4th Street Poker Tour: Tournament of Champions

The 4^th Street Poker Tour was born on June 9, 2004. Since that time, we’ve hosted a total of 48 games in eight different locations. More than 150 degenerate gamblers have thrown down an Andrew Jackson for a shot at the more than $21,000 in total winnings we’ve given out. Yet, only 27 players have been lucky or skilled enough to take home a 4SPT win. On May 24, 2005 we set out to determine which of these 27 players truly was the 4SPT Champion of Champions.

Unfortunately, six former winners were not able (scared) to join the competition. Rising Sonny (FS 7), who hosted the Tour before there ever was a Tour, used the old “Oh, I’m in Japan” excuse. The Ark (SpS 12), the most recent inductee into the 4SPT TOC, was “too tired” from his trip to Vegas. Others didn’t even bother to offer up an explanation including the Poker Princess (FS 4), DJ Tanner (Game 5, FS 1), the Outback (FS 6, FS 12), and good old Johnny C (Game 8).

But each of the 21 former winners who did show up came with strong intentions of taking home the official 4SPT Tournament of Champions trophy and the entire $420 winner takes all prize.

With the game of the year officially underway, new styles started to emerge as players decided to mix it up. After all, no points were on the line and second place was paying out just the same as 21^st.

Speaking of 21^st place, the first to go out was D-Shuk (WS 1) who will forever go down in 4SPT history as the only person to ever split the pot between first and second, way back in Game 6.

Out in 20^th was Josh “Jeopardy” (WS 11), once known as the Rookie or the 5th Street Flipper for his early Tour missteps like flipping his cards before the river. A few weeks before his first 4SPT win, his nickname was officially changed to Jeopardy after Dog’s Playing Poker amazed us all by hand-farting the Jeopardy theme song while Josh took his usual amount of time to make a decision.

Next to go out in 19^th was Mark “The Elephant Man” (WS 2), the winner of the only game in Tour history that didn’t get a recap. Seeing Dog’s influence over the nicknaming process once again, Mark earned his moniker after Dog’s regifted a rather large African elephant figurine (a Christmas present gone wrong from his parents) as an additional special prize for the winner of WS 2.

Then there was the 4SPT’s 2004-2005 Player of the Year Points Champion, with 129 total points, King Richard. Playing host in his own Caslte, The King (FS 5, WS 3) officially left the building in 18^th place.

Three-time winner Charles “Ccc-Mint” (Game 7, St. Valentine's Day Massacre, SpS 2), resident Class Clown and Most Likely to Bluff, was next to fall. His nickname is a shortened version of Canadian Mint, a play on words since Charles (1) is Canadian and (2) uses “mint” interchangeably with awesome or cool.

Surprising the best bookies in town, Vaughn “Vonnnnn Sannnnndmannnnn” (FS 9, FS 11, WS 7, WS 9, SpS 10), fell 15 spots short of the prize when he exited the game in 16^th place. Vaughn, who adds an “N” to his nickname for each of his five Tour wins, was the odds-on favorite to take home the Champion of Champions title. I guess he’ll have to settle on being known as the 4SPT’s 2004-2005 Player of the Year with $1,565 in winnings and 113 total points.

Out in 15^th was Keith “The Cooler” (FS 3), so named because of his early Tour proclivity for bringing with him a cooler of beer to each game. Perhaps the fact he broke this habit is what helped him garner the 4SPT’s Most Improved Player title.

Susan “High Noon” (SpS 1, SpS 9), the 4SPT’s Luckiest Player, came across some bad luck when she drew out of the game in 14^th place. Being also our Most Talkative Player, she of course stayed around until the end to keep everyone entertained.

John “Mr. Pick” (SpS 3, SpS 4) went out next in 13^th place. The Pick, so nicknamed because of the ever-present toothpick hanging out of this mouth, is the Tour’s first and only back-to-back winner.

Next to go down in the 12^th spot was Max “The Factor” (WS 8, SpS 6), a man who truly believes in the power of “a chip and a chair.”

