2010 Caesars Atlantic City
Event 10 - $5,000 Buy-in No Limit Holdem Main Event Championship. Final Results. 2010 Caesars Atlantic City WSOP Circuit Events.
| 2010 Caesars Atlantic City World Series of Poker Circuit Events Official Results |
2010 Caesars Atlantic City Event #10 Results
2009/2010 World Series of Poker Circuit
Final Results: Caesars Atlantic City
Event #10
Main Event Championship
No Limit Hold’em
Buy-In: $4,900 (+250)
Total Entries: 174
Total Prize Pool: $817,015
March 12-14, 2010
Final Results: Caesars Atlantic City
Event #10
Main Event Championship
No Limit Hold’em
Buy-In: $4,900 (+250)
Total Entries: 174
Total Prize Pool: $817,015
March 12-14, 2010
| Roland Isra |
Final Results:
Place
Name
Hometown
Prize
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Roland Isra
Christopher Mitchell
Dan Witcher
Chris Klodnicki
Jesse Chinni
Grayson Ramage
Feming Chan
K. Dimitroulakos
Richard Austin
Lloyd Whitehead
Andrew Frankenberger
Paul Wasicka
Jerry Payne
Jacobo Fernandez
Douglas Benedict
Manelic Minaya
Shawn M. Busse
Nicholas Binger
Christopher Mitchell
Dan Witcher
Chris Klodnicki
Jesse Chinni
Grayson Ramage
Feming Chan
K. Dimitroulakos
Richard Austin
Lloyd Whitehead
Andrew Frankenberger
Paul Wasicka
Jerry Payne
Jacobo Fernandez
Douglas Benedict
Manelic Minaya
Shawn M. Busse
Nicholas Binger
New York, NY
Sumter, SC
Mt. Pleasant, SC
Voorhees, NJ
Ellicott City, MD
Red Hook, NY
Atlantic City, NJ
Tinton Falls, NJ
Lansdale, PA
Brooklyn, NY
New York, NY
Las Vegas, NV
Dayton, OH
Hollywood, FL
Londonberry, NH
Tampa, FL
Massapequa, NY
Las Vegas, NV
Sumter, SC
Mt. Pleasant, SC
Voorhees, NJ
Ellicott City, MD
Red Hook, NY
Atlantic City, NJ
Tinton Falls, NJ
Lansdale, PA
Brooklyn, NY
New York, NY
Las Vegas, NV
Dayton, OH
Hollywood, FL
Londonberry, NH
Tampa, FL
Massapequa, NY
Las Vegas, NV
$264,715
$138,894
$81,702
$65,362
$49,021
$40,851
$32,681
$24,511
$16,340
$13,072
$13,072
$13,072
$11,438
$11,438
$11,438
$9,804
$9,804
$9,804
$138,894
$81,702
$65,362
$49,021
$40,851
$32,681
$24,511
$16,340
$13,072
$13,072
$13,072
$11,438
$11,438
$11,438
$9,804
$9,804
$9,804
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Battle on the Boardwalk
Roland Isra Overcomes Huge Chip Disadvantage at Final Table
and Wins WSOP Circuit Championship at Caesars Atlantic City
Atlantic City, NJ – To win, all poker players must pay a price. More often than not, the price
of victory is not measured by the size of the entry fee or the expenses of entering a poker
tournament. For many poker players, the much greater sacrifice is the accompanying
disappointment that comes with playing tournament poker full time. In between
extraordinary moments of fulfillment manifested in tournament triumphs are torturous
moments of defeat, disappointment, and despair.
Roland Isra, a 52 year old professional poker player from New York City, knows the perils
of poker all too well. He has come to the threshold of a major tournament victory
numerous times. But each and every prior occasion when it seemed that Isra might finally
win big tournament, he suffered a bad bet or was the victim of some cruel misfortune.
Nevertheless, Isra endured over the years and to his credit, finally earned a major
breakthrough victory at the most recent World Series of Poker Circuit championship.
