February 22, 2008

2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit Event Horseshoe Council Bluffs - Event #3 Results

2007-2008 World Series of Poker Circuit
Horseshoe Council Bluffs
Event #3
No-Limit Hold’em  
February 20-21
Buy-In:  $300 + $40
Number of Entries: 374

Total Prize Money: $108,834

2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit Event Horseshoe Council Bluffs Event #3 Winner 

 

Final Results:

 

1. David Andrew          Bondurant, IA               $33,742
2. Josh Shmerl              Wauconda, IL               $17,413
3. Rick Behrendt           Ravenna, NE                $8,707
4. Jason Bartholomew   Sarasota, FL                 $7,618
5. Amy Muller              Cedar Rapids, IA          $6,530
6. Chris Drew               Omaha, NE                  $5,442
7. David Sawyer           Lincoln, NE                  $4,353
8. Sean Johnson            Chamberlain, SD           $3,265
9. Jeff Hubbard             Lincoln, NE                  $2,177
10.Ira Hartner               Bloomfield, IL              $1,306
11.Jeff Doane               Rockford, IL                $1,306
12.Dan Rome                Auora, IL                    $1,306
13.Derek Clifton           Columbia, IN                $1,088
14.Safar Turkmani        Moline, IL                    $1,088
15.Jim Jensen               Fremont, IA                  $1,088
16.Joe Bergscheinder    Jacksonville, IL             $871
17.Lee Strubeck           Kingston, PA                $871
18.Eric Taplin               Bettendorf, IA              $871
19.Nate Davis              Kansas City, MO          $653
20.Ross Ferger             Rock Falls, IL               $653
21.Mike Whitten           Omaha, NE                  $653
22.John Wurden            Fischer, MN                $653
23.Perry Perez             Algonquin, IL               $653
24.Kelly Vandemeen    Omaha, NE                  $653
25.Thomas Dodge        Kansas City, MO         $653
26.Bruce Waltke          Topeka, KS                  $653
27.Daniel Scamit          Bennington, NE            $653
28.Alec Bauder            Omaha, NE                 $435
29.Ross Wagner           Chicago, IL                 $435
30.Chris Graham          Hardington, NE            $435
31.Dominic Scrido        Ozawkie, KS               $435
32.John Comito            Norwalk, IA$               $435
33.Stewart Yancik       Blue Springs, MO         $435
34.Michael Crawford   Papillop, NE                 $435
35.Dennis Dueby         Manominee, MI            $435
36.Eric Sharp               Boone, IA$                  $435

 

Position is Key to $300 No-Limit Win
By Financial Adviser David Andrew

 

He Gives Credit for Win to Tournament
Book by Tom McEvoy and Don Vines

 

Council Bluffs, IA--In real estate, it's "location, location, location." For David Andrew, it was "position, position, position." Playing position was the best advice he got from a book written by Tom McEvoy and Don Vines called How to Win No-Limit Hold'em Tournaments, and it was a major factor leading to his win in the third WSOP Circuit event at Horseshoe Council Bluffs, $300 no-limit hold'em. Avoiding the reckless style he says is common now among young players, Andrew played a selective, controlled game. He also admitted to getting lucky. He came to the final table second-lowest in chips, was all in on the first hand, and doubled through by pairing a king to outrun pocket jacks.


 Tonight's victory brought Andrew $33,742 and a gold trophy ring. Andrew, 31, is from Bondurant, Iowa, and travels Iowa and Colorado in his job as a financial adviser with John Hancock, playing poker wherever he can, about every other week. He plays small no-limit cash games, but prefers tournaments. He's been playing four years, has one small cash at the Flamingo in Las Vegas, and finished on the bubble in this event here last year. He also noted that his wife asked him to come home early tonight, but probably will be just as happy that he didn't.

Final table action got underway with a full hour remaining at level 13, with 1,500-3,000 blinds and 500 antes. Chip leader with 243,000 was Jason "Bart" Bartholomew.
 
