Show Me the Money: Stoneham Native Wins $140K in L.A. Poker Tournament

[Editor's Note: This is a guest column by Stoneham native and poker player Taylor Von Kriegenbergh.]

My plane landed in San Paulo, Brazil. I won a free entry into a tournament that I won online on PokerStars.net. This was my time to shine and to put my name out there. 

I played in the Latin America Poker Tour on Feb. 16, envisioning myself taking the next step in my poker life. I looked down at pocket Aces (the best starting hand in no-limit Texas Hold'em) and on a flop of 2-3-5, I moved all my chips to the middle. My opponent called, flipped over their cards and it turned out they had the better hand and I was sent packing.

Later that day, I went up to my hotel room where I entered a $50 buy-in tournament online. I told myself I wasn't losing this tournament because the winner won a seat in "The Big Event" at the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles. I booked my flight beforehand, knowing I would win this tournament because I had confidence in my game. I told myself I will find a way and do well. That is exactly what happened.  I outlasted 150 people and was on my way to Los Angeles. Everything began to fall into place.

On March 5, I entered The Big Event. The buy-in was $5,000 per player, but I won my seat so I didn't have to pay. There were 417 entrants and a total prize pool of more than $1.9 million. 

Poker superstars such as Daniel Negreanu, Joe Hachem, Victor Ramdin, Alex Kamberis and Barry Greenstein were my competition. I told myself I don't care who I'm playing with, I'm making it to the final table. 

In tournaments like these, being good and lucky pays dividends because it's always a combination of the two. I found myself being the chip leader after Day 4 (the day before the final table started).

I finally came out of my shell, staring down players trying to get reads and it paid off. I was sitting at a final table (e.g. eight people remaining in the tournament) with Hachem (World Series of Poker Champion in 2005) and Ramdin (poker professional). I knew I had made it. I have been waiting to play with these players since I was playing poker with my good friends years ago.

I was sitting in third place with about $1.8 million in chips and the leader had just over $4 million. I was guaranteed at least $35,000 by making it to the final table, but my eyes were on the top prize of $500,000. 

I lasted until the final four left in the tournament. I was playing with three professionals (Ramdin, Hachem, Aumus), Hachem and Ramdin whom I idolized as a youngster. Also, they were three players who have won over 1 million dollars in their lifetime playing poker, and it would be Ramdin that won this time around. It was a dream come true to go head-to-head with these legends of poker. Of course, I would have loved to beat them, but coming in fourth place and taking home $140,000 is nothing to complain about.

I have a lot of learning to do in the game of poker, but I'm more than satisfied with the run I had over the past week. It's something I will never forget. Thanks to everyone for the support throughout my fun ride.