The Live Like a Pro Freeroll just wrapped up on UltimateBet and PocketFiver Chris “cmkpics” Kennedy (CK), who plays on UB under the name "KrazyComish," took home the grand prize. Now entered into eight major live events, including the World Poker Tour Championship and the World Series of Poker Main Event, CK’s determination and live poker skill will be tested. The tournament finale took place on Sunday, April 8th and cmkpics beat out 3,166 poker hopefuls to win a truly unique grand prize. He sat down with PocketFives.com one day after his big win to discuss what it means to live like a pro.“I feel very excited and overwhelmed,” said CK. After his roommate told him to give it a shot, CK had to place in the top five in a qualifying freeroll with several thousand entrants. As if that weren’t enough, he then had to beat out nearly 3,200 others in the Main Event. Entering the final four in the tournament as a major underdog in chips, CK explains his mindset: “I could only win if I played the best poker possible. I knew that giving up was not an option, but I was significantly behind in chips.” After scooping up a few pots to push his stack from 600,000 to 1.2 million, he picked up pocket nines on the button. The big blind, jerald hibber, pushed with A-8 and CK called. The nines held up, sending jerald hibber to the rail and leaving CK with over 2 million in chips.
Then Mr_Alex went all in on the button and CK called with pocket sixes. Mr_Alex flipped over A-4 and, once again, the pocket pair held up, giving CK a 4.5 million to 2.8 million chip lead entering heads up play against george antona. One big hand heads up would seal the deal. CK picked up the mother of all hands, pocket fives, and raised. Antona called. The flop came 9-6-4 rainbow and Antona bet 60,000. CK raised to 275,000 and Antona called. The turn was an ace. Antona once again bet 60,000 and CK once again raised to 275,000. Antona called. The river was a king. “I put him on mid pair or a draw and knew the ace or king would scare him. He was betting the minimum a lot with mediocre hands.” Antona bet 60,000 at the king on the river and, after thinking, CK raised to 380,000, promoting a fold. Here were the final standings:
Navigating this incredibly large field of players was no easy task: “I thought of it as a two part tournament. I thought that, if I got off to a great start, I would be able to hold my own up until we got to the top 100. A lot of people were just trying to make it into the prize pool and that’s when I picked up a lot of pots. When we got down to 40, I thought I had a real chance, barring a very unlucky beat.” For his efforts, CK receives entries into eight major live events: the upcoming WPT Championship, the WSOP Main Event, plus six other WPT events. He’ll also receive UB gear and some pointers from a UB pro plus travel expenses.
CK has never been to Las Vegas before, but has played in several live tournaments elsewhere. With the WPT Championship set to kick off in just two weeks, CK is ready: “I have played live tourneys before but never this big. I’d say I’m excited, but not really nervous. I’m sure on the first day that will all change. I will have to find a way to calm my nerves.” He mainly plays $1/$2 No Limit in Biloxi, Mississippi and started off his promising poker career solely in live casinos.Congratulations to Chris “cmkpics” Kennedy, winner of UltimateBet's Live Like a Pro Freeroll. We look forward to seeing him compete at the WPT Championship.
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