Isra overcame a number of significant chip disadvantages, outlasted many of the East
Coast’s best poker players, and collected the top cash prize at Caesars Atlantic City, which
totaled $264,715. He was also presented with his first gold ring, the ultimate token of
achievement given out to all tournament champions who win WSOP Circuit events held
around the country.
Isra, who was born in the former Soviet Union (actually the Republic of Georgia) worked as
a jeweler for 25 years before he began playing poker seriously in 2002. Isra managed to
cash in the 2005 WSOP Main Event, finishing 37th. He also achieved seven other WSOP
cashes, and did well in many other tournaments played elsewhere. Yet, this victory marks
his biggest tournament win ever.
This marked the fifth straight year Caesars Atlantic City has hosted a WSOP Circuit stop.
The Main Event was the last of 12 tournaments played at Caesars, all of which are
classified as “gold ring” events. This year’s championship attracted 174 entrants, from 20
states and seven different nations. The buy in was $4,900 (+250), creating a prize pool
totaling $817,015.
The tournament was played over three days during March 12-14. More than half the
field was eliminated on day one, which clocked in at 14 hours. Eight tables of survivors
returned for day two which played for another 14 hours. The top 18 finishers collected
prize money. Along those who cashed was Paul Wasicka, perhaps best known as the
runner up finisher to Jamie Gold in the 2006 WSOP Main Event. Wasicka finished 12th.
Another top pro who cashed was Jacobo Fernandez (14th), who enjoyed a huge year at
the 2008 WSOP when he cashed seven times and made three final tables. Las Vegas pro
Nick Binger also made the money, finishing in 17th place.
Final table play began on a Sunday afternoon and was held inside the Palladium Arena
at Caesars. Christopher Mitchell arrived as chip leader and was in a comfortable position
throughout the competition. He faced serious threats from various challengers, most
notably Roland Isra and Dan Witcher in the late stages of the competition.
Chris Klondicki arrived at the final table ranked second in chips. He had a unique
opportunity to pull off an East Coast poker parlay. Klondicki won the Main Event
championship at Atlantic City’s earlier WSOP Circuit stop, played three months ago.
Klodnicki won his first gold ring and $215,915 at Harrah’s Atlantic City last December.
He was also the only player to make back to back WSOP Circuit final tables at Caesars.
He finished 8th in last year’s championship event. This time, he took fourth place.
The low blinds (6,000-12,000) and average chip stack of 570,000 at the start of play gave
all competitors plenty of time to be patient and wait for a hand. Tournament structures
for all the tournaments played at Caesars this year have received overwhelmingly positive
feedback from many players and postings at online poker forums. Tournament players
have been given plenty of starting chips and blind increases have been incremental,
allowing for skillful play to overcome the short-term luck factor which is a part of all
tournaments. This has resulted in several lengthy final tables, which have lasted 8 to 10
hours on average. However, this final table clocked in at 12 hours.
The nine finalists and their starting chip counts were as follows:
Seat Name Hometown Chip Count
1 Feming Chan Atlantic City, NJ 292,000
2 Dan Witcher Mt. Pleasant, SC 411,000
3 Christopher Mitchell Sumter, SC 1,800,000
4 Grayson Ramage Red Hook, NY 627,000
5 Richard Austin Lansdale, PA 178,000
6 Roland Isra New York, NY 210,000
7 Chris Klodnicki Voorhees, NJ 1,110,000
8 Jesse Chinni Ellicott City, MD 427,000
9 Konstantino Dimitroulakos Tonton Falls, NJ 104,000
Final table player introductions can be seen here: http://www.twitvid.com/BB7E7
Players were eliminated in the following order:
Ninth Place: Lights Out for Austin
Richard Austin, a retail store owner from Lansdale, PA was the first player to be
eliminated. He was low on chips and tried to steal a round of blinds and antes holding a
marginal 10 8, but ended up making an ill timed bluff when he was called by an opponent
holding pocket 9’s. Neither player improved, which meant Austin was out in ninth place.
