Avdo Djokovic Wins Event #5 at Caesars Atlantic City WSOP Circuit Event

2007 Caesars Atlantic City
World Series of Poker
(WSOP) Circuit Event
Event #5
$1,000 Buy-in
No Limit Hold'em
Tournament Report

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2007 Caesars Atlantic City WSOP Circuit Event Report

The Poker King of Kosovo
Avdo Djokovic Overpowers
Competition at Tough Final Table

Eastern European wins Caesars Atlantic City
tournament and $133,300

Atlantic City, NJ (March 10, 2007) – Poker is not just an American pastime. It
has become an international phenomenon. Each and every year, more
players come into the game from far away nations and cities better known for
their political and economic conflicts than for positive influences upon the rest
of the world. Poker has produced champions from Afghanistan, Iraq,
Lebanon and other troubled regions -- which is a real testament to the game
being a means of opportunity for everyone who plays it, regardless of who
they are or where they come from.

Avdo Djokovic grew up in Kosovo. It is a land-locked Eastern European
nation which made headlines ten years ago for the sadness and strife
endured by thousands of people, many of whom were and remain Mr.
Djokovic’s family and friends. Now 42, Mr. Djokovic left his native land and
arrived in America to start a new life. Along the way, he learned how to play
poker. Then, he learned how to play poker well. And now, Mr. Djokovic has
learned how to play championship-level poker – a fact illustrated by his
triumph at the latest World Series of Poker Circuit tournament.

Mr. Djokovic topped a tough field and won a well-deserved top prize of
$133,300 in his first-ever major tournament victory. Prior to this win, Mr.
Djokovic has made numerous cashes and final table appearances – at the
United States Poker Championship, LA Poker Classic, World Poker Finals, and
elsewhere. His best WSOP Circuit finish was ninth last year at Harrah’s
Atlantic City.

The $1,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em tournament (Event #5) at Caesars Atlantic
City attracted 430 players, which is now the highest turnout for any $1,000
buy-in event in the three-year history of the World Series of Poker Circuit.
After 421 players were eliminated over the first 16 hours on days one and
two, nine survivors took seats at the final table (Note: Carl Rastifo, who
finished 10th, was one spot away from being the first and only player at this
tournament series to make multiple final table appearances).

Eugene Foulsman started with a slight chip advantage over Avdo Djokovic,
with the rest of the field more than 100,000 behind the chip leaders.
Ultimately, the top two would battle it out for the championship. Seating
positions and chip counts began as follows:

Seat 1:        Rich Davidson
Seat 2:        Steven Rodriguez
Seat 3:        Douglas Cressi
Seat 4:        Matt Brady
Seat 5:        Russell Crane
Seat 6:        Nat Kuey
Seat 7:        Eugene Foulsman
Seat 8:        Sang Tae
Seat 9:        Avdo Djokovic

Blinds began at 5,000-10,000 with a 1,000 ante. Things started off badly for
the big stacks. Just three hands into play, Mr. Foulsman took his first hit. He
was dealt Q-Q and moved over the top of an all-in raise by Steven Rodriguez,
holding A-10 of hearts. The flop came Q-7-2 with two hearts. Mr. Foulsman
flopped a big hand (trip queens), but Mr. Rodriguez had a flush draw. Bingo!
A river heart electrified the room and caused Mr. Rodriguez to celebrate
missing a date with the grim reaper.

Next, Douglas Cressi was dealt pocket aces and doubled up against Avdo
Djokovic. Then, Nat Kuey took a blow when Steven Rodriguez made a full
house. In the course of just 25 minutes, Steven Rodriguez had catapulted
from one of the lowest stacks to third in chips.

The next big stack to get the axe was Rich Davidson. In fact, he exited first
from the final table. About an hour into play and low on chips, Mr. Davidson
moved all-in with A-7 and was called by Eugene Foulsman, holding A-Q. Both
players caught an ace. But the higher kicker played and Mr. Davidson was
gone. Rich Davidson, the owner of a heating an air conditioning company,
burned out in ninth place. He collected $8,600. Mr. Davison also finished
third at the WSOP Circuit at Harrah’s Atlantic City last year.