Here were the starting chip counts:

 

Seat 1. Rick Behrendt             72,000
Seat 2. Sean Johnson              186,500
Seat 3. David Sawyer             66,500
Seat 4. Amy Muller                 78,000
Seat 5. Jeff Hubbard               54,500
Seat 6. Chris Drew                  154,00o
Seat 7. Josh Shmerl                 187,000
Seat 8. David Andrew             80,000
Seat 9. Jason Bartholomew     243,000   
  
On the first hand, Andrew escaped and doubled up by outrunning Josh "AceGood" Shmerl's pocket jacks. Amy Muller, the first lady to grace a final table here, became the first player to draw blood by also outrunning pocket jacks. She moved in with Ac-Qc and was called by Jeff Hubbard with J-J. A queen hit the river, and Hubbard took home $2,177 for ninth.
Hubbard, 36, is from Lincoln, Nebraska, where he is in the restaurant and bar business. His grandmother taught him poker at age eight, and this is his first Circuit final table. He also enjoys golf and music.

  

Rick Behrendt, starting lowest-chipped, had been building his stacks with several uncalled all-ins. Finally, on hand 18, he got a call from Sean "Biggie" Johnson. Behrendt had pocket jacks to Johnson's A-K. It looked like jacks would be outrun a third time when the board showed 10-9-3-K, but then a queen came on the river to give Behrendt a straight and leave Johnson in eighth place, which paid $3,265. Johnson, 23, is a former tax accountant turned pro from Chamberlain, South Dakota. He began playing in home games four years ago, has entered "enough" Circuits, and his poker highlight is 46th out of 8,700 entrants in the 2006 WSOP main event. 

  

Next out was David Sawyer. He was all in for his last few chips with Ac-6c against
Chris Drew's 6-5. The board came Q-7-2-3-5, and Drew's paired 5 left Sawyer in seventh place, worth $4,353. Sawyer, 37, is self-employed and from Lincoln Nebraska. He learned poker in home games, and this is his fourth Circuit.

  

Behrendt, meanwhile, continued to pick up chips with aggressive play, and by the time the round ended he had gone from the bottom floor to the top with a lead of 344,000.   

  

Blinds were now 4,000-8,000 with 1,000 antes. Behrendt soon increased his lead by taking out Drew. He moved in with A-K, Drew called with A-Q, and Drew was drawing dead when the board showed 9-5-K-3. Sixth paid $5,442. Drew, 27, is a bartender from Omaha who learned poker in college. He has a number of cashes in daily tournaments in Vegas, including two wins at the Mirage. He also enjoys golf.

  

As play continued, an all-in Shmerl took a big bite out of Bartholomew's chips with a lucky catch. On a flop of K-7-2, he moved in with As-7s and Bartholomew called with K-9. Shmerl was saved when when a third 7 hit the river.

  

Next out was Muller. She moved in for 68,000 holding A-4. Shmerl called with pocket 7s, and they held up. Fifth paid $6,530, and Shmerl now had moved into contention for the lead. Muller, 42, is an opthamalic technician from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She taught herself poker from books three years ago, and her prior highlight was a win in a tournament at the Paris in Las Vegas.

  

Blinds now were 6,000-12,000 with 2,000 antes. Next out was Bartholomew He was all in with pocket kings against Behrendt's pocket 9s. Then a flop of 9-6-5 gave Behrendt a set, and two running 10s filled him. Bartholomew, 35, from Sarasota, Florida, is a former bank manager who is now a poker dealer and player. He is also a former pro baseball player with the Double-A (minor league) Cleveland Indians. This is his first Circuit.

  

Soon after, Shmerl took a big pot from Behrendt when his K-5 made two pair, and he now had the lead with 450,000 chips. We got heads-up after Shmerl moved in with pocket kings and Behrendt called with pocket 10s. The board missed both players, and Behrendt took home $8,707 for third. Behrendt is a 50-year-old farmer from Ravenna, Nebraska. This is his first Circuit. His hobby is professional tractor-pulling.

  

Heads-up, Shmerl enjoyed a 733,000-390,000 lead over Andrew.  Then Andrew moved in front when he hit a king to his A-K to beat Shmerl's pocket 10s. As play went on, Shmerl got about even when his pocket 9s prevailed over Andrew's pocket 8s. Then Andrew proceeded to grind his opponent down. Shmerl was left in bad shape when he tried a bluff bet with four hearts on board and Andrew picked him off with a 10h.