He collected $16,340 in prize money. Austin’s previous poker accomplishments include two
other WSOP Circuit final tables, once for second place (two years ago in this same
championship event) and the other for second place.
Eighth Place: Pastry Chef Rolled
Konstantino Dimitroulakos, a Greek-born pastry chef now living in Tinton Falls, NY arrived
at the final table with the shortest stack. He survived for about an hour before going bust
with A 8 offsuit, which lost to pocket 10’s. The final board showed QQJ28, giving Dan
Witcher two pair. Dimitroulakos earned a nice payout totaling $24,511. He is one a nice
run in tournaments, having cashed in three consecutive events.
Seventh Place: Feming Chan is No Johnny Chan
Feming Chan, who is self-employed and lives in Atlantic City, NJ went out on a bluff. He
tried to steal pre-flop holding 9-6 suited. Grayson Ramage had a much bigger big stack
and decided to fade the raise from the big blind with J 10 offsuit. Chan picked up a big
draw, when the flop came J95, with two cards to Chan’s suit. But he ended up missing
both the flush and straight draws, while Ramage’s top pair (J’s) held up. Chan settled for
a payout which amounted to $32,681.
Sixth Place: Bucknell College Student Expelled
Grayson Ramage, a college student at Bucknell University, went out on a disappointing
hand when he called an all in raise by the chip leader, Chris Mitchell. Ramage had pocket
Q’s. But Mitchell held pocket A’s. Neither player improved, which meant Ramage was
eliminated. Ramage’s take from the prize pool came to $40,851. Among his
accomplishments are a 35th place finish in the 2009 WSOP Main Event, and a 3rd place
showing at the Harrah’s Atlantic City WSOPC championship last December.
Fifth Place: Chinni Takes the Fifth
Jesse Chinni, a poker pro from Ellicott City, MD went bust when he moved all in with
pocket 5’s, which lost to Dan Witcher’s A J. The board made a straight for Witcher. That
meant Chinni had to settle for fifth place, which paid $49,021. Chinni, a 24-year-old
graduate of the University of Maryland, has now made it to two WSOP Circuit final tables.
Fourth Place: Former WSOP Circuit Champion Ousted
Chris Klodnicki’s shot to win back to back WSOP Circuit championships in Atlantic City
came to an abrupt end when he took the final table’s worst beat. Klodnicki, a poker pro
who now lives in Philadelphia, PA moved all in with pocket 9’s. He was called by Dan
Witcher, holding pocket’s 8’s. It looked like Klodnicki would double up, but an 8 of the
river made Witcher a full house and also ejected one of the tournament’s most dangerous
players. Klodnicki, a graduate of Lehigh University, who has enjoyed great success in
tournament poker the last few years, collected $65,362.
A short interview with Chris Klodnicki, moments after his elimination from the tournament
can be seen here: http://www.twitvid.com/89A41
Third Place: Witcher Bewitched
Dan Witcher, from Mount Pleasant, SC battled three-handed for nearly four hours before
he busted out in third place. He moved all in with pocket 10’s, which turned out to be a
base of terrible timing for the 25-year-old. Chris Mitchell called the big bet and flipped
over pocket A’s. The better hand held up, which removed Witcher from the tournament.
Third place paid $81,702.
Second Place: Christopher Mitchell Finishes as Runner Up
Chris Mitchell, a poker pro from Sumter, SC dominated this tournament over three full
days. He held a dominant chip lead at the conclusion of Day One. By Day Two, Mitchell
had increased his chip advantage to the point he was more than 2 to 1 over every other
player that remained, except one. He also arrived at the final table with about one-third
of the total chips in play. His runner up status and $138,894 in prize money for second
place did not mask his disappointment with the final outcome. Mitchell suffered a serious
of beats in the final stages of the tournament, and went card dead at the worst possible
time. He ultimately lost his remaining chips when he missed an outside straight draw,
which was topped by the champion’s two pair.