Out in 11^th was Jennifer “The First Lady” (Game 1). Jennifer is so nicknamed because she won the very first 4SPT game and, of course, is romantically linked to the Man in Charge of the 4SPT. The First Lady, who always knows how much time is left on the blinds thanks to her beloved Apple Timer, was the only TOC entrant present lacking a Player Profile. Hoping to finally take one home, she instead fell 10 spots short – nothing surprising based on her recent Most Likely to Finish on the Bubble award.

In the 10-spot was Evan “Grimace” (FS 8, Fall Brawl). Evan is known for his radically tighter style of play in relation to that “other Sandman,” the way he grimaces when making a decision, and his penchant for coming up with a million different spellings for his nickname (e.g. Grim-Ace, Grim Ice, Grim One).

Falling one spot shy of the Final Table was three-time winner, Dino “The KCBP” (Game 2, WS 10, No Limit Texas Smoke 'Em II). Dino held the first true Tour event, when he offered to host a game away from The Complex in Game 3. His nickname originally was the Kansas City Bluff, but the P was added when he wore a Bikini Patrol visor and forever became the KCBP.

Jun “Always Sideways” (FS 10, WS 6) was the first one out at the Final Table, in 8^th place. Member of the Too Beaucoup Crew, Jun won his very first game on the Tour. He is also one of the only players to bring to the Tour his own nickname – which stems from his tendency to lean sideways when he races motorcycles.

Another member of the Too Beaucoup Crew, Richie Rich (WS 5) was next to go in 7^th place. Host to the newest (and furthest) venue on the Tour, Richie Rich is perhaps best known for introducing the Tour to the joys of plastic playing cards, clay chips, and custom built feature tables. This over-the-top dedication to poker is the reason why, should anything ever happen to Jennifer and Jeff (poker god forbid), the 4SPT is officially willed to him.

Out in 6^th was three-time winner Jeff "Complex Slim" (Game 3, FS 2, SpS 5), the 4^th Street Poker Tour’s very own Tournament Director. Beyond his love for the Tour, Slim takes great pride in being a wise older brother, as he’s taught his younger brother, Keith “The Cooler” a couple of lessons when he beat him twice heads-up. He recently was given the opportunity to pass on some knowledge to his even younger brother, Brian “Little Holsey,” when he single-handedly busted Brian out of the Smoke ‘Em II. Slim is looking forward to the day when his youngest brother, the Worm, becomes "of age" so he can complete the trifecta.

Next to go in 5^th was Chuck “Rainman” (SpS 7). Turns out that he actually goes by Charles in his everyday life and basically despises the name Chuck. However, with the Ccc-Mint on the Tour, there was just no way this newcomer was going to be able to use his god-given name. So, cut him a break and call him by his nickname, “Rainman,” given to him because of his savant-like ability to spot marked cards.

Justin “The Bookie” (Sps 8) was next out in 4^th place. Before the TOC, Justin decided to open his own sports book and create some side action by handicapping the game. Though no one took him up on it, he managed to ruffle a few 10-1 feathers in the process and earn himself a new nickname.

Out in 3^rd, though he tried desperately to get the final two to chop, was Zak “Prefontaine” (WS 4). Zak received his nickname after he repeatedly caught runner-runner to ultimately take home his win in the Winter Season.

And then there were two. Lest you forget, at the Tournament of Champions – winner takes all. Unfortunately for Chris “Eastwood” The Man with No (nick)Name(SpS 11), that wasn’t him. Though he put up an impressive fight, our Spring Season points champion bowed out of the tournament in 2^nd place.

So the trophy, all of the money, and the CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS title ultimately went to our newest three-time winner, Kevin “Seattle Slew” (Game 4, WS 12, TOC). Seattle “Slow” as he’s sometimes known, recently received the Slowest Player award for his tendency to grind out the blinds when making a decision. However, he proved to us all that he’s taking his time for a reason and that his well-thought out decisions help make him the great player he is.