  

Shmerl finally went out when he slow-played pocket aces and allowed Andrew, holding 6-5, to flop two pair. Shmerl, who listed his occupation as "none," is 22 and from Wauconda, Illinois. This is his second Circuit. He began playing with his buddies in home games when he was 18, and also enjoys any extreme sport. --Max Shapiro

 

For more information, please contact: 
Max Shapiro -- WSOP Media Director at (323) 356-3303
Or visit our official website:  www.worldseriesofpoker.com
World Series of Poker Commissioner – Jeffrey Pollack
Director of Poker Operations for Harrah’s Entertainment – Jack Effel
Horseshoe Council Bluffs Poker Room Manager – Gary Margetson
Tournament Director -- Janis Sexton

Posted by sange at 01:40 AM |

February 20, 2008

2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circut Event Horseshoe Council Bluffs Event #2

2007-2008 World Series of Poker Circuit
Horseshoe Council Bluffs
Event #2
No-Limit Hold’em  
February 19-20
Buy-In:  $500 + $50
Number of Entries: 223

Total Prize Money: $108,155

2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit Event Horseshoe Council Bluffs Event #2 Winner

 

Final Results:

 

1  Danny Walker         Omaha, NE                     $34,608
2. John Kurtenbach      Omaha, NE                     $19,035
3. Larry Christensen    Kennebec, SD                 $9,734
4. Scott Buller             Lincoln, NE                     $7,571
5. Ron Miller               Mosinee, WI                   $6,489
6. Steve Spratlen         Lincoln, NE                     $5,408
7. Daniel Sindelar        Omaha, NE                     $4,326
8. Jason Vargas          Omaha, NE                     $3,245
9. Blake Cahail            Columbia, MO                $2,163
10.Larry Cascio           Bellevue, NE                  $1,298
11.Todd Wheeler         Cape Girardeau, MO      $1,298
12.Jay Sutoris              Des Moines, IA              $1,298
13.Mark Fink               Sioux Falls, SD               $1,082
14.Mark Boomgaarden  Lemars, IN                   $1,082                 
15.Cosby Langeness     New Richmond, WI       $1,082
16.Steve Hipes             St. Louis, MO                $865
17.Jeff Thoreson          Omaha, NE                    $865
18.Matt Polak              Bellevue, NE                  $865
19.Steve Collister         Grand Island, NE            $649
20.Kurt Heflan             Kansas City, MO           $649
21.Helen Wills             Laramie, WY                 $649
22.Brett Schwertley     Omaha, NE                    $649
23.Nicholas Manganaro Omaha, NE                  $649
24.Dylan Wright            Iowa City, IA$             $649
25.Jon Stanfield           Overland Park, KS         $649
26.Bill Eichel               Parker, SD                    $649
27.Ryan Ramsdell       Kansas City, K              $649

 

 

Cash-Game Pro Danny Walker, 23, Wins

Circuit Event #2, $500 No-Limit Hold'em


    Council Bluffs, IA--Danny Walker, a 23-year-old professional poker player from Omaha, won the second event of the WSOP Circuit at Horseshoe Council Bluffs, $500 no-limit Omaha. He came to the final table with the chip lead, lost it and got it back a couple of times, finally making a straight to beat his last opponent, John Kurtenbach. Holding a good chip lead, he made a deal when he was heads-up, but the two then played through for the title and championship ring, as required by Iowa law. First place paid an official $34,608.
   Walker, an English major before playing full time, specializes in cash games such as $5-$10 no-limit.  He's played in about 10 Circuit events, and his prior highlight was $18,500 for second in a Circuit event here last year.
   Walker described himself as a very aggressive player, his strategy being to play faster as the blinds get higher and players tighten up. "If you take down four blinds, you can lose a pot and still be all right," he explained. He hopes to play in this year's WSOP.
   As a side note, the hat trick award for action thus far goes to Larry Cascio. He played two tables yesterday, running back and forth and finishing eighth in the first event and 10th in the second. 
 