When heads-up play began, the two survivors were close to even in chips. It took about
three hours for the outcome to be decided. The final hand of the tournament can be seen
here: http://www.twitvid.com/40AA5
First Place: Roland Isra Wins!
Roland Isra, from New York, NY collected the $264,715 top prize, plus a seat into to the
2010 WSOP Main Event ($10,000 entry and expenses paid) to be held in Las Vegas in July.
An interview with Roland Isra moments after his victory can be seen here: (PART 1) --
http://www.twitvid.com/DAB6C (PART 2) -- http://www.twitvid.com/163CE
This concludes the WSOP Circuit at Caesars Atlantic City. This was the seventh WSOP
Circuit stop of the 2009-2010 season following previous tournaments held in Chicago,
Southern Indiana, Lake Tahoe, Harrah’s Atlantic City, Tunica, and Council Bluffs. Upcoming
Circuit events will take place at Harrah’s Rincon, Harrah’s St. Louis, Caesars Las Vegas,
and Harrah’s New Orleans. Harrah’s Rincon comes next and runs from March 17-31.
Executive Staff, World Series of Poker Circuit – Caesars Atlantic City
Joe Domenico – Senior Vice President and General Manager
Vice President of Table Games – Fred Niceta
Public Relations Specialist – Christopher Jonic
Table Games Manager (Poker) – Thomas McDonough III
Poker Pit Manager – Jake Devries
Roland Isra Overcomes Huge Chip Disadvantage at Final Table
and Wins WSOP Circuit Championship at Caesars Atlantic City
Atlantic City, NJ – To win, all poker players must pay a price. More often than not, the price
of victory is not measured by the size of the entry fee or the expenses of entering a poker
tournament. For many poker players, the much greater sacrifice is the accompanying
disappointment that comes with playing tournament poker full time. In between
extraordinary moments of fulfillment manifested in tournament triumphs are torturous
moments of defeat, disappointment, and despair.
Roland Isra, a 52 year old professional poker player from New York City, knows the perils
of poker all too well. He has come to the threshold of a major tournament victory
numerous times. But each and every prior occasion when it seemed that Isra might finally
win big tournament, he suffered a bad bet or was the victim of some cruel misfortune.
Nevertheless, Isra endured over the years and to his credit, finally earned a major
breakthrough victory at the most recent World Series of Poker Circuit championship.
Isra overcame a number of significant chip disadvantages, outlasted many of the East
Coast’s best poker players, and collected the top cash prize at Caesars Atlantic City, which
totaled $264,715. He was also presented with his first gold ring, the ultimate token of
achievement given out to all tournament champions who win WSOP Circuit events held
around the country.
Isra, who was born in the former Soviet Union (actually the Republic of Georgia) worked as
a jeweler for 25 years before he began playing poker seriously in 2002. Isra managed to
cash in the 2005 WSOP Main Event, finishing 37th. He also achieved seven other WSOP
cashes, and did well in many other tournaments played elsewhere. Yet, this victory marks
his biggest tournament win ever.
This marked the fifth straight year Caesars Atlantic City has hosted a WSOP Circuit stop.
The Main Event was the last of 12 tournaments played at Caesars, all of which are
classified as “gold ring” events. This year’s championship attracted 174 entrants, from 20
states and seven different nations. The buy in was $4,900 (+250), creating a prize pool
totaling $817,015.
The tournament was played over three days during March 12-14. More than half the
field was eliminated on day one, which clocked in at 14 hours. Eight tables of survivors
returned for day two which played for another 14 hours. The top 18 finishers collected
prize money. Along those who cashed was Paul Wasicka, perhaps best known as the
runner up finisher to Jamie Gold in the 2006 WSOP Main Event. Wasicka finished 12th.
Another top pro who cashed was Jacobo Fernandez (14th), who enjoyed a huge year at
the 2008 WSOP when he cashed seven times and made three final tables. Las Vegas pro
Nick Binger also made the money, finishing in 17th place.
