Full Tilt Poker pro Carlos “The Matador” Mortensen, rallied through three hours of grueling heads-up play against Kirk Morrison to win the 2007 WPT Five Star World Poker Classic. The $3.9 million victory makes him the first player to ever win both a WPT World Championship and a WSOP* Main Event.
Mortensen started heads-up play as a two-thirds underdog, with 12.8 million in chips to Morrison’s 19.45 million, and within 15 minutes lost even more ground by losing more than six million in one hand.
Down but not out, Mortensen built up his chip stack over the next hour until he rivered a straight and took the lead. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t last. Just 10 minutes later, Morrison doubled up, and Mortensen had to dig himself out of another big hole.
The chip lead would switch sides three more times during the night. Finally, the pivotal moment came when Morrison moved all in pre-flop with A-4, and Mortensen called with K-J suited. The flop fell 7-4-3 giving Morrison a big advantage with a pair. But a Jack on the turn and a 3 on the river meant Mortensen had a higher two pair and the victory.
Mortensen’s latest $3.9 million win moves him into the top-10, all-time money list and is a crowning achievement in an already impressive career. Besides winning the 2001 Main Event, Mortensen owns another World Series of Poker* bracelet and a second WPT title.
"Carlos Mortensen has always been one of the most dangerous players on the circuit," said fellow Full Tilt Poker pro Howard Lederer. "With this win he solidifies his legacy as one of the most successful major championship event competitors in poker history."
Mortensen represents one of the fastest growing online poker sites, www.FullTiltPoker.com, and spends several hours a week online helping amateur players learn the game by sharing his poker knowledge through real-time chats at the virtual tables. Along with Mortensen, 66 other top poker professionals play at www.FullTiltPoker.com, where they have helped to create the best possible atmosphere for players who want to improve their games.
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