Here were the starting chip counts for today's final table:

 

Seat 1.  Daniel Sindelar                      96,500
Seat 2.  John Kurtenbach                    136,500
Seat 3.  Scott Buller                            98,000
Seat 4.  Blake Cahail                           41,500
Seat 5.  Larry Christensen                   114,000
Seat 6.  Danny Walker                        203,800
Seat 7.  Ron Miller                              82,000
Seat 8.  Jason Vargas                          35,500
Seat 9.  Steve Spratlen                        82,500  

 

   Jason Vargas, starting with 35,500, was lowest-chipped, but not for long. On the third hand, he was all in with pocket 7s against Blake Cahail's pocket aces and Walker's Kc-Qc. The board came 10-5-4-6-8, giving Vargas a straight and tripling him up. Cahail, who started second-lowest, was now down to the felt. On the next hand he was all in from the small blind with 8h-7h. Walker chased him down with A-10 and made a straight when the board came K-Q-8-3-J. Finishing ninth, Cahail took home $2,163.
   Cahail, 21, is a pharmacy technician from Columbia, Missouri. He began playing with friends in high school and has entered three Circuits thus far.
   Hand 19 saw the classic match-up: A-K for Vargas and pocket queens for an all-in Scott Buller. The flop paired Vargas' king but gave Buller a set, and after handing over 51,000, Vargas was down to 2,000 chips. Soon after, Vargas put his last chips in holding Q-3. Larry Christensen had pocket 10s, turned a set, and Vargas was paid $4,326 for eighth.
   Vargas is 36 and a project manager from Omaha. His poker highlight is a final table in a $500 event in last year's Horseshoe October Classic.
   Next out was Daniel "Flip Flop/Sindy" Sindelar. He pushed in for 46,000 with A-J and was called by Ron Miller, who had pocket kings. Miller made a set when the board came Q-8-2-9-K, and Sindelar cashed seventh for $4,326.
   Sindelar is a 24-year old-pro from Columbus, Nebraska who wrote that his prior occupation (?) was "raising camels." He also helpfully wrote that he learned poker when he was "younger." Sindelar's other hobbies are playing sports and fishing.
   Just as the level ended, Steve Spratlen went broke on a very bad beat. Holding Q-J, he made top two when the flop came Q-J-2. Walker, holding K-9 for an inside straight draw with one overcard, bet 30,000 and Spratlen moved in. The turn was a king, and a river deuce gave Walker kings and deuces for the higher two pair. Sixth paid $5,408.
   Spratlen, 51, is a property manager/landlord from Lincoln, Nebraska who learned poker from a friend. This is his first Circuit, and his other hobby is remodeling.
    Players returned from break playing with blinds of 4,000-8,000 and 1,000 antes. Walker, with a little over 200,000 chips, led the pack. For the first 50 minutes of this level, action slowed to a crawl. Or perhaps slower, with only four flops and maybe more walks than that. Then things suddenly picked up. In the cut-off seat, Miller moved in for 48,000 with A-7. But instead of picking up the blinds, he got called by Kurtenbach, who held pocket 6s. The board of J-8-2-K-9 changed nothing, and Miller, finishing fifth, cashed for $6,489. 
   Miller is 39, from Mosinee, Wisconsin, and owns a tile business. He started playing poker seven years ago and has entered 13 Circuits. Fishing is his other hobby.
   Then, on the next hand, Buller put in his last 53,000 holding K-Q and got a call from Christensen, who had pocket jacks. The board came all small cards, and Buller followed Miller to the cashier, taking out $7,571 for fourth.
   Buller, 51, is a railroad conductor and poker player from Lincoln, Nebraska. He said he started playing with friends at age 19, but now doesn't have any. He does, however, have a lot of tournament cashes, $800,000 all-told. His cashes include a third and fifth in WPT events, and a win in  the $1,000 Horseshoe Fall Classic event. In all, he has seven tournament wins and 18 final tables.
   As play went on, Walker, who had dipped down in chips and lost his lead, doubled through against Christensen on a lucky break. He was all in for 67,000 with Ac-6c against Christensen's Ad-10d, and caught a 6 on the turn. He hit Christensen a second time soon after. With the board showing As-3h-7h-Qs, Walker moved in for 84,000, and Christensen called. "You got it, I was just making a move," Walker said, turning up a 10-5. But all Christensen had was 9h-8h for a flush draw. "You mean I'm going to win it with a 10 high?" Walker yelled in disbelief. He did, when an offsuit 7 hit the river.
   Walker was now chip leader again, and right after that he hit on Christensen for the third and final time. On a flop of K-J-6, Christensen bet 55,000 with K-2, and Walker, holding K-J for two pair, put him all in and then all out after a 4 and 10 came.    Christensen, 52, is a farmer and rancher from Kennebec, South Dakota and he collected $9,734 for third.
   Heads-up, Walker had more than 600,000 chips to about 260,000 for Kurstenbach. Chips weren't their only difference. "You haven't said a word all day," the lively Walker informed his quiet opponent. When the round ended, Kurstanbach had managed to increase his chips somewhat to 340,000, after doubling up once by flopping a set of 4s.
   The two then made a deal and continued to play through.
Blinds were now 8,000-16,000 with 2,000 antes. Soon after, a flop brought Ah-7h-4h. Holding Kh-9h, Kurstanbach had the nuts, but slow-played. After Walker bet out for 20,000, he merely raised to 40,000. Both players checked when an 8h turned. On the river, Walker bet 20,000, Kurstanbach raised to 80,000 and took the lead after Walker called. Right after that, Walker was left with about 130,000 after he re-raised to 200,000 on a board of Q-7-5-4, then folded his obvious bluff when Kurstanbach moved in.
   But then he doubled up when he made a club flush with Ah-3c, and took back the lead when he flopped a flush holding Qh-2h. On the final hand, he held 9h-8d and won it all when a board of Q-J-9-J-10 gave him a straight.
   Kurstenbach, 23, who won an official $19,035 for second, is a room service server at a nearby Hilton Hotel. He learned poker in home games, and from books, and in his leisure time he likes hanging out with friends. His tournament cashes include an eighth in $300 no-limit in a Circuit event here last year.  --Max Shapiro

