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| 2006 Legends of Poker World Poker Tour (WPT) Season 5 Event #5 Omaha Hi-Lo Tournament Report and Winner Biography |
| Retired H.S. Teacher Schools Entire Final Table |
The first non-Hold’em event of the 2006 Legends of Poker attracted 201
Omaha Hi-Lo players creating a prize pool of $60,300. The field included last
year’s winner Sirous Baghchehsaraie. Sirous could not repeat last year’s
performance but 73 year-old retired High School teacher, Jack “Lucky” Larson,
played his “A-game” and took home $22,615 plus the “Legends of the Ring”,
a white gold ring, for his 1st place finish.
The final table began at 1:10am on Level #12 with blinds of $1,500/$3,000.
It was hand #4 that initially narrowed the final table field. Mike Krescanko,
the chipleader, raised and Kim Fontes 3-bet. After Mike’s call, the flop came
7c-3c-2s. The post-flop betting put shortstack Kim all-in. Mike held As-3s-5-6
and Kim showed A-6-4d-Qd. The turn Kd and river 4s gave Mike the wheel
for the scoop and sent Kim to the rail. Kim Fontes finished in 9th place and
earned $905 for one nights work.
The second elimination occurred two hands later. M. Jazayeri raised UTG and
Boris Kostov re-raised all-in for his last $4,500 chips. Jazayeri called and the
flop was 5s-5d-Qs. Jazayeri held A-2-5-8 with trip 5s and Boris held 2-3-3-9
for bottom 2 pair. The turn and river were running 7s. Jazayeri filled up and
scooped the pot with no qualifying low. Boris was eliminated in 8th place and
took $1,210 to the cashier’s cage.
On hand #17, Jack “Lucky” Larson raised from the small blind and Michael
Lemkin called from the big blind. The flop was Kd-10h-Qh, Michael bet his last
$1,000 and showed A-K-5-X for top pair top kicker. “Lucky” showed Q-Q-J-10
for trips Queens and an straight draw. The turn and river are running 4’s
giving “Lucky” the full house with no low available. “Lucky” scooped the pot
and Michael Lemkin, a stockbroker from Santa Monica, was eliminated in 7th
place earning $1,510. Michael has a long list of Omaha 8/B wins including a
2004 Legends and a 2005 Stars & Stripes title. The rest of the table was
lucky to lose one of its toughest opponents.
On the very next hand, Jay Katsutani, a professional player who lists his
occupation as “Bum”, raised and the button, Jack Larson, 3-bet. Jay called
and the flop was 7d-2h-Js. Jay bet all-in for his last few chips and Jack
called. Jack had A-A-4-8, an overpair for the high and a second-nut low
draw. Jay showed A-3-5-9 for a nut low draw. The turn was a Kd and the
river a Jh. No possibility for a low and Jack scooped another pot with Aces-
up. Jay was eliminated in 6th place and added $2,110 to his “Bum” wallet.
Hand #25 demonstrated how difficult Omaha Hi-Lo can be to a player who
flops the near nuts. Tournament poker pro, Freddy Legaspi, raises from the
button and M. Jazayeri 3-bet. Freddy calls all-in with his last $3,000 and the
flop is J-6-J. Freddy had J-Q-K-K and had just flopped a set of Jacks. Jazayeri
showed A-2-4-Q needing back door draws to get any part of this pot. The
turn is a 5 and the river 3 giving Jazayeri a scooper with the nut low wheel
and the 6-high straight. The runner-runner ripped the pot out from Freddy
and he gave the board the common Omaha “I can’t believe that just
happened.” stare. Freddy finished in 5th place and received $2,715.
The final elimination came on hand #28 where Jack Larson raised from the
small blind and Mike Krescanko, the big blind, called all-in with his last chips.
Mike had 2-4-8-10 and Jack showed K-K-Q-5. The flop was 9s-Ac-3d. Mike
has the nut low draw and is behind on the high. The turn was a 9h and the
river was a 3c. No low for Mike and Jack “Lucky” scooped another pot. Mike
Krescanko, a poker pro from Phoenix, ends his night in 4th place with $3,620
in prize money.
The final 3 players elected for a chop and the tournament concluded with Jack
“Lucky” Larson as champion. Jack received the winner’s gold ring and
$22,615. Phillip Penn Sr. had just taken the all-around points lead after his
second final table appearance in the three tournaments he has played so far.
- Jay “Bugsy” Siegel
BIOGRAPHY
Jack “Lucky” Larson, 73, of Golden Colorado has traveled all over the world
playing poker and experiencing the vast global cultures. Jack grew up in a
family that always played games together. Poker was one of the popular
games that he learned beginning at the age of 6. This retired school teacher
is on vacation in Southern California so he can “play the ponies” at Del Mar
and get a little poker in at The Bicycle Casino. Jack holds degrees in
education including B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. He taught high school English and
Social Studies for 29 years and thinks his experience with teenagers helps
him understand his adult opponents (with teenage tendencies). He feels it is
his job to “school” them at the table and he apparently does this by taking all
their chips.
