgordon and gbpoker to qualify for the Final here in Vienna. Vikobosse was disappointed to be busted on such a brutal river, but enjoyed his Race Trophy journey immensely and is looking forward to spending his $20,000 renovating his house in Sweden.
With that hand DoggyP75 took a slender chip lead from Puggy82, and Masterka7x is now lowest stacked with 7,200. When we return from the break the blinds will be 300/600 with a 50 ante.
DoggyP75 - 22,575 in chips
Puggy82 - 22,075 in chips
Marky_Crash - 11,550 in chips
Masterka7x - 7,200 in chips
VikoBosse 5th Place $20,000
4erkess - 6th Place, $10,000
All Steady in 5-Handed Play
The players have returned from the break and after 4erkess' exit the five remaining players have continued to play cautious, tight poker. With so much money on the line it is hardly surprising that caution has prevailed, but with the blinds and antes increasing every 30 minutes it is likely we will start to see some action pretty soon.
Blinds are now 200/400 with a 50 ante and there has been no major change to chip stacks since the last break.
4erkess Wins 10,000 in Sixth Place
Latvian player 4erkess has finished in sixth place in the Race Trophy Final after getting his Pocket K's cracked by DoggyP75's AQ.
With action folded to 4erkess on SB, he raised it to 700 before DoggyP75 pushed all in over the top from BB. 4erkess snap called and turned over his Kings with DoggyP75 needing some help with AQ. The flop blanked with 2s 3d 9c, but when an Ah fell on the turn 4erkess was suddenly behind and needing to hit on the river to stay alive in the tournament. A 4d came on the river and 4erkess was was unlucky to be out in sixth spot with $10,000 for his troubles.
As the players take a break Puggy82 is still in the chip lead with over 18,000 in chips and DoggyP75 has moved to second with 14,600. Here are the rest of the chip stacks;
Puggy82 - 18,125 in chips
DoggyP75 - 14,600 in chips
Masterka7x 10,425 in chips
Marky_Crash 9,075 in chips
VikoBosse 7,775 in chips
4erkess - 6th Place $10,000
When the players return the blinds will be 150/300 and an ante of 25 will be introduced.
Puggy82 Picks Up Another Pot
Puggy82 has just picked up another nice pot with top pair, top kicker.
Masterka7x opened the pot with a call from UTG before a raise to 700 by 4erkness and a call from Puggyg82 on the button. Masterka7x folded and the flop came Kd 8h Ad with 4erkness leading out with 1200 to which Puggy82 called. 2c on the turn and another 2.5k in the pot from 4erkness and another call from Pugg82. The river came with 5c and 4erkness put out another 2.5k and Puggy82 flatted again, showing AQ for top pair, top kicker against 4erkness' unlucky AT.
The second level has just finished and blinds have moved to 100/200. Puggy82 still has the chip lead and all the accurate chip counts will be updated in the next break.
Puggy82 Chips Up with Aces
Puggy has just won the first big pot of the WTCC Race Trophy Final after picking up Pocket A's against VikoBosse's pocket 6's.
It was heads up pre-flop with 750 in the pot and the flop came Ts 4c 5d. Puggy82 bet out before being re-raised by VikoBosse's to 1k. Jh came on the turn with Puggy82 check-calling another 1k. 7c fell on the river and both players checked, handing a pot of almost 5k to Puggy82. The hand moved Puggy82 into chip leader with over 17,000 in chips and left VikoBosse down below 7,000.
Cautious First Level
One level has been completed in the WTCC Race Trophy Final without any major action taking place. We have only seen about ten flops and only one showdown with almost any bet causing the rest of the table to quickly fold.
No one has really deviated greatly from their starting stack of 10,000 and every player has won at least one pot. Blinds are now 50/100 for the next 30 minutes.
Shuffle Up And Deal in the Race Trophy Final
Alright ladies and gentleman, after over eight months of tough Race Trophy competition and six semi-finals stretching right across the globe, the cards are finally in the air for the $500,000 Race Trophy Final!
The players are seated in the order which they qualified for the Final and DoggyP75 has started with the button;
Seat 1 - 4erkess
Seat 2 - DoggyP75
Seat 3 - Puggy82
Seat 4 - Marky_Crash
Seat 5 - VikoBosse
Seat 6 - Masterka7x
Just to repeat blinds are starting out at 25/30 and will be increased every 30 minutes. Starting chip stacks are 10,000. I have a birds eye view of all the action from my spot in the Eurosport production truck so make sure you stay tuned for all the live updates! Let's get it on!!
We Have Power!
Power has been restored to the TV set so we are just about ready to get the Race Trophy Final started! Despite the delay, the Team is in good spirits and have been passing the time by playing a little poker and chatting with friends and family.
