Just a quick recap of what went down during the 16th Ambro No Limit Hold' Em Tournament....We started at the usual 6:30 time slot....I'm still trying to start earlier, but I have come to the conclusion that getting 36 people on time is nearly impossible.

    Table 1 started off with bang...knocking out the first 2 players of the night. Jamie and George T. knocked out at 7:06PM and 7:09PM. George T. had pocket 7's and flops a boat when 7-A-A comes on the flop. He is sitting nice and pretty until Dino catches a King on the turn to get a higher boat with his AK. Ouch! Sorry George...see ya at the next one! Svet, who last tournament was eliminating people left and right, had a very early exit...he placed 33rd(7:14PM). Next out, was former champion, Mike "Cash" S. at 7:26PM. I heard he had a bad beat when he had pocket kings, but I will not get into that. I don't want to start any trouble. Rocco, was next to go placing 31st.(7:28PM). We are not even an hour into the game and we lost 6 players. At this point, I was thinking we would be done by 11PM. The night started off very loose for a lot of players. Lots of chips were thrown around. Harry, who won the previous Ambro Tournament (Ambro 15 on 10/22/2005), couldn't put on a repeat performance. He bowed out at 8:56PM placing 21st. Former 2 time champion, Tony, almost had a very early exit in the 30's, but held on until 9:11PM placing 19th. Next, out, was our only female of the tournament, Angela. Last tournament, she put on a strong performance, making the final table and placing 7th. This one she placed 18th getting eliminated at 9:25PM. Dino, who is a former champion, but many years ago, couldn't get it done and placed 15th. (He won Ambro 5 on 02/08/2002) Now we are down to 2 tables remaining and it is only 9:52PM. It seems that this tournament was moving at a very fast pace. Next out, was yours truly. I just couldn't gather enough chips to bully people around. Early on, I was getting some nice cards, but did play a few hands really bad. I was almost out in the high 20's but survived an all in to stay in the tournament until 10:18PM, placing 14th. I am still in the hunt for my first Ambro Title. I will have one by years end, mark my word!

    Next out, was Ambro 15's runner up, Jim. He looked like he was ready to cruise into the final table again, but next thing you know, he was out. Statsman, Jay M., who runs a great website for all types of pools at www.officepools101.com including all my poker stats-soon to be updated after I give Jay the last 3 tournaments stats- didn't have what it takes this time to make the final table. He was out at 10:38PM placing 11th place. 3 minutes later, John A. busts out and now we are down to nine players. We only need to lose one more person to have our FINAL TABLE. Who was next to go.....Anton. He placed 9th and just missed that elusive final table.

The final table consisted of 3 first timers to the Ambro Tournaments, a few 2 timers, 1 veteran to the Ambro Tournaments and last years Player Of The Year, George L.- don't forget, George had a free entry fee for being Player Of The Year. George L. has been playing strong consistent poker at my events. Here are the players at the final table:

Seat 1 - Andrew - first time playing in my tournaments. Caught runner runner many times to stay alive in the tournament. Early on at 1 point, he only had 525 in chips and turned it around into a nice amount of chips.

Seat 2 - Paul - first time player at Ambro Tournaments

Seat 3 - Christian - 2nd time playing in my tournaments and 2nd straight final table. Last time, he placed 4th.

Seat 4 - Whip - Staple at the final table and 4 time Ambro Champion. A final table without Whip doesn't seem right.

Seat 5 - Rich - first time player as well.

Seat 6 - Alan R. - 2nd time playing and first final table appearance

Seat 7 - George L. - 2005 Player of the Year. George making it once again to the final table is quite impressive. Does he have enough in him to finally win the big one? Prior to this event, he has placed 2nd twice.

Seat 8 - Nunzio - 2nd time playing and first final table appearance

Well, the final table started at around 11:00PM(after a 10 minute break). First to fall victim was Christian. He placed 8th and was eliminated at 11:20PM. Next out was Paul who exited at 11:29PM. It almost took another hour before we lost our next player. Alan R., who was up and down with his chips during the final table was next to go. He placed 6th and was out at 12:24AM.

    Andrew, who had more lives than my neighbor's cat, finally ran out of them and placed 5th.(12:51AM) He did play well, but a few times, he had all his chips in and caught runner runner to catch a flush and stay alive. Next to go was Rich. He was short stacked the entire time at the final table. It is tough to make moves at the final table being short stacked. He played well and placed 4th (1:02AM).

    So, we have 3 players left. 2 sharks (Whip and George L.) vs. 2nd time player to my tourneys, Nunzio. Nunzio, had a big feat ahead of him. He was battling against 2 great players and they both had more chips than him. He laid low and let these 2 guys battle it out. After a few crazy hands, Whip decides to move all in with 10-Q. He mistakenly shows his cards before George can act. George, calls his bet with an Ace-7. The Ace holds up and George eliminates 4 time champion, Whip. Another strong performance by Whip who just keeps making these final tables. Whip was eliminated at 1:33AM.

    So, we now have our heads up match. George L., who is no stranger to heads up play (lost twice to heads up play in my tournaments) and newbie Nunzio, who told me he was just happy to make the final table. George had about a 3 to 1 chip lead on Nunzio. It looks like George was ready to finally win a title. Well, it looks like George will always be a bridesmaid and never a bride. Nunzio chipped away at George's chips and George never recovered. Nunzio now had a huge chip lead and George had to move all in. He did win one all in and it seemed things were turning around for him until the final hand. Both players paired on the flop and George moved all in. The flop was J-5-2 and George had 4-5. Nunzio, unfortunately for George, had top pair. He had J-8 and called immediately. The turn came another 2 and the river was a 4. Both had 2 pair, but Nunzio had the higher 2 pair and became the new champion of the Ambro Tournament. Congrats to George for making it to heads up play once again. Congrats to newcomer, Nunzio, who played patiently all night and outlasted all the other players to take home the title.

    A few people have already asked when the next one is going to be. I am hoping to have one more before the summer starts. Early reports show that May 13th, 2006 will be the next one. I will keep you all posted when it will be. Keep your yes peeled because the list fills up fast. Don't get caught on the waiting list!!!!

Mike