WSOP & WPT Tournament Blog

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

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 01:40:09 -0500

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

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

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

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:04:35 -0500

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

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

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

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 23:49:43 -0500

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:

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

2008 World Poker Tour Results: Borgata Winter Poker Open Main Event

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 01:18:10 -0500

Borgata Winter Open 2008

Event #13 - $9700 + $300 No Limit Hold'em

January 27 -31, 2008

507

$4,917,900

Prize Pool

Final Results

PLACE

NAME

FROM

GAVIN GRIFFIN

FULLERTON, CA

$1,401,109

DAVID TRAN

EL MONTE, CA

$737,685

THOMAS HARE

HAVERFORD, PA

$381,137

NOAH SCHWARTZ

BAY HARBOR, FL

$331,958

LEE WATKINSON

LONG BRANCH, WA

$282,779

ERVIN PRIFTI

BROOMALL, PA

$233,600

SHANE LABOUNTY

WATERFORD, NY

$184,421

JUSTIN BONOMO

SHERMAN OAKS, CA

$135,243

SCOTT BLACKMAN

WEBSTER, NY

$98,359

MEN NGUYEN

BELL GARDENS, CA

$63,932

JOHN ROVETO

DULUTH, GA

$63,932

JOHN MCEWEN

NAZARETH, PA

$63,932

ROBERT HWANG

BARNEGAT, NJ

$46,721

ONOFRIO REINA

CARTERET, NJ

$46,721

ERIC SIEGEL

MELVILLE, NY

$46,721

NAM LE

HUNTING BEACH, CA

$31,967

VADIM TRINCHER

CLIFFSIDE PK, NJ

$31,967

JARED HAMBY

HENDERSON, NV

$31,967

DANIEL SHIFF

AVENTURA, FL

$25,573

GORDON WILCOX

DORCHESTER, MA

$25,573

ADAM LIPPERT

BROOKLYN, NY

$25,573

ERIC BUCHMAN

VALLEY STREAM, NY

$25,573

JESSE MARTIN

NEWYORK, NY

$25,573

JOHN RACENER JR

PORT RICHEY, FL

$25,573

JOSEPH DIMARTINO

ANSONIA, CT

$25,573

JOHN COX

FALLS CHURCH, VA

$25,573

DAVID INSELBERG

NEW YORK, NY

$25,573

ZACHARY HYMAN

LARKSPUR, CA

$20,655

RICHARD DABAL

ROCHELLE PARK, NJ

$20,655

BILL KONTARATOS

LAVAL, QUEBEC, 51

$20,655

AKIO ISHIGE

CHICAGO, IL

$20,655

ANTHONY CAMPAGNA

MANORVILLE, NY

$20,655

MICHAEL DAVID TAIT

AVENTURA, FL

$20,655

GENCI SHEHU

MIAMI BEACH, FL

$20,655

RICHARD ROSSETTI

LINWOOD, NJ

$20,655

BRIAN HAVESON

SURF CITY, NJ

$20,655

VANESSA ASHLEY ROUSSO

HOBE SOUND, FL

$17,213

DALE PINCHOT

YARDLEY, PA

$17,213

ROY WINSTON

RANCHO MIRAGE, CA

$17,213

JOHN JUANDA

LAS VEGAS, NV

$17,212

SUK SUNG

TORRANCE, CA

$17,212

TODD JATRAS

NEW YORK, NY

$17,212

JORDAN RICH

PORTLAND, OR

$17,212

ALBERT KRUX

FAYETTEVILLE, NY

$17,212

MATTHEW VENGRIN

RED HOOK, NY

$17,212

KENNETH DIAMICO

HOLLAND, PA

$14,754

JAMES MALTZ

ISLAND PARK, NY

$14,754

LEONARD CORTELLINO

LEWISTON, ME

$14,754

EMELINE BOICH

LAS VEGAS, NV

$14,754

JOHN HENNIGAN

LAS VEGAS, NV

$14,754

FARZAD ROUHANI

BRIGANTINE, NJ

$14,754

RALPH PORTER

WOODINVILLE, WA

$14,754

MICHAEL RODERICK

BURLINGTON, MA

$14,754

RYAN YOUNG

TORRANCE, CA

$14,754

Below is a photo of 2008 Borgata Winter Poker Open Main Event Winner, Gavin Griffin:

Below is a photo of 2008 Borgata Winter Poker Open Main Event Runner Up David Tran:

Below is a photo of 2008 Borgata Winter Poker Open Main Event third place finisher, Thomas Hare:

2008 World Poker Tour (WPT) Results: Borgata Winter Poker Open Event #16

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 01:12:56 -0500

Borgata Winter Open 2008

Event #16 - $300 + $50 No Limit Hold'em

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

602 Entries

$180,600

Prize Pool

Final Results

PLACE

NAME

FROM

SCOTT PERMANN

TAMPA, FL

$50,098

KERRY SMALL

VENTNOR CITY, NJ

$27,090

NICHOLAS JANKOWSKI

GLENDORA, NJ

$13,996

MICHAEL CARUSO

FLOURTOWN, PA

$12,190

DAMON FERRANTE

PARSIPPANY, NJ

$10,384

DAVID MCDONOLD

MANCHESTER, MD

$8,578

GINA SALADINO

FAIRVIEW VLG, PA

$6,772

JAMES ADAM MATZ

BRIDGEPORT, PA

$4,967

JASON MIN

EAST MEADOW, NY

$3,613

JUSTIN PECKHOLDT

BABYLON, NY

$2,347

JAMES BOYLE

HAVRE DE GRACE, MD

$2,347

DANIEL PRICE

BEL AIR, MD

$2,347

FRANK MUCCI

PHILADELPHIA, PA

$1,715

CLAUDE ALBERT

EWING, NJ

$1,715

STEVEN LEVY

PEABODY, MA

$1,715

HENRY GULLOTTI

ASTORIA, NY

$1,083

KELLY CUTRONE

LONG VALLEY, NJ

$1,083

JAY JOHNSON

PHILADELPHIA, PA

$1,083

DAVID NYLAND

CUMBERLAND, MD

$812

JOHN CURTIS

STATEN ISLAND, NY

$812

WILLIAM LOONSTYN

PHILADELPHIA, PA

$812

KIM SCHINCO

FREELAND, MI

$812

MARCUS JOHNSON

ARLINGTON, VA

$812

KENNETH TURCO

EAST WINDSOR, NJ

$812

ERIC RADOM

OWINGS MILLS, MD

$812

THOMAS SCUTRO JR.