 

 

For more information, please contact: 
Max Shapiro -- WSOP Media Director at (323) 356-3303
Or visit our official website:  www.worldseriesofpoker.com
World Series of Poker Commissioner – Jeffrey Pollack
Director of Poker Operations for Harrah’s Entertainment – Jack Effel
Horseshoe Council Bluffs Poker Room Manager – Gary Margetson
Tournament Director -- Janis Sexton

Posted by sange at 11:04 PM |

February 19, 2008

2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit Event Horseshoe Council Bluffs - Event #1

2007-2008 World Series of Poker Circuit
Horseshoe Council Bluffs
Event #1
No-Limit Hold’em  
February 18-19
Buy-In: $300 + $40
Number of Entries: 492
Total Prize Money: $143,172 Final Results:

2008 World Series of Poker Circuit Horseshoe Council Bluffs Event #1 Winner
1 Joel Brown               Lincoln, NE                  $42,942
2. Michael Armstrong  Chicago, IL                  $23,051
3. Eric Francois           Bellevue, NE                $11,454
4. Don Marchi             Leawood, KS               $10,022
5. Corey Ferger           Rock Falls, IL              $8,590
6. Glenn Wallin            Dixon, IL                     $7,159
7. Duane Gerleman      Ridgeway, IA               $5,727
8. Larry Cascio            Bellevue, NE               $4,295
9. Tim Laws                Columbia,  MO             $2,863
10.Chuck Constanzo     Shakopee, MN             $1,575
11.GarrettJohnson        Stapleton, NE               $1,575
12.Nick Manganaro      Omaha, NE                 $1,575
13.Perry Perez             Algonquin, IL               $1,289
14.Steve Hipes             St. Louis, MO              $1,289
15.Lonnie Price            Ainsworth, NE             $1,289
16.Roger Fitzimmons    Galesburg, IL               $1.002
17.Howard Dion          Trent, SD                     $1,002
18.Michael Meng         Independence, MO       $1,002
19.Larry Louse            Jamestown, ND           $716
20.Dennis Larson         Sioux Falls, SD            $716
21.Keith Ward             Omaha, NE                  $716
22,Lee Bun                  Sioux Falls, SD.            $716
23.Leon Johnson          Rockford, IL                 $716
24.Nate Davis              Kansas City, MO         $716
25.Dennis King            Loveland, CO               $716
26.Dustin Ellis             Grenta, NE                    $716
27.Jeff Thoreson         Omaha, NE                   $716   
28.Jim Decker             Eden Prairie, MN          $573
29.Alex Rosales           Colby, NS                     $573
30.Brian Brumbaugh    Hastings, NE                 $573
31.Anthony Hallum      Kansas City, KS            $573
32.Daniel Oemonia,     Glidden, IA                    $573
33.Jerry Constack        Ashland, NE                 $573
34.Justin Swanson        Bellevue, NE                $573
35.Steve Collister         Grand Island, NE          $573
36.Jared Miller             West Des Moines, IA   $573
37.Steve Spratlen         Lincoln, NE                  $430
38.Dan Parde               Lincoln, NE                 $430
39.Todd Grams            Ankeny, IA$                $430
40.Kerry Green           Cedar Rapids, IN          $430
41.Tony Hoskins          Kansas City, KS           $430
42.Jason Vargas          Omaha, NE                  $430
43.Brady Goodman      Kansas City, KS           $430
44.John Powers           Denison, IA                 $430
45.Jeff Elseman           Omaha, NE                 $430

