The first annual tournament was an explosive event, with more than 450 competitors and 300 spectators participating in the two-day, No-Limit Texas Hold ‘Em tournament. MBAs and alumni from 49 schools took to the tables to place their bids for a share of the generous prize pool that included more than $150,000 cash.
The weekend’s first tournament ended Saturday, January 14, with Indiana University MBA Adam Glovsky as the last man standing. Cheered on at the final table by a rowdy crowd of Indiana students and alumni, Glovsky won the championship after more than 10 hours of play, outlasting his final opponents, runner-up David Goldberg of Fordham, and 3rd place finisher George Kopp of Cornell (Johnson).
Three handed, Adam and George were nearly identical in chips and David, who was chip leader for the entire final table, had about twice as many chips. Adam doubled up through George on one hand and then went on to beat David.
That night, Adam was the toast of the party at the PURE nightclub event where Harrah’s and Susquehanna International Group hosted a party for all of the tournament players and spectators.
Sunday, January 15, raised the stakes, doubling Saturday’s $100 buy-in. The first hand was dealt at 12:30 pm, and eight hours later the field was reduced to the final table of nine.
The final table consisted of Cali Tran (Harvard), Michael Komarnitsky (Georgetown), Mark Walker (Wharton), Edward Moselle (Rice), Philip Kim (Harvard), Brett Bodner (NYU), Brad Wollmer (Dartmouth), Travis Ihnen (University of Chicago), and Joe Godfrey (Harvard). The first to go out was Tran, followed by Komarnitsky who entered as the low stack and fought valiantly to stay in the game. Walker was taken out next, followed by Moselle. This left Harvard with two players in the top five -- although not for long, as Kim was eliminated next, reducing the Crimson pack to only one.
The final four was intense, as Bodner, who entered the final table as the large stack, lost a bundle when Godfrey struck gold with a straight on the river card. Bodner was soon after eliminated, leaving the final three to battle it out. Ihnen’s knack for bluffing combined with some aggressive betting by Wollmer and Godfrey allowed for numerous lead stack changes in the final hours of the tournament. Wollmer’s luck eventually ran out, and at nearly midnight, the tournament was down to Ihnen and Godfrey.
The pairing was an intense show-down between U Chicago and Harvard, a suitable finale to a tournament that began with 62 players from Chicago and 60 from Harvard — both more than any other school. Ihnen and Godfrey traded shots over the course of an hour as each tried to find that big opportunity to close the deal. In the end, it was Godfrey -- a self-admitted poker novice -- who called Ihnen’s bluff, ending the 12-hour marathon and emerging as the 2006 WSOP MBA Champion.
Talking about his win, Godfrey was surprisingly calm and direct. Asked whether Harvard had prepared him for poker, he said yes, but added that his inexperience may have been his best weapon: “I suspect a lot of guys were watching me and thinking I was doing one thing, when I was probably doing something completely different.” Be it beginner’s luck, Harvard schooling, or the luck of the draw, Godfrey went back to Boston with $24,822 cash, a $15,000 Gevril watch, and a handsome bottle of Dewar’s finest blend.
The list of schools participating in the tournament resembled that of the Business Week MBA rankings, with top participation from U Chicago, Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, and Kellogg respectively. The weekend, which doubled as a recruiting event for Harrah’s, was a smashing success, with more than 750 MBAs participating in the events, which, in addition to the cards, included several company presentations, social events, and networking opportunities. A welcome reception kicked off the weekend in style with celebrity guest speaker Phil Gordon and a speech from Gary Loveman, Harrah’s chairman, chief executive officer and president.
Forty-five players finished in the money on each day of the tournament, with more than $155,000 awarded. In addition, $15,000 from the prize pool was donated to the Alzheimer’s Association, with a $5,000 matching gift added on by Harrah’s.
For a full list of winners click here
Click here
to view a slideshow from the final round.
To contact us about sponsorship for the 2007 event click here
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