Once we get started the blind levels will be 25/50 and will increase every 30 minutes. Starting stacks will be 10,000 and here is that glorious payout structure one more time;
1st place - $285,000
2nd place - $100,000
3rd place - $50,000
4th place - $35,000
5th place - $20,000
6th place - $10,000
Alright ladies and gentleman, my apologies for the delay, but we are really looking good for the players to take their seats shortly! Stay tuned!
The Wait Continues
As the technical difficulties get ironed out, let's take a moment to have a another look at the starting line for today's final and how they got here;
We have still not received a revised start time as yet so we are literally still in the dark! Sit tight and I'll make sure you stay up to date with the progress.
Technical Difficulties Delay Start
Bad news folks, technical difficulties on the TV set have delayed the start of the Race Trophy Final. Everything was ready to go and the players were almost in their seats when the set was plunged into darkness by a power failure. Electricians are currently working on fixing the problems, but it looks like the start of play will be delayed at least an hour.
The players are keeping busy by playing a little poker, but you can feel the anticipation really starting build as we wait to get all clear to start play. Let's hope all the problems can get sorted out quickly and we can get into the poker as soon as possible, I'll keep you updated on the progress!
Getting Ready to Rumble
Morning everybody! The Team has just arrived at PokerRoom.com headquarters in Vienna and are preparing for the big day ahead. There is a real electricity in the air with the players warming up with a few Sit & Go's and the Europsport crew putting the final touches on TV set.
All the players are keen to get started and we are still looking good for the cards to be in the air at 14:00CET. Don't move a muscle because all the action will be reported as it happens here on PokerRoom.com.
Team PokerRoom.com Sees the Sights of Vienna!
Evening poker fans! Today the Race Trophy finalists were treated to a big day of sightseeing with a guided tour around the many historic and picturesque landmarks Vienna has to offer. It all started with the Team meeting in the hotel lobby and all the players were very much still feeling the effects of last night's Team PokerRoom.com Welcome Party. A bleary eyed Puggy82 even admitted that he woke and found himself lying in bed next to the one and only Marky_Crash! Neither player would confirm nor deny if there was spooning involved!
Despite the nursing nasty hung overs, nothing was going to stop the Team from getting out and seeing the sights of Vienna and first on the agenda was a horse and carriage ride around the center of town. It was then time for some photo's at the beautiful St. Stephen's Cathedral before another serving of fantastic Viennese cuisine at Restaurant Lusthaus.
After lunch the players were treated to a ride on Vienna's Giant Ferris Wheel in Pratar Amusement Park and got a birds eye view across the city from 200 feet up. The Team PokerRoom.com bus then headed to the famous 'Christkindlmarkt' (Christmas Market) for some shopping and traditional Austrian 'Beerenpunsch', a warm berry punch.
The day was capped off with great dinner at Griechenbeisl, a traditional Austrian restaurant set in a beautiful old building from the 1400's. Despite the fact the players were less than 24 hours away from fighting it out for $500,000, the mood was actually very relaxed and the dinner conversation was surprisingly not even that focused on poker! After being stuffed full with more tasty Austrian delights, the players decided there would be no repeat of last night's wild antics and everyone headed back to the hotel to rest up for the huge day tomorrow.
The cards will be hitting the felt around 14.00 CET so make sure you put everything on hold and reserve the comfyist chair in house to see which lucky player will write their name into PokerRoom.com folklore with a $285,000 pay day. Every big flop, fold and suck out will be reported live as it happens so make sure you keep it tuned to PokerRoom.com. See you tomorrow!
Welcome to Vienna!
The Race Trophy Final kicked off last night in fine style with a welcome dinner at the classic Viennese Restaurant 'Osterreicher In Mak' followed by a night of partying at Passage nightclub.
Wiener Schnitzel was in high demand as the players got a chance to get to know each other over some fantastic traditional Austrian cuisine and then let their hair down at one of Vienna's hottest nightspots.
There was a little bit of tension early in the evening with the players getting their first chance to really feel out their opponents for Saturday, but as the drinks flowed everybody loosened up and really enjoyed the night.
Today the players will get to see the sights in Vienna with a guided tour of the city followed by another Team dinner at one of Vienna's many fine restaurants. With $500k on the line tomorrow I'm sure all the players thoughts will be firmly set on poker and the dinner table talk tonight should be very interesting. Make sure you get all the photos and stories right here on PokerRoom.com!
PokerRoom.com Touches Down in Vienna
The PokerRoom.com private jet has just touched down in Vienna and we are ready to get things started on the final leg of the 2008 Race Trophy journey; The Race Trophy Final!
OK, so PokerRoom.com doesn't have a private jet, (it just sounds cool to say), but the six finalists are arriving from their corners of the globe and tonight we are going to celebrate the only way PokerRoom.com knows how; some fine dinning followed by some serious partying.