UNION CITY, NJ

$812

ALBERT FRAMPTON

MAPLE SHADE, NJ

$812

JOSEPH SCAMBIA

SOMERS, NY

$687

ROBERT DEPASQUALE

RANDOLPH, NJ

$687

FRANK MURRAY

DOYLESTOWN, PA

$687

DEEANGELO SENG

SICKLERVILLE, NJ

$687

DANIEL DEMISSIE

WASHINGTON, DC

$687

TIMMY PEDRERO

SPRINGFIELD, NJ

$687

ANDY HONG

HUNTINGDON VLY, PA

$687

THOMAS R ROWLAND III

ABINGTON, PA

$687

HOWARD WOLPER

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ

$687

DANIEL AMRHEIN

PHILA, PA

$578

VIMY HA

BROOKLYN, NY

$578

BARRY DAVIDOWITZ

BROOKLYN, NY

$578

NICHOLAS COLLISON

MAYO, MD

$578

PAUL NUTTALL

FAIRFIELD, CT

$578

AJDAR MAMEDOV

STATEN ISLAND, NY

$578

ROBERT TETI

PHILADELPHIA, PA

$578

JOSEPH CALANDRINO

OAKDALE, NY

$578

JOHN HARVEY

MAHWAH, NJ

$578

JAMES STENELLA

PIPERSVILLE, PA

$506

MICHAEL PLATENCKY

PHILADELPHIA, PA

$506

ROBERT FITZGERALD

YORKTOWN, VA

$506

AARON HUTT

FORKED RIVER, NJ

$506

SCOTT SILVERMAN

DRESHER, PA

$506

MARC MENDOZA

HOPATCONG, NJ

$506

ANTHONY SANTANELLO

STATEN ISLAND, NY

$506

STEVEN DARGENIO

ASHBURN, VA

$506

SHIRAZ LALL

TEANECK, NJ

$506

WARREN HOLTZMAN

STATENISLAND, NY

$470

ROBERT CLAUS

OLD BETHPAGE, NY

$470

L PAPPAELIOU

FARMINGVILLE, NY

$470

DAVID HOM

BROOKLYN, NY

$470

BRETT SCARMAZZO

ELMWOOD PARK, NJ

$470

JOSEPH PORTO

ST JAMES, NY

$470

MARK STAUFFER

DALLAS, PA

$470

ELNATAN KHAIMOV

BROOKLYN, NY

$470

JASON KACHNER

ALLIANCE, OH

$470

2007 WSOP Gold Bracelet Winner Event #14 - Michael Keiner

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 22:16:44 -0500

2007 World Series of Poker

Rio All-Suite Casino and Hotel

Official Results

Event #14

Seven-Card Stud

Buy-In: $1,500

Number of Entries: 385

Total Prize Money: $525,525

Date of Tournament: June 8-9, 2007

WSOP GOLD BRACELET WINNER

EVENT #14 – MICHAEL KEINER

Below is a photo of Event #14 winner Michael Keiner. Photos are courtesy of ImageMaster Photography.

The winner of the $1,500 buy-in Seven-Card Stud championship was Michael Keiner. He is a professional poker player from Frankfurt, Germany. He is 48-years-old.

Keiner was a medical doctor, before turning poker pro. He specialized in cosmetic surgery. Keiner won seven major poker tournaments in Europe before this feat – his first poker tournament win in the U.S. With this victory, Keiner now has five WSOP in-the-money finishes dating back to 2000. First place paid $146,987.

Keiner is the third gold bracelet winner from Germany in WSOP history. The other two players are Matthias Rohnacher (1997) and Eddy Scharf (2001, 2003). In fact, Keiner was motivated to play more events at this year’s WSOP by his friend and rival, Eddy Scharf – the two time WSOP event champ. Occasionally, when Keiner spoke to his fellow countryman inside the poker room, Scharf was known to reply in German – "Speak up Michael – I can’t hear you because my two gold bracelets are rattling in my ears and making it difficult to hear you." Steamed by this, Keiner was determined to play no less than 19 events this year – concentrating in the non-hold’em events with smaller fields. This gave him (numerically) a better chance to win his own gold bracelet. Mission accomplished.

Keiner is certainly accustomed to taking risks. He was wildly successful with his stock investments during the 1990s. However, he openly told the media he "lost millions" in the stock market. Easy come, easy go. Many of his exploits are chronicled at: www.michaelkeiner.de

For Keiner, his first WSOP victory was as impressive as it was satisfying. He pummeled a final table with at least two bona fide superstars. Two-time WSOP gold bracelet winner Barry Greenstein finished in fourth place. Former WSOP champion (2004) Greg "Fossilman" Raymer finished in sixth place. This was one of the more educated final tables in recent memory. The eight finalists included two (former) attorneys, a high-tech entrepreneur, a Harvard M.B.A. and a former doctor from Germany who beat them all – and became a poker champion.

-- by Nolan Dalla

World Series of Poker Commissioner – Jeffrey Pollack
Director of Partnership Marketing -- Ty Stewart
Director of Broadcasting and New Media – Craig Abrahams
Corporate Director of Communications and Operations – Gary Thompson
Vice President of Specialty Gaming -- Howard Greenbaum
Tournament Director / Director of Poker Operations – Jack Effel

2007 WSOP Event #14 - Final Results

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 22:14:47 -0500

2007 World Series of Poker

Rio All-Suite Casino and Hotel

Official Results

Event #14

Seven-Card Stud

Buy-In: $1,500

Number of Entries: 385

Total Prize Money: $525,525

Date of Tournament: June 8-9, 2007

Final Results:

Place/Name/Hometown/Prize

1. Michael Keiner Frankfurt, Germany $146,987

2. Nesbitt Coburn Minneapolis, MN $80,876

3. Steve Sung Torrance, CA $51,222

4. Barry Greenstein Rancho Palo Verde, CA $33,698

5. Dale Phillips Darien, IL $26,150

6. Greg "Fossilman" Raymer Stonington, CT $19,680

7. John Robertson Las Vegas, NV $15,097

8. Larry Eubanks Las Vegas, NV $11,053

9. Matthew Kelly Fort Worth, TX $7,495

10. Craig Thomson Culver City, CA $7,495

11. Stephen Richman Las Vegas, NV $6,848

12. Varahram Vardjavand Tehran, Iran $6,848

13. Jim Boyd Martinsburg, VA $6,201

14. Ted Forrest Las Vegas, NV $6,201

15. Matthew Grapenthein Chicago, IL $5,554

16. Ricardo Festejo Egg Harbor Twp, NJ $5,554

17. Theresa Viganola Little Ferry, NJ $4,906

18. Helmut Koch Chesterfield, MI $4,906

19. Diane Cobb Mill Valley, CA $4,906

20. Louis Russo Brooklyn, NY $4,906

21. Mimi Tran Torrance, CA $4,906

22. Yuebin Guo Brooklyn, NY $4,906

23. Matthew Humphrey Avon, NJ $4,906

24. Sanjay Pandya Galloway, NJ $4,906

25. Sherkhan Farnood Afghanistan $4,259

26. Christopher Barnes Raynham, CT $4,259

27. Paul Darden Hamden, CT $4,259

28. Keith Shiraki Los Angeles, CA $4,259

29. Lewis Lipsey Los Angeles, CA $4,259

30. Charles Khoury Glendale, CA $4,259

31. Robert Byers Apollo Beach, FL $4,259

32. John Campbell San Diego, CA $4,259

33. Harku Shpend Staten Island, NY $3,612

34. John Argentin Downey, CA $3,612

35. Joel Fischbein Las Vegas, NV $3,612

36. William Chen Lafayette Hill, PA $3,612

37. Roger Barlow Center Point, AL $3,612

38. Todd Keikoan Las Vegas, NV $3,612

39. Frank Stollmack Brigantine, NJ $3,612

40. John Womack Lauderhill, FL $3,612

Tournament Notes:

-- The winner of the $1,500 buy-in Seven-Card Stud championship was Michael Keiner. He is from Frankfurt, Germany. He is 48-years-old.

-- Keiner was a medical doctor, before turning poker pro. He specialized in cosmetic surgery.

-- Keiner won seven major poker tournaments in Europe before this accomplishment – his first win in the U.S. Keiner has five WSOP in-the-money finishes dating back to 2000.

-- Keiner is the third gold bracelet winner from Germany in WSOP history. The other two players are Matthias Rohnacher (1997) and Eddy Scharf (2001, 2003).

-- Keiner was motivated to play more events at this year’s WSOP by his friend and rival, Eddy Scharf – the two time poker champ. Occasionally, when Keiner spoke to his fellow countryman inside the poker room, Scharf was known to reply in German – "Speak up Michael – I can’t hear you because my two gold bracelets are rattling in my ears and making it difficult to hear you." Steamed, Keiner was determined to play no less than 19 events this year – concentrating in the non-hold’em events with smaller fields. This gave him (numerically) a better chance to win his own gold bracelet. Mission accomplished.

-- Keiner is used to taking risks. He was wildly successful with his stock investments during the 1990s. However, he openly told the media he "lost millions" in the stock market. Easy come, easy go. Many of his exploits are chronicled at: www.michaelkeiner.de

-- This was one of the more educated final tables in recent memory. The eight finalists included two (former) attorneys, a medical doctor, a high-tech entrepreneur, and a Harvard M.B.A.

-- Two-time WSOP gold bracelet winner Barry Greenstein finished in fourth place.

-- 2004 WSOP champion Greg "Fossilman" Raymer finished in sixth place. It was his ninth time to cash at the WSOP and fourth final table (lifetime).

-- Longtime poker tournament veteran Jim Boyd made a well-deserved return to the money circle with his 13th-place showing in this event. Boyd, a jovial Martinsburg, WV man has been playing in poker tournaments since the 1970s. He was one of the more successful players of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

-- Bill Chen took 36th place. He won two WSOP gold bracelets last year.

-- This (Event #14) was originally scheduled as a two-day event. Because of the large turnout, the second day was one of the longest seven-card stud finals in WSOP history. Players played approximately 16 hours on Day Two.

-- by Nolan Dalla

2007 World Series of Poker Event #13 - End of Day 2

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 22:11:29 -0500

2007 World Series of Poker

Rio All-Suite Casino and Hotel

Official Results

Event #13

Pot-Limit Hold’em World Championship

Buy-In: $5,000

Number of Entries: 398

Total Prize Money: $1,870,600

Date of Tournament: June 8-10, 2007

End of Day Two Results:

The Final Table:

Seat/Name/Hometown/Chip Count

1 Jason Lester Miami, FL 295,000

2 Allen Cunningham Las Vegas, NV 341,000

3 Raymond Travis Rice Houston, TX 544,000

4 Alan Jaffray Silver Springs, NV 254,000

5 Joe Patrick New Castle, PA 631,000

6 Gavin Griffin Orange County, CA 524,000

7 Humberto Brenes San Jose, Costa Rica 225,000

8 Keith Lehr Bossier, LA 182,000

9 Jeffrey Lisandro Salerno, Italy 982,000

In-the-Money Finishers:

1. $487,287

2. $294,620

3. $197,348

4. $132,813

5. $99,142

6. $78,565

7. $58,924

8. $43,959

9. $31,800

10. Chris Sandrock Helena, MT $21,512

11. Joseph Sebok Rancho Palos Verdes, CA $21,512

12. Michael Hauptman Marina Del Ray, CA $21,512

13. Chris Ferguson Las Vegas, NV $19,641

14. Eric Lynch Olathe, KS $19,641

15. Gary Rabin New York, NY $19,641

16. Scott Fischman Las Vegas, NV $17,771

17. Daniel Alspach Las Vegas, NV $17,771

18. Jan Christoph Von Halle Hamburg, Germany $17,771

19. John Dwyer Dundalk, Ireland $15,900

20. Farzad Bonyadi Aliso Viejo, CA $15,900

21. Matthew Gianetti Austin, TX $15,900

22. Michael Binger Atherton, CA $15,900

23. Aviv Shaham Scottsdale, AZ $15,900

24. Maxwell Greenwood Toronto, ON $15,900

25. Doug Dearborn Toronto, ON $15,900

26. Paul Zuzelo Escondido, CA $15,900

27. Alex Kravchenko Moscow, Russia $15,900

28. Ivin Mladen New South Wales, Australia $14,030

29. Steve Billirakis Genoa, IL $14,030

30. Shawn Buchanan Abbotsford, BC $14,030

31. Guy Bowles London, UK $14,030

32. Ryan Aguilar Irvine, CA $14,030

33. Kirill Gerasimov Moscow, Russian Federation $14,030

34. Craig Marquis Arlington, TX $14,030

35. Alexander Veldhuis Rotterdam, Netherlands $14,030

36. N/A $14,030

Tournament Notes:

-- What promises to be one of the most exciting final tables of the 2007 WSOP will begin on Sunday, June 10 at 2 pm PST. The entire final table (including hole cards of players) will be available for viewing at the official WSOP webcast at: www.worldseriesofpoker.com

-- The nine finalists hold nine WSOP gold bracelets combined. Five players are former winners, with Allen Cunningham leading the way (four previous wins). Cunningham also took third place in the main event last year.

-- This is the largest buy-in for a Pot-Limit Hold’em tournament anywhere in the world. Hence, it is officially the "Pot Limit World Championship."

-- by Nolan Dalla

2007 WSOP Gold Bracelet Winner Event #12 Jason Warner

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 22:07:22 -0500

2007 World Series of Poker

Rio All-Suite Casino and Hotel

Official Results

Event #12

Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em

Buy-In: $1,500

Number of Entries: 1,427

Total Prize Money: $1,947,855

Date of Tournament: June 7-9, 2007

WSOP GOLD BRACELET WINNER

EVENT #12 – JASON WARNER

Below is a photo of Event #12 winner Jason Warner. Photos are courtesy of ImageMasters Photography.

The winner of the Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em World Championship was Jason Warner from Vancouver, BC (Canada). He is a 22-year-old sales associate working in a hardware store and (was/is) an aspiring professional poker player.

This was Warner’s second time to enter a WSOP event. A few days ago, he busted out of the $2,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em tournament. First place today paid $481,698.

Warner works at a home supply store named "Surrey New and Used" located in Surrey, BC. The store is similar to Home Depot or Lowe’s in the U.S. No word yet on whether or not Warner plans to continue working after winning nearly half-a-million dollars. Warner has been playing poker regularly at the River Rock Casino in Richmond, BC over the past year. He is single.

"I came here to win," said Jason Warner in a post-tournament interview. "This (gold bracelet) is really what it is all about. It’s every poker player’s dream."