 

 

22-Year-Old Student Joel Brown Wins
 Event #1 at Horseshoe Council Bluffs 

 

He Starts with Big Final Table Chip Lead but
 Has Many Ups and Downs Before GainingWin 

   Council Bluffs, IA — Joel Brown, a 22-year-old business administration student at the University of Nebraska, had a wild up-and-down ride at the final table before finally claiming victory in the opening event of the WSOP Circuit tour at Horseshoe Council Bluffs, $300 no-limit hold'em. His victory earned him $42,942 and a striking gold trophy ring.
   Brown, from Lincoln, Nebraska, learned poker in college and has been playing for three years. He's entered about 10 tournaments, but this is his first Circuit try and his first cash ever. He came to the final table with 627,000 chips, more than half those in play. He said he had run well and  picked up a lot of chips by playing aggressively and taking blinds when the tournament was getting close to the money.
   Brown only plays no-limit, describes himself as generally aggressive,  and now plans to play in the WSOP this year. At the final table, he lost his lead to Michael Armstrong, then got it back in probably the key hand of the night. Down 2-1, he was all in with 10-4 against Armstrong's 10-6 on a flop of 10-7-3. Then a 4 turned to save him, and five hands later he had all the chips.
   Anticipating a good turnout, the Horseshoe increased its tournament tables from 48 to 58, and will probably add another 10 for the next Circuit series, poker room manager Gary Margetson said.
   Final-table action started with blinds of 4,000-8,000, 1,000 antes and 9:14 remaining at level 15. Here were the starting chip counts:

Seat 1.  Duane Gerleman        236,000
Seat 2.  Tim Laws                   23,000                                    
Seat 3.  Don Marchi                139,000
Seat 4.  Michael Armstrong    136,000
Seat 5.  Glenn Wallin              92,000
Seat 6.  Larry Cascio               43,000
Seat 7.  Corey Ferger              66,000
Seat 8.  Joel Brown                 627,000
Seat 9.  Eric Francois              116,000

Tim Laws, starting lowest chipped, was all in from the big blind on the third hand with a meager 8-5, a big dog to Don Marchi's A-J. An ace flopped, pretty much putting away Laws, who collected $2,863 for ninth.

Laws, 29, is a self-employed landlord from Columbia, Missouri. He began playing poker in home games four years ago. This is his sixth Circuit, and he has a final table to his credit at the Tunica Circuit. He also enjoys fishing and softball.

Blinds went to 6,000-12,000 with 2,000 antes. Larry "Lowball" Cascio, starting second-lowest, went all in for 15,000 from the small blind on hand eight with A-5.  Corey Ferger called from the big blind with J-7. The board came 8-7-2-2-K, and Ferger's paired 7 left Cascio in eighth spot, which was worth $4,295.

Cascio, 38, is from Bellevue, Nebraska and is self-employed. He has entered several Circuits, wrote that he enjoys running marathons and that his poker highlight was being able to play with "the world's best Omaha player, Tony Merksick."

(An interesting side note. The legendary "Amarillo Slim" Preston, whose life is now being filmed, is here for the tournament series. When he heard about Merksick, he hunted him down, challenged to a heads-up Omaha match, and a $25-$50 pot-limit contest is well under way as this report goes to press.)

On hand 11, Armstrong moved in for 300,000 with pocket jacks. Brown called with A-K.  Armstrong made a full house when two 10s flopped and a jack rivered, and suddenly Armstrong was our new chip leader.

Big slick was not very kind to Brown tonight. He had A-K again against Don "Markey" Marchi's pocket 7s. The pair held up, and Brown handed over 90,000.

The 26th deal started with four-way action. The flop came Ad-Ah-3d. Glenn Wallin bet 30,000 and Duane Gerleman called for his last 1,500 with 10h-9h. "The big blind was coming up next hand, so I chose to call against two random cards," he explained. Wallin turned over A-7 for trip aces, and when Gerleman couldn't help he cashed seventh for $5,727.
 

