Friday, June 19, 2015 4:04 PM Local Time
T.J. Cloutier Up to His Old Tricks
If not for a few unlucky cards over the years, T.J. Cloutier might be remembered as one of the greatest players to ever grace the WSOP with his presence. After all, the six-time bracelet winner has finished runner-up in WSOP competition no less than five times, a staggering mark when fully considered. And to top it off, two of those second-place runs came in none other than the Main Event (1985 and 2000).
Even so, Cloutier is widely regarded as one of the best tournament poker players to ever live - and with more than $10 million in reported live earnings, it's hard to argue with that assessment.
Cloutier is here today taking a shot in the Seniors Championship, and he's already managed to quadruple his starting stack and then some.
In one recent hand, Cloutier and three opponents check through to the turn on a board, with Cloutier leading out for 1,500 on fourth street. The table folds around dutifully to the legend, and Cloutier tables for the nuts face up, showing them he's still got it.
During the hand, Cloutier also regales the table with tales of the late Puggy Pearson, one of the original Texas Road Gamblers and a longtime friend and foe on the felt.
T.J. Cloutier - 23,500