-- by Nolan Dalla

2007 World Series of Poker Event #12 - Final Results

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 22:01:18 -0500

2007 World Series of Poker

Rio All-Suite Casino and Hotel

Official Results

Event #12

Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em

Buy-In: $1,500

Number of Entries: 1,427

Total Prize Money: $1,947,855

Date of Tournament: June 7-9, 2007

Final Results:

Place/Name/Hometown/Prize

1. Jason Warner Vancouver, BC $481,698

2. David Zeitlin New York, NY $269,778

3. Steve Olek Hollywood, FL $186,020

4. David Mitchell-Lolis Las Vegas, NV $123,689

5. Matt Brady Upper Darby, PA $92,523

6. Brian Miller Atlanta, GA $61,357

7. William Vosti Arroyo Grande, CA $46,749

8. Joe Awada Las Vegas, NV $46,749

9. Arturo Diaz San Diego, CA $31,166

10. Andrew Webking Bellevue, WA $31,166

11. Bruno Vick Grannville, OH $19,089

12. Terry Eischens Shakopee, MN $19,089

13. Christopher Stahle Vallda, Sweden $14,804

14. Edward Shea New Iberia, LA $14,804

15. Justin ¨JC¨ Tran Sacramento, CA $14,804

16. Garrett Beckman Lawrence, KS $14,804

17. Farzad Fadai Granada Hills, CA $14,804

18. Alex Balandin New York, NY $14,804

19. Jonathan Dull Fresno, CA $11,882

20. Harold Cohen Los Angeles, CA $11,882

21. Stephen O´Dwyer Las Vegas, NV $11,882

22. Clinton Bushn Austin, TX $11,882

23. John Esposito Las Vegas, NV $11,882

24. Gebrehiwet Goitom Los Angeles, CA $11,882

25. Annette Nichols Littleton, CO $8,960

26. Justin Newton Tuscon, AZ $8,960

27. Fred Goldberg Hollywood, FL $8,960

28. Daniel Bokesch Lewis Center, OH $8,960

29. Debbie Burkhead Henderson, NV $8,960

30. Travis Pearson Las Vegas, NV $8,960

31. Kevin Ross Carnation, WA $7,012

32. Carl Olson Seattle, WA $7,012

33. Joseph McGowan LaQuinta, CA $7,012

34. Matthew Ehrlich Garden City, NY $7,012

35. David Slan Chesterfield, MO $7,012

36. Mario Delis Bakersfield, CA $7,012

37. Eric Haber Muttontown, NY $5,844

38. John Seaton Tempe, AZ $5,844

39. Brian Bingham San Diego, CA $5,844

40. Erik Seidel Las Vegas, NV $5,844

41. Robert Gentel Costa Rica $5,844

42. Matthew Smith Lithia, FL $5,844

43. Rahul Maitra Webster, NY $4,772

44. John Cernuto Sr. Las Vegas, NV $4,772

45. Matthew Tom Issaquah, WA $4,772

46. Reece Sathoff Green Bay, WI $4,772

47. Darren Jenne Fort Myers, FL $4,772

48. Michael Homony San Antonio, TX $4,772

49. Joshua Pollock Silver Springs, MD $4,188

50. Miguel Proulx Québec, QC $4,188

51. Jeffrey Potts Yorba Linda, CA $4,188

52. Ralph Porter Woodinville, WA $4,188

53. John Roveto Snellville, GA $4,188

54. Julio Delarosa Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic $4,188

55. Peter Dalhuijsen Utrecht, Netherlands $3,701

56. Jason Manh Hermitage, AR $3,701

57. Reed Hensel Overland Park, KS $3,701

58. Douglas Carli Alliance, OH $3,701

59. Shawn Bussey Hughson, CA $3,701

60. David Brannan Alton, Great Britain $3,701

61. Sven Lucha Altötting, Germany $3,214

62. Brad Simmons Anchorage, AK $3,214

63. Glen Gordon Surrey, BC $3,214

64. Johannes Steindl Austria $3,214

65. Jason Cain Roseville, CA $3,214

66. Jeremy Roenick Scottsdale, AZ $3,214

67. Robert Williamson III Dallas, TX $3,214

68. Kevin Rubitsky Citrus Heights, CA $3,214

69. Terence Owens England $3,214

70. Motoyuki Mabuchi Las Vegas, NV $3,214

71. Sidharth Kakkar Lawrenceville, NJ $3,214

72. Jonathan Turner Las Vegas, NV $3,214

73. Rafael Gonzalez Modesto, CA $2,824

74. Eric Thompkins Antelope, CA $2,824

75. Andres Bello Oxnard, CA $2,824

76. David Benefield Arlington, TX $2,824

77. Robin Gainer Toronto, ON $2,824

78. Tony Malleo Canton, OH $2,824

79. Michael Guadano San Diego, CA $2,824

80. David Botton Los Angeles, CA $2,824

81. Thayer Rasmussen St. Petersburg, FL $2,824

82. Shawn Johnson Ellis Grove, Il $2,824

83. Johan Lendenius Sweden $2,824

84. Steven Webb Lynchburg, VA $2,824

85. John McKinney Fayetteville, NC $2,824