Gerleman, 52, is a farmer and part-time craps dealer from Ridgeway, Iowa. He began playing 14 years ago with relatives and this is his first Circuit.

The level ended with Armstrong still in front with 588,000 chips. After a break, play resumed with 8,000-16,000 blinds and the same antes.

Maybe nobody should play A-K tonight. This time that hand proved fatal to Wallin. He called with it after Marchi moved in with pocket aces. The board came K-Q-Q-6-5, and Wallin went out sixth, which paid $7,159.

Wallin is 39, from Dixon, Illinois, and is in marketing and web design. He started playing hold'em in 1989 on the Quad City River Boat. This is his second Circuit and his poker highlight to date.

Corey Ferger went out on a bad beat on the 46th deal. After Armstrong raised to 45,000 on the button with Ah-8c, Ferger moved in for 41,000 more with Ad-9d, a 3-1 favorite. But an eight flopped, and Ferger bowed out fifth, which paid $8,590.

Ferger, whose nickname is "Fuzzy," is 24, self-employed and from Rock Falls, Illinois. He learned poker in college, and this is his first Circuit try.  He was an all-conference pitcher with Western Illinois University, and is a "proud member" of the Red Sox Nation.
He also likes golf.

Brown had been building his stacks up with aggressive play, and began closing in on Armstrong's lead when he called an all-in bet by Don Marchi. He had A-J to Marchi's A-7, and pulled in 247,000 chips after the board came Q-9-3-4-10. Two hands later, Marchi again had an ace with a smaller kicker, and this time he went broke. Francois raised with A-J, Marchi moved in with A-8, and Francois called with A-J for a total of 208,000, just covering Marchi's stacks. The board came Q-6-5-J-2, and Marchi, shaking his head at his "bad play," took home $10,022 for fourth.  

Marchi, 52, is from Leawood, Kansas and is self-employed. He's entered 12 Circuits, and this is his third final table. Besides poker, Marchi is also an avid golfer.

Blinds were now 10,000-20,000 with 3,000 antes, with Armstrong still holding a sizeable lead. Ten hands into the new level, on the 73rd deal, Brown took a big hit. He moved in with A-8 from the small blind, ran into Francois' pocket kings, handed over 233,000 chips and was left with just 65,000. He soon got a little breathing room by doubling through with J-10 against Armstrong's A-9. The level ended with Armstrong holding a million chips to about 310,000 for Francois and 175,000 for Brown.

Blinds were now 15,000-30,000 with 4,000 antes. On the first hand, Brown moved into second chip position when he was all in with Q-5 and turned a queen to outrun Francois' A-J. On the next hand, we got heads-up. Francois moved in with Kc-9s from the small blind, and Brown, in the big blind, called with two black kings. Brown flopped a set when the board showed K-2-5, and Francois, drawing dead, settled for $11,454 for third.

Francois is 31 and from Bellevue, Nebraska, where he is a contractor. He learned poker five years ago from his father. This is his second Circuit, and he has five final tables in various Horseshoe events.  He also likes to fish and hunt.

Brown now had close to 500,000 chips while Armstrong held a bit under a million. Hand 102 was the big one where a 4 turned to save Brown, doubling him up and giving him a tiny lead. He increased it by picking up the next two pots. On the final hand, the board showed K-J-6-5. Brown bet out holding K-2, and Armstrong pushed in his remaining chips with 7-5. He failed to draw out when a 4 hit the river, and event #1 was over.   

Runner-up Armstrong, 46, is a computer programmer from Chicago. He began playing poker with his buddies in high school, and refined his game with Wilson Turbo Texas Hold'em software. He's played five Circuits and took third in a $300 event here last year.      

                                                                                                             --Max Shapiro
For more information, please contact: 
Max Shapiro -- WSOP Media Director at (323) 356-3303
Or visit our official website:  www.worldseriesofpoker.com
World Series of Poker Commissioner – Jeffrey Pollack
Director of Poker Operations for Harrah’s Entertainment – Jack Effel
Horseshoe Council Bluffs Poker Room Manager – Gary Margetson
Tournament Director -- Janis Sexton

Posted by sange at 11:49 PM |