Final table play began on a Sunday afternoon and was held inside the Palladium Arena
at Caesars. Christopher Mitchell arrived as chip leader and was in a comfortable position
throughout the competition. He faced serious threats from various challengers, most
notably Roland Isra and Dan Witcher in the late stages of the competition.
Chris Klondicki arrived at the final table ranked second in chips. He had a unique
opportunity to pull off an East Coast poker parlay. Klondicki won the Main Event
championship at Atlantic City’s earlier WSOP Circuit stop, played three months ago.
Klodnicki won his first gold ring and $215,915 at Harrah’s Atlantic City last December.
He was also the only player to make back to back WSOP Circuit final tables at Caesars.
He finished 8th in last year’s championship event. This time, he took fourth place.
The low blinds (6,000-12,000) and average chip stack of 570,000 at the start of play gave
all competitors plenty of time to be patient and wait for a hand. Tournament structures
for all the tournaments played at Caesars this year have received overwhelmingly positive
feedback from many players and postings at online poker forums. Tournament players
have been given plenty of starting chips and blind increases have been incremental,
allowing for skillful play to overcome the short-term luck factor which is a part of all
tournaments. This has resulted in several lengthy final tables, which have lasted 8 to 10
hours on average. However, this final table clocked in at 12 hours.
The nine finalists and their starting chip counts were as follows:
Seat Name Hometown Chip Count
1 Feming Chan Atlantic City, NJ 292,000
2 Dan Witcher Mt. Pleasant, SC 411,000
3 Christopher Mitchell Sumter, SC 1,800,000
4 Grayson Ramage Red Hook, NY 627,000
5 Richard Austin Lansdale, PA 178,000
6 Roland Isra New York, NY 210,000
7 Chris Klodnicki Voorhees, NJ 1,110,000
8 Jesse Chinni Ellicott City, MD 427,000
9 Konstantino Dimitroulakos Tonton Falls, NJ 104,000
Final table player introductions can be seen here: http://www.twitvid.com/BB7E7
Players were eliminated in the following order:
Ninth Place: Lights Out for Austin
Richard Austin, a retail store owner from Lansdale, PA was the first player to be
eliminated. He was low on chips and tried to steal a round of blinds and antes holding a
marginal 10 8, but ended up making an ill timed bluff when he was called by an opponent
holding pocket 9’s. Neither player improved, which meant Austin was out in ninth place.
He collected $16,340 in prize money. Austin’s previous poker accomplishments include two
other WSOP Circuit final tables, once for second place (two years ago in this same
championship event) and the other for second place.
Eighth Place: Pastry Chef Rolled
Konstantino Dimitroulakos, a Greek-born pastry chef now living in Tinton Falls, NY arrived
at the final table with the shortest stack. He survived for about an hour before going bust
with A 8 offsuit, which lost to pocket 10’s. The final board showed QQJ28, giving Dan
Witcher two pair. Dimitroulakos earned a nice payout totaling $24,511. He is one a nice
run in tournaments, having cashed in three consecutive events.
Seventh Place: Feming Chan is No Johnny Chan
Feming Chan, who is self-employed and lives in Atlantic City, NJ went out on a bluff. He
tried to steal pre-flop holding 9-6 suited. Grayson Ramage had a much bigger big stack
and decided to fade the raise from the big blind with J 10 offsuit. Chan picked up a big
draw, when the flop came J95, with two cards to Chan’s suit. But he ended up missing
both the flush and straight draws, while Ramage’s top pair (J’s) held up. Chan settled for
a payout which amounted to $32,681.
Sixth Place: Bucknell College Student Expelled
Grayson Ramage, a college student at Bucknell University, went out on a disappointing
hand when he called an all in raise by the chip leader, Chris Mitchell. Ramage had pocket
Q’s. But Mitchell held pocket A’s. Neither player improved, which meant Ramage was
eliminated. Ramage’s take from the prize pool came to $40,851. Among his
accomplishments are a 35th place finish in the 2009 WSOP Main Event, and a 3rd place
showing at the Harrah’s Atlantic City WSOPC championship last December.
