NORMAN THROUGH AS GRECO RUNS OUT OF PACE - 11/09/2006

On the opening night of the PartyPoker.com World Open II, celebrities gathered around the table to see who would get their break by qualifying for the main draw, and having the chance to win $200,000.

Billy Murray had luck on his side but showed inexperience as he folded three fives against Backley’s pair of ten’s. Murray looked set to become a thing of the past, but he managed to recoup some of his chips when he made a full house, hitting an eight on the river, giving him 888,33 chips against Norman Pace’s 333,88.

It was a cagey affair, until Matt Dawson’s pocket tens ran into Michael Greco’s Queens making him the first to leave the table. Michael Greco a regular face playing the game was slight favourite to win the heat as he took command of the table in a hand which saw the downfall of Billy Murray. Murray was leading with two Kings all the way to the turn, and then an eight came on the river giving Greco three eights and sending Murray home. Greco relished in seizing the lead and watched Billy retire to the green room.

Steve Backley was playing well, stealing blinds and making good bets, but his luck run out when he was dealt a queen ten, Norman pace held ace king, when the flop came down Ten, Ace, Five both players hit – Backley 10, and Norman Ace – Backley moved all in and was called instantly by Norman, and that was the end of the track for Steve.

Zoë Anderson had managed to stay in; hitting her flushes a couple of times to keep a steady stack of chips, but her inexperience was apparent when Michael Greco hit his flush on the river. Zoë holding Queen Jack off suit went all in and tried to make a move, but the only move she was to make was off the table.

Heads up was between the two favourites, Michael Greco and Norman Pace. Greco dominated by leading with 345,000 chips compared to Pace’s 255,000. But the chips were still dancing around the table as things were to dramatically change. Pace raised with pocket kings, Greco then re-raised with pocket nines, Pace paused then moved all in. After a couple of minutes Greco called and was shocked to see the kings appear. He failed to hit and Norman took a massive chip lead.

Now dominating the table, Norman played very aggressively, and Michael could not find a hand.

Eventually Michael was dealt a pair of sevens, with no other alternative his only move was all in so he pushed his remaining stack into the pot. Norman considered his options and called with ten seven. The flop didn’t help either of the players and then the turn a ten, a dagger into the heart of Michael. He needed one card on the river, a seven, but it never came and Norman was left alone holding the chips and cracking jokes as he went one step closer to winning $200,000.