GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP
The Grand Championship is the culmination of an entire season for The Atlanta Poker Club. Summer Season ’10 Grand Championship Tournament was played on August 21st at Famous Pub. There were 283 players qualifying and the largest field ever played – 167 players! Competing for prizes including a $550 entry into a World Series of Poker or World Poker Tour Tournament in Tunica or Biloxi, the competition was tough.
Every Grand Championship event gives tournament league players the casino experience. There is the large field, the use of antes as blinds increase, and players from all APC venues over the Atlanta area, with every different style of play, are competing against each other.
This Grand Championship had a royal flush and then quads that gave players some shouting experiences. The camraderie is evident even among the strong competition.
Hours into the tournament we had our heads-up match between Ann Cleveland and Brian “Bruiser” Baughcum, the reigning Yearly Champion. Ann Cleveland was the last woman standing in the field of 167!
Ann came to the final table short stacked and survived some key hands as she passed through the critical blinds. She rebuilt her stack and bided her time as others pushed and busted out. Ann doubled up through Brian while the play was 4-handed. During 3-handed play her patience ran out on Brian’s aggression. Brian shoved all in from the small blind, and Ann made the call. Her K, 9 held up against Brian’s Q, 2. When it got to Heads Up, it lasted a couple of hands. Ann’s A, J beat out Brian’s trademark J, 8 and Ann Cleveland took it down!
Ann Cleveland earned the title of Grand Champion Summer Season ’10, and Brian Baughcum finished in 2nd place.
Ann Cleveland, Grand Champion
Summer Season ’10
Ann Cleveland has earned a place in the APC Hall of Fame, and entry into the Yearly Championship Tournament!
