How About that 20 Year-old!! A True Kid Poker!!

I must say this year's broadcast of the WPT have been unbelievable. I may not like the new graphics like the modified theme song and they no longer keep the amount bet on the graphics so you have to go by memory now, and of course, no Shana Hiatt... :-(. Is it me or has the person that has played the best at the broadcast table always came in 2nd?! Look at Juha Helpi's superb performance from last week's broadcast at the Paris event and who could forget Kenna James' phenemonal effort only to get rewarded by finishing second to a guy that was "tired."

From this week's Aruba broadcast, you could make the same arguement. 20 year-old (wish I could have started this early) Josh Schlein made his way as the longest WPT contestant ever taking on the likes of veteran WPT finalists Johan "The Rock" Storakers and pro Freedy Deeb.

Schlein had the aggression of one Gus Hansen and how about that bluff that he made w/7 high on the river!? Schlein would go on making the final 2 going HU w/Freddy Deeb. How would the youngster act going up against one of today's top pros?

IMO, Schlein totally outplayed Freddy. I bet Deeb was thinking about the previous time he was at a WPT where one Gus Hansen who completely dominated Deeb. Schlein comes back from about a 2-1 chip deficit or so and takes the lead! It appears that we might have a new youngest WPT champion and he ain't even old enough to drink the Budweiser yet!! Schlein has got Deeb on tilt and in this hand on the button he raises w/pocket crabs (3s). Deeb on tilt immediately goes all in w/A-4 off. Josh takes his time, but not enough I guess. Although he had the best hand, he couldn't know that and should have folded. What happens if Deeb had a higher pair likes 5s? Josh should have realized he was outplaying Deeb and could have kept on doing that rather than getting into a coin race pre-flop. Deeb caught a 4 on the river and the 20 y.o never recovered.

Great episode and for all you youngsters getting into the poker boom, this has gotta be a great inspiration for us all. Next week, we get "Action" Dan Harrington and Minh Ly (I believe thats his name and correct spelling; he lost to Doyle at a WSOP event this year where Doyle captured numba 10 w/10-3 off suit).