Jack would like to thank his wife Fran for all her support. Jack will be playing
next week’s $500 Omaha Hi-Lo event and expects another win. School’s out
and Jack could not be happier.
Omaha Hi-Lo players creating a prize pool of $60,300. The field included last
year’s winner Sirous Baghchehsaraie. Sirous could not repeat last year’s
performance but 73 year-old retired High School teacher, Jack “Lucky” Larson,
played his “A-game” and took home $22,615 plus the “Legends of the Ring”,
a white gold ring, for his 1st place finish.
The final table began at 1:10am on Level #12 with blinds of $1,500/$3,000.
It was hand #4 that initially narrowed the final table field. Mike Krescanko,
the chipleader, raised and Kim Fontes 3-bet. After Mike’s call, the flop came
7c-3c-2s. The post-flop betting put shortstack Kim all-in. Mike held As-3s-5-6
and Kim showed A-6-4d-Qd. The turn Kd and river 4s gave Mike the wheel
for the scoop and sent Kim to the rail. Kim Fontes finished in 9th place and
earned $905 for one nights work.
The second elimination occurred two hands later. M. Jazayeri raised UTG and
Boris Kostov re-raised all-in for his last $4,500 chips. Jazayeri called and the
flop was 5s-5d-Qs. Jazayeri held A-2-5-8 with trip 5s and Boris held 2-3-3-9
for bottom 2 pair. The turn and river were running 7s. Jazayeri filled up and
scooped the pot with no qualifying low. Boris was eliminated in 8th place and
took $1,210 to the cashier’s cage.
On hand #17, Jack “Lucky” Larson raised from the small blind and Michael
Lemkin called from the big blind. The flop was Kd-10h-Qh, Michael bet his last
$1,000 and showed A-K-5-X for top pair top kicker. “Lucky” showed Q-Q-J-10
for trips Queens and an straight draw. The turn and river are running 4’s
giving “Lucky” the full house with no low available. “Lucky” scooped the pot
and Michael Lemkin, a stockbroker from Santa Monica, was eliminated in 7th
place earning $1,510. Michael has a long list of Omaha 8/B wins including a
2004 Legends and a 2005 Stars & Stripes title. The rest of the table was
lucky to lose one of its toughest opponents.
On the very next hand, Jay Katsutani, a professional player who lists his
occupation as “Bum”, raised and the button, Jack Larson, 3-bet. Jay called
and the flop was 7d-2h-Js. Jay bet all-in for his last few chips and Jack
called. Jack had A-A-4-8, an overpair for the high and a second-nut low
draw. Jay showed A-3-5-9 for a nut low draw. The turn was a Kd and the
river a Jh. No possibility for a low and Jack scooped another pot with Aces-
up. Jay was eliminated in 6th place and added $2,110 to his “Bum” wallet.
Hand #25 demonstrated how difficult Omaha Hi-Lo can be to a player who
flops the near nuts. Tournament poker pro, Freddy Legaspi, raises from the
button and M. Jazayeri 3-bet. Freddy calls all-in with his last $3,000 and the
flop is J-6-J. Freddy had J-Q-K-K and had just flopped a set of Jacks. Jazayeri
showed A-2-4-Q needing back door draws to get any part of this pot. The
turn is a 5 and the river 3 giving Jazayeri a scooper with the nut low wheel
and the 6-high straight. The runner-runner ripped the pot out from Freddy
and he gave the board the common Omaha “I can’t believe that just
happened.” stare. Freddy finished in 5th place and received $2,715.
The final elimination came on hand #28 where Jack Larson raised from the
small blind and Mike Krescanko, the big blind, called all-in with his last chips.
Mike had 2-4-8-10 and Jack showed K-K-Q-5. The flop was 9s-Ac-3d. Mike
has the nut low draw and is behind on the high. The turn was a 9h and the
river was a 3c. No low for Mike and Jack “Lucky” scooped another pot. Mike
Krescanko, a poker pro from Phoenix, ends his night in 4th place with $3,620
in prize money.
The final 3 players elected for a chop and the tournament concluded with Jack
“Lucky” Larson as champion. Jack received the winner’s gold ring and
$22,615. Phillip Penn Sr. had just taken the all-around points lead after his
second final table appearance in the three tournaments he has played so far.
- Jay “Bugsy” Siegel
BIOGRAPHY
Jack “Lucky” Larson, 73, of Golden Colorado has traveled all over the world
playing poker and experiencing the vast global cultures. Jack grew up in a
family that always played games together. Poker was one of the popular
games that he learned beginning at the age of 6. This retired school teacher
is on vacation in Southern California so he can “play the ponies” at Del Mar
and get a little poker in at The Bicycle Casino. Jack holds degrees in
education including B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. He taught high school English and
Social Studies for 29 years and thinks his experience with teenagers helps
him understand his adult opponents (with teenage tendencies). He feels it is
his job to “school” them at the table and he apparently does this by taking all
their chips.
Jack would like to thank his wife Fran for all her support. Jack will be playing
next week’s $500 Omaha Hi-Lo event and expects another win. School’s out
and Jack could not be happier.
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