Low stacked Russell Crane went out next. On his final hand, the 21-year-old
college student was involved in a three-way pot in which Avdo Djokovic made
the nut flush. Mr. Crane mucked his (unseen) cards and conceded defeat.
Russell Crane was lifted off the final table in eighth place, good for $12,900.
Avdo Djokovic’s good run continued. He was dealt K-K and called an all-in
raise by short-stacked Matt Brady, holding A-3. Mr. Brady missed his ace and
thus went out in seventh place. Mat Brady, who has made it to numerous
final tables at the Bellagio, Taj Mahal, Foxwoods, and elsewhere added
Caesars Atlantic City to his long list of cash outs, this time for $17,200.

Six players remained. Not for long. Steven “Quietstorm” Rodriguez busted
out when his A-Q fell to pocket sevens. Nat Kuey dragged what were left of
Mr. Rodriuez’ chips, putting the real estate broker from Staten Island out in
sixth place. This was “Quietstorm’s” second WSOP Circuit-related final table
as he finished fifth in one of the events at Harrah’s Atlantic City last year. He
earned $21,500 in prize money.

Down to five, Sang Tae then doubled up against Avdo Djokovic – creating
three big stacks and two short stacks out of the survivors. One of those low
stacks belonged to Doug Cressi. He was the next player to be eliminated
when his A-8 was topped by Eugene Foulsman’s A-K. Niether player made a
pair, so the high cards played. Douglas Cressi, a 45-year-old poker pro from
Glen Cove, NY collected $25,800 for fifth place.

With four players alive, Sang Tae was low and moved all-in with this last
100,000 on Doyle Brunson’s favorite hand, 10-2. His results did not match
that of the former two-time WSOP champion. The dog hand didn’t bite, which
resulted in another elimination. Sang Tae, a 53-year-old self employed part-
time poker player from Leonia, NJ received $30,100 for fourth place.

Next, Nat Kuey hit the rail. The office manager from New York City moved all-
in with Q-J and was called by Eugene Foulsman, holding A-5. The superior
hand held up, which meant a third-place showing for Mr. Kuey. He picked up
$34,400.

By this time, the players had agreed to a deal. Terms were not disclosed.
That resulted in some fast play in the final stages which gave Mr. Djokovic the
win. On a key late hand, Mr. Djokovic won the majority of his opponent’s
stack with A-K which basically sealed the final results. The final hand was
played out, but was largely symbolic due to the financial arrangement made
between the players.

The runner up was Eugene Foulsman. He is a 28-year-old investment analyst
from New Jersey. Mr. Foulsman has finished high in previous Atlantic City
tournaments, including on the WSOP Circuit. His “official” payout amounted
to $68,800.

The newest poker champion is Avdo Djokovic. He now lives in Staten Island,
NY and is the part-owner of a successful business (Triangle Services) which is
a maintenance company in New York City. With this win at Caesars, Mr.
Djokovic has now earned over $450,000 in tournament poker in his lifetime
(which places him in the top 500). Amongst those poker layers born in
Kosovo, however – Avdo Djokovic is the king and number one.

Report by Nolan Dalla – World Series of Poker Media Director

To view a complete list of results for Event #5 of the 2007 Caesars
Atlantic City WSOP Circuit, click on the link below:

2007 Caesars Atlantic City WSOP Circuit - Event #5 Results

Executive Staff, World Series of Poker Circuit – Caesars Atlantic City

Vice President of Table Games – Fred Niceta
Director of Table Games – Paul A. Natello
Table Games Manager (Poker) – Thomas McDonough III
Poker Pit Manager – Jake Devries
John Arthur – Harrah’s Atlantic City Poker Manager

300,000
86,000
139,000
80,000
238,000
380,000
503,000
376,000
481,000

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