Home / Poker News October 2008 / Clonie Gowen wins WPO Main Event
Clonie Gowen wins WPO Main Event
Posted by: James Carter. - Thu, 2008-10-30 18:47
Clonie Gowen took down the World Poker Open $5,000 Main Event’s first prize by defeating BJ McBrayer heads-up.
She started the 9-player final table in the chip lead, but she had had her fair share of struggles during Day 2. As a matter of fact, the going was rather tough for her for most of the day, and she only came out swinging when there were but 12 players left in the tournament.
In a hand which pretty much set her up for her eventual victory, she saw a free flop with three other players. The board eventually ran Q,10,6,7,K and one of her opponents decided to go all-in. Clonie called the bet with 10,6 and won the hand as her opponent tabled 9,7 for a pair. That chip-up was all she needed to build up a huge lead going into the final table.
It was by no means going to be a smooth ride for her though. With 8 players left at the table she was down in 5th place. She then bounced back to 2nd as Brandon Jarett ran is A,10 against her pocket Qs. The lead swung back to her with 6 players left, and she never gave it up from there on. Heads-up play lasted for 2 hours, and at the end of it she stood triumphant. Clonie began playing poker at the encouragements of her boyfriend’s father. Back then she drove from Dallas to Shreveport every weekend to play poker there.
Her first noteworthy poker achievement was a top 10 finish in the WPT’s Costa Rica Classic. She soon followed it up with a WPT Ladies’ Night win on 2003.
She has 9 WSOP money finishes, the highest she ever finished in the WSOP’s Main Event was a 459th place in 2005.
She acted as a commentator for several live poker shows, and had a column in “All In” magazine.
She used to own a travel agency, but nowadays relies solely on poker for a living.
This year, she’s already had 4 cash finishes in various WSOP events and a victory in the Bellagio Cup’s NL Holdem Main Event.
