Most people go through their APC career and hope they can take down a Grand Championship. Well John has decided to up the ante and add a second Grand Championship to his resume.
John Furg | Season 13 Grand Champion
I asked John a few questions about his most recent Grand Championship and here is what he had to say.
So John, I know when I have won most of my tourneys, I had a feeling going in if I was going to do well or not. What was your mindset going into this tourney? Well, here’s the straight poop. When I got up Saturday morning I was waffling about even going to the game. It’s a long ride & I really hadn’t had any success over the past 2 seasons. I had actually taken a break midway through season 13, but my 900, some odd, points qualified me. It was my wife who talked me into going. So I went in with low expectation.
At what point during the tourney did you think you had a realistic shot at taking it down? Much of the game is a blur. I seemed to float between 3000 & 7000, moving from table to table. It was around the time that we were down to 2 tables that I made some questionable moves that just seemed to work out with some favorable flops & a runner runner flush when I bluffed into a pot with 6/7 H. All of a sudden I’m sitting on 40K+ & realize that I have a real shot. So, a new mind set was born & I got real focused.
Were there any key hands that you can recall that helped take you to victory? I know I got lucky on a few hands before the runner runner flush, but in my mind, the key hand went like this. With 5 players left & sitting on around 60k, Travis had raised my big blind the last 4 or 5 go arounds. He did it again & before looking at my cards I said, “You know, one of these times I’m going to look down & see a hand”. Sure enough A/J. I thought a minute & said. ” If I call I think the winner of this hand will win this thing. I’m fine with your taking down back to back GC’s. Let’s see what happens.” Travis had shoved in 40+k & I still had about 20 left over. He turned over A/8 & 2 J’s popped up on the board.
Anything else notable you can recall about the tourney for those of us that may not have been there to see? When we were down to 3, Steve C called Ann’s all-in & it was down to heads up fairly even in chips. Ann gave me fits. About 5 minutes into to the heads up we were both all in (I honestly don’t remember what either of us had) and I won thinking it was all over as a big shit eating grin came across my face. It was not to be. She still had a few chips & the the next 2 hands were automatic all-ins for me. She won both & eventually got back to a small chip lead. Then came another all-in about 30 minutes later &, once again, I thought it was all over. NO… she still had a few chips left. I said, “Here we go again”! Next hand she goes all in with pocket 2’s, I call with 9/4 off & hit a 4 in the window & after 40 minutes of head to head it was finally over. This is one good upcoming player, Ann D. !
Very cool, any final words? Let me say this. A few players walked away from the table shaking their head because I had some real lucky boards being behind going in. I don’t think you can win a tournament without a little luck coming your way on hands where you are behind. I’ve been on the other end more times than I’d like to remember. It just turned out to be my day & questionably was not the best player that day but the beneficiary of putting some bad beats on a few people.
Well John, a most impressive victory and one that may not be topped anytime soon. Congratulations again on becoming a two time APC Grand Champion.
Also a Big thanks to Kelly Hannon for running the tourney. Great job as always!
A big thank you to the dealers as well: Wendy, Kim, Bill, Steve, Randall, Jason, Gil, Rachel, Nehme, Spry, Andrew, Getty, Brittany, and JR
Thanks to Jim Burns for taking the photographs
Thanks to the Famous Pub for hosting the event and especially Shea and Maggie for making sure everyone was taken care of.
