It all came down to a razz hand, with Taylor all in on third street.
Taylor (3-4) 9-J-6-Q (K)
Argyros (2-9) A-K-Q-7 (T)
Argyros made T-9-7-2-A for low, besting Taylor's J-9-6-4-3 and after a long-fought battle that saw both players come back from extreme chip defecits, Billy "The Croc" Argyros won Event #5 ($1,100 H.O.R.S.E. ) of the Poker News Cup, earning $18,900. Paul Taylor will take home $13,230 for his runner-up finish.
Congratulations to Billy "The Croc" Argyros, who started the day with less than two big bets to come back and win Australia's first-ever H.O.R.S.E. tournament!
Billy the Croc had whittled Paul Taylor's stack back down to 57,000 when this hand came up.
Taylor raised from the button and Billy the Croc called. The flop was . Taylor bet out, Billy the Croc raised and Taylor called all in.
Taylor
Argyros
Argyros had flopped the wheel and Taylor needed some serious help. The turn was the and the river was... the ! Both players made the wheel and split the pot.
Paul Taylor was all in in the small blind for his case 9,000 and turned up to Billy the Croc's . The board ran out and Taylor took it down with a full house, doubling his stack to 18,000.
On the next hand, Taylor took his against the Croc's and turned a pair of deuces to take down that pot and double to 36,000. On the hand after that, Taylor was dominated, his up against the Croc's , but flopped a seven to double up for the third time, to 72,000.
On a flop of , Billy the Croc bet, Paul Taylor raised and the Croc called. The turn was the and both players checked. The river was the . The Croc bet, and Taylor, looking anguished, made a crying call, turning up . They were no good against the Croc's and he raked in the pot, leaving Taylor with only 9,000 in chips.