Fifth Place: Chinni Takes the Fifth
Jesse Chinni, a poker pro from Ellicott City, MD went bust when he moved all in with
pocket 5’s, which lost to Dan Witcher’s A J. The board made a straight for Witcher. That
meant Chinni had to settle for fifth place, which paid $49,021. Chinni, a 24-year-old
graduate of the University of Maryland, has now made it to two WSOP Circuit final tables.
Fourth Place: Former WSOP Circuit Champion Ousted
Chris Klodnicki’s shot to win back to back WSOP Circuit championships in Atlantic City
came to an abrupt end when he took the final table’s worst beat. Klodnicki, a poker pro
who now lives in Philadelphia, PA moved all in with pocket 9’s. He was called by Dan
Witcher, holding pocket’s 8’s. It looked like Klodnicki would double up, but an 8 of the
river made Witcher a full house and also ejected one of the tournament’s most dangerous
players. Klodnicki, a graduate of Lehigh University, who has enjoyed great success in
tournament poker the last few years, collected $65,362.
A short interview with Chris Klodnicki, moments after his elimination from the tournament
can be seen here: http://www.twitvid.com/89A41
Third Place: Witcher Bewitched
Dan Witcher, from Mount Pleasant, SC battled three-handed for nearly four hours before
he busted out in third place. He moved all in with pocket 10’s, which turned out to be a
base of terrible timing for the 25-year-old. Chris Mitchell called the big bet and flipped
over pocket A’s. The better hand held up, which removed Witcher from the tournament.
Third place paid $81,702.
Second Place: Christopher Mitchell Finishes as Runner Up
Chris Mitchell, a poker pro from Sumter, SC dominated this tournament over three full
days. He held a dominant chip lead at the conclusion of Day One. By Day Two, Mitchell
had increased his chip advantage to the point he was more than 2 to 1 over every other
player that remained, except one. He also arrived at the final table with about one-third
of the total chips in play. His runner up status and $138,894 in prize money for second
place did not mask his disappointment with the final outcome. Mitchell suffered a serious
of beats in the final stages of the tournament, and went card dead at the worst possible
time. He ultimately lost his remaining chips when he missed an outside straight draw,
which was topped by the champion’s two pair.
When heads-up play began, the two survivors were close to even in chips. It took about
three hours for the outcome to be decided. The final hand of the tournament can be seen
here: http://www.twitvid.com/40AA5
First Place: Roland Isra Wins!
Roland Isra, from New York, NY collected the $264,715 top prize, plus a seat into to the
2010 WSOP Main Event ($10,000 entry and expenses paid) to be held in Las Vegas in July.
An interview with Roland Isra moments after his victory can be seen here: (PART 1) --
http://www.twitvid.com/DAB6C (PART 2) -- http://www.twitvid.com/163CE
This concludes the WSOP Circuit at Caesars Atlantic City. This was the seventh WSOP
Circuit stop of the 2009-2010 season following previous tournaments held in Chicago,
Southern Indiana, Lake Tahoe, Harrah’s Atlantic City, Tunica, and Council Bluffs. Upcoming
Circuit events will take place at Harrah’s Rincon, Harrah’s St. Louis, Caesars Las Vegas,
and Harrah’s New Orleans. Harrah’s Rincon comes next and runs from March 17-31.
Executive Staff, World Series of Poker Circuit – Caesars Atlantic City
Joe Domenico – Senior Vice President and General Manager
Vice President of Table Games – Fred Niceta
Public Relations Specialist – Christopher Jonic
Table Games Manager (Poker) – Thomas McDonough III
Poker Pit Manager – Jake Devries
To view the complete schedule and results for the 2010 Caesars Atlantic City WSOP Circuit Events, click on the link below:
2010 WSOP Circuit Caesars Atlantic City Schedule and Results
2010 WSOP Circuit Caesars Atlantic City Schedule and Results
