Racener, the Real Sultan
"I thrive in casinos, though…"
So said Aaron Massey, responding to Vincent Baldassano once their table talk drifted to the topic of home game heroes. "You win in casinos, then?" said Baldassano. "Oh, no, no... I lose all the time," said Massey with a grin. "I'm talking about picking up waitresses. I do well with them. As far as poker goes I'm a real loser..."
The table laughed, perhaps knowing Massey was having fun with them. Massey may be underselling himself just a tad. After all, he did final table Event No. 45 this summer ($1,000 NLHE), finishing eighth.
The conversation continued, with Massey eventually dubbing Baldassano "The Sultan" and the latter liking the idea of having obtained a new poker nickname. Meanwhile John Racener and an opponent became involved in a hand, at which point the table talk ceased.
Racener and his opponent had reached the turn with the board showing 
and about 9,000 in the middle. Racener's opponent bet 6,000, and Racener called. The river brought the 
and both players checked. Racener tabled 
, better than his opponent's 
, and he quietly claimed the pot.
"He's the real Sultan," said Baldassano afterwards, jerking a thumb toward Racener. Racener now has 122,000.