Victory Comes Easy to Dealer/Pro Anthony Marchese in Omaha/8

Private Club Dealer had Lots of Chips Pretty Much Throughout Tournament

Hammond, IL-- Anthony Marchese has been playing poker for 20 years, almost all of that time as a professional, and two years ago also began dealing at private clubs. Tonight his dual experience served him well as he coasted to an easy win in the 10th event of the WSOP Circuit tour at Horseshoe Casino Hammond, $300 Omaha eight or better. He said he had a good feeling when the event started, and he was right, because he quickly moved into the lead, and held it or was close to it throughout the remainder of this two-day event. He dominated the final table, enjoyed a chip lead of about 700,000 to 220,000 when he got heads-up with Sung Hong, and had little trouble finishing off his final opponent. The win earned him $11,799 along with the gold-and-diamond trophy ring and a buy-in to the main event.

Marchese, 44, is from Chicago and was a salesman in the bedding industry before deciding to turn pro. He is mainly a cash game player, favoring Omaha/8 up to limits of $50-$100. He said he prefers Omaha because he can get to see more flops, it offers more action, and is more enjoyable. He described his style of play as tight, though he opened up once he got to the final table with a lot of chips. Marchese has had some other smaller wins, his largest being $8,000 at an Ameristar event.

Eighteen players were left at the end of day one, and they got down to nine two hours after returning the next day. At that point, the chip leader, with 170,000 was Bruce Dubin, closely followed by Richard "Benjie" Garrison with 162,000, while Marchese wasn't far behind with 145,000.

Here were the final table chip counts:

SEAT 1: Scott Bohlman – 91,000 Chips

SEAT 2: Sung Hong – 117,000 Chips

SEAT 3: Richard Garrison – 162,000 Chips

SEAT 4: Tim Moran – 50,000 Chips

SEAT 5: Anthony Marchese – 145,000 Chips

SEAT 6: Bill Rother – 46,000 Chips

SEAT 7: Bruce Dubin – 170,000 Chips

SEAT 8: Kyle Schertz – 80,000 Chips

SEAT 9: Brett Nichols – 90,000 Chips

Blinds were 3,000-6,000 with limits of 6,000-12,000, five minutes on the clock. Quickly gone was lowest-chipped Tim Moran, who was all in from the big blind holding K-J-9-8. The best he could do was pair his jack and he lost to two pair. Ninth place paid him $1,224. Moran, 28, is from Orland Park, Illinois, self-employed in construction. He's been playing eight years and is also a musician playing drums.

Limits were now 8,000-16,000. In early action, a very low-chipped Bill Rother was all in twice in a row, surviving once when his aces-up got him the high end of a pot, then tripling up when his pocket queens filled after three 5s hit the board. But he dropped down again when the board showed A-J-9-2-J and his A-Q lost to Kyle Schertz's A-K. Then, with limits at 10,000-20,000, he was all in once more from the big blind holding K-6-2-2. The board came Q-J-5-Q-A, and he lost to Scott Bohlman, whose A-2-4-9 prevailed when he paired his ace on the river. Eighth paid $1,447. Rother, 47, is from Libertyville, Illinois and has played poker for 20 years.

Next to leave was Schertz. After Brett Nichols raised with A-A-8d-6d, Schertz re-raised all in with 2-3-4-6. A flop of Kd-Qd-5d gave Nichols a flush. Schertz missed his low when a 9 and 10 came, and he got $1,781 for seventh. Schertz, 22 is a student from Metamora, Illinois. He learned poker four years ago watching TV and also enjoys fantasy football.

Late in the round, Bohlman went out on a bad beat. All in, he flopped queens-up and looked like he might double through Marchese. But two running hearts gave Marchese a flush, and Bohlman cashed sixth for $2,226. Bohlman, 32, is from Melrose Park Illinois. Formerly in real estate, he is now a poker player. He's been playing for 25 years, starting with his family, and has a dozen WSOP Circuit cashes. He also golfs.

The players returned from break. Limits by now had reached 12,000-24,000. Marchese at this point had built a good lead with 420,000 chips. Soon after, Nichols, holding A-3-4-5, had a huge low draw when the flop came K-6-2. He was up against Marchese, who had A-K-K-4 and flopped a set. Nichols missed his low when the board paired twice, giving Marchese a full house as Nichols took out $2,783 for fifth. Nichols, 42, is from Gary, Indiana. He had been in sales, now is a stay-at-home dad. He's played for 25 years.

Marchese now had a mountain of chips, dwarfing the other stacks. With limits at 16,000-32,000, we were getting close to the end. Next out was Dubin. He was all in with Q-Q-10-2 against Sung Hong's A-3-8-Q. An ace flopped, and that put Dubin out in fourth place, paying $3,562. Dubin, 44, is a consultant from Chicago who has been playing for four years.

The event got heads-up when Garrison went up against Marchese. Holding Q-10-9-8, he paired his 9 when the flop came 9-2-2 and put his last chips all in. Marchgese, with A-A-10-10 was well in front and a king and 7 that came next changed nothing. For third, Garrison was paid $4,564. Garrison is a dealer at Majestic Star Casino who learned poker 10 years ago from his dad. Tonight's final table is his poker highlight.

Heads-up, Hong had about 220,000 to 700,000 for Marchese. "David and Goliath," Hong remarked. "David" caught up some when he made deuces full on the next hand and stayed around for a while, but couldn't make much more headway. He was down to 100,000 after Marchese won a pot with two pair.

The final hand came right after limits had changed to 20,000-40,000. The flop came K-K-6 and Marchese, holding Q-8-8-3, bet. Hong pretty much had to call with his last chips holding A-10-9-7. He couldn't connect when a jack turned and a 4 hit the river, the 8s held up, and Hong cashed second for $7,124.

Hong, 37, originally from Korea, now lives in Lombard, Illinois where he is a mortgage consultant. He's been playing 16 years, learning at home games while in college.

--Max Shapiro

World Series of Poker Commissioner – Jeffrey Pollack

Director of Poker Operations for Harrah’s Entertainment – Jack Effel

Horseshoe Casino Hammond Poker Room Manager – Jason Newman

Horseshoe Casino Hammond Tournament Director -- Charlie Ciresi

To view a complete list of results for Event 10 of the 2008 World Series of Poker Circuit Event at Horseshoe Hammond, click on the link below:

2008 Horseshoe Hammond WSOP Circuit Event #10 Results