86. Matthew Holtzclaw Sacramento, CA $2,824

87. Andrew Wang Gainsville, TX $2,824

88. Anthony Cousineau Daytona Beach, FL $2,824

89. Michael Draghi Arlington, VA $2,824

90. Edward Hearn Epping, UK $2,824

91. Gordon Higgins Newport News, VA $2,435

92. Francis Cagney Laguna Niguel, CA $2,435

93. Alan Jaffray Silver Springs, NV $2,435

94. Michael Gibson Alpharetta, GA $2,435

95. Jerome Tastaviv $2,435

96. Kenneth Smaron Philadephia, PA $2,435

97. Yarom Limor Beverly Hills, CA $2,435

98. Steven Paul Ambrose Watlerloo, ON $2,435

99. Christopher Bell Raleigh, NC $2,435

100. Christopher Lenahan Portland, OR $2,435

101. Drew Ritchie Flint, MI $2,435

102. Dale Cook Broken Arrow, OK $2,435

103. Dylan Simpson San Jose, CA $2,435

104. Michael Sun Santa Maria, CA $2,435

105. Freddie Jones Sun City, AZ $2,435

106. Mark Sandness Moorehead, MN $2,435

107. Michael Sandler Stamford, CT $2,435

108. Patrick Grant Denver, CO $2,435

109. Julio Ceballas Republic of Columbia $2,143

110. Peter Nguyen Tustin, CA $2,143

111. Justin St. John Pittsburgh, PA $2,143

112. Kenneth Webster Decatur, NE $2,143

113. David Boyett Vista, CA $2,143

114. Josef Helphinstine $2,143

115. Tyler Witteman Sedona, AZ $2,143

116. Steve Balezentes Santa Maria, CA $2,143

117. Melanie Esquivel Santa Cruz, CA $2,143

118. Michael Raimon Bradenton, FL $2,143

119. Christopher Scalzitti South Jordan, UT $2,143

120. Jay Royer Coral Springs, FL $2,143

121. Edward Brogdon Litchfield Park, AZ $2,143

122. Jonathan Calhoun San Diego, CA $2,143

123. James Wagner West Valley, UT $2,143

124. James O’Malley $2,143

125. Joe Pharo Scottsdale, AZ $2,143

126. David Robertson Las Vegas, NV $2,143

Below is a photo of Event #12 winner Jason Warner. Photos are courtesy of ImageMasters Photography.

Tournament Notes:

-- The winner of the $1,500 buy-in Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em World Championship was Jason Warner from Vancouver, BC (Canada). He is a 22-year-old sales associate working in a hardware store and (was/is) an aspiring professional poker player.

-- This was Warner’s second time to enter a WSOP event. A few days ago, he busted out of the $2,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em tournament. First place today paid $481,698.

-- Warner works at a home supply store named "Surrey New and Used" located in Surrey, BC. The store is similar to Home Depot or Lowe’s in the U.S. No word yet on whether or not Warner plans to continue working after winning nearly half-a-million dollars.

-- Warner has been playing poker regularly at the River Rock Casino in Richmond, BC over the past year. He is single.

-- Warner wore a New York Yankees baseball cap while seated at the final table. Oddly enough, his heads-up opponent was David Zeitlin – from New York City. The runner up collected a very respectable $269,778.

-- This was the third final table broadcast over the official WSOP website – www.worldseriesofpoker.com. The entire final table was broadcast with hole cards seen by the home audience. Expert commentary was provided by Scott Preston (who is fantastic doing the play-by-play) and the "Clown Prince of Poker," Mike Laing – who stood in for Brian Wilson (also doing first-rate work). The broadcast is truly revolutionary in the depth of content and coverage and is "must viewing" for any poker fan.

-- The oldest player of the final six was 39-years. The youngest was 21.

-- Joe Awada, former circus juggler turned poker pro, finished ninth. He won a WSOP gold bracelet in 2004.

-- Arguably tournament poker’s hottest player over the first half of the year, J.C. Tran from Sacramento, CA, cashed in 15th place. Tran has over $5 million in lifetime tournament winnings – but less than ten percent of that impressive sum has been won at the WSOP.

-- Seven-time WSOP gold bracelet winner finished in 48th place in this event