Tomorrow the players will be treated to a guided tour of all the beautiful and historic sights in Vienna, before dinner at another fine restaurant tomorrow night. On Saturday things will get serious with The Race Trophy Final kicking off at 14:00 CET in front of the bright lights and cameras of Eurosport, and one player will be walking away with a whopping $285,000 for their day's work! Who will it be? I certainly wish it was me! Here is another look at the starting line up;
Alright folks, it's time for me to put on my Sunday best and go meet the players for the big welcome party! Make sure you stay tuned to PokerRoom.com to get all the photos and reports from what promises be a great night! See you soon!
The Poker Race Trophy Competition: What a Long Exciting Race It’s Been
The Poker Race Trophy engines were revved up back in February when PokerRoom announced an amazing new promotion that mixed racing, poker, and trips to exotic locales around the globe.
Players would battle it out online in freerolls and leaderboard contests to try to win all-expenses paid trips to six different FIA WTCC races. At each race the qualifiers would play a semi-final poker tournament, filmed and broadcast by Eurosport, with the winner of each semi-final moving on to the Race Trophy finals to be held in Vienna.
And what was at stake in the finals? Cash. A lot of cold, hard cash, with each of the six finalists guaranteed to make at least $10,000:
1st place - $285,000
2nd place - $100,000
3rd place - $50,000
4th place - $35,000
5th place - $20,000
6th place - $10,000
With its foot firmly on the accelerator, PokerRoom launched the Race Trophy contest, with staff, bloggers, and qualifiers descending on Brazil in March for the first circuit stop.
Brazil
Eight adventurous players (CheckNorris, Let4i, holdemsurfer, 4erkess, jazzhocki75, Kozyrd, bowarrior, Sadalmelik) played their way to a trip to Brazil for the first stop on the Race Trophy circuit.
Once there, they got to experience the legendary PokerRoom hospitality first-hand, with VIP treatment for the entire weekend of their stay. Fine dining, a private hospitality suite to watch the FIA WTCC race, a lap in the pace car for the tournament winner; you name it, the players experienced it.
As far as the poker action, it was the Latvian 4erkess who emerged victorious, taking down the first seat in the Race Trophy finals when he eventually defeated Kozryd in heads-up action.
Spain
The next stop was Spain, where it was time for eight more players to get a taste of the PokerRoom experience, sampling all of the finest that Valencia had to offer.
Marky_Crash, moesgusta, Grinch1974, jockdave, arrumador, swinney, Tamariz, and DoggyP75 all made the trip to Valencia for an amazing weekend, staying at the Hotel Vinnci and sampling fine meals at restaurants such as La Pepica and the Submarine Restaurant at Oceanogràfic and plenty of late-night fun.
At the tables it was DoggyP75 who took down the victory and the second seat in the finals, getting the best of Tamariz in heads-up action after the rest of the field had been eliminated.
Czech Republic
The third stop on the Race Trophy circuit was held in Brno in June, with Marky_Crash, Puggy82, Llamahead x, MadEngine, Kmcdaddy, Sir Rugren, croywhale , and starsplash83 battling it out for the third seat in the finals.
But not before experiencing the best that Brno had to offer, including a lap in the leading car with Miss Austria for the tournament winner and all of the fine dining and fun that’s par for the course at live events with Team PokerRoom.
Puggy82 prevailed at the poker table to nab the third seat in the finals, defeating MadEngine in heads-up action.
UK
Brands Hatch was the fourth stop on the circuit in July, with a new crop of seven players (gregxxxxl, Schooter69, Mario1955, funkfish, Balthazar73, consaul1, and Nvalerio) and one familiar face in the form of Marky_Crash.
The third time proved to be the charm for Marky_Crash, as he defeated Balthazar73 to take down the fourth seat in the finals in Vienna.
As far as highlights on the entertainment side, limo rides, sumptuous meals, and VIP treatment at the track ensured that all of the players had a poker weekend to remember for years and years.
Germany
With time running out to nail down a seat in the finals, the eight qualifiers for the fifth stop on the Race Trophy circuit were focused firmly on the prize. gbpoker, XX-e46, paskaapina, IntraVnus, 99kingworld, MR_DONPOKER and VikboBosse were all hoping to become the fifth player to win their way into the finals, but only one would emerge victorious.
And that one was VikoBosse, who took out IntraVnus in heads-up play to reserve a seat at the finals.
As at all of the previous Race Trophy circuit stops, PokerRoom spared no expense when it came to showing the players a great time, with champagne and fine meals abounding, as well as nights out on the town (including a healthy dose of karaoke!)
Italy
The last semi-final stop for the Race Trophy competition was held in Monza in early October. Masterka7x, G.Mendez, Ragnash, ..Mr77.., STAMFORD05, doubleclubs, illusionista, and DK_DONKEY were all looking to take down the sixth and final spot in the $500,000 guaranteed finals.
When the dust settled at the poker table it was Masterka7x that had emerged as the winner and recipient of the sixth and final spot in the finals. She defeated G.Mendez in heads-up play after holding the chip lead for much of the tournament.
And that about wraps it up for this year racing wise, now it's on to see who will be named King or Queen of the Race Track! See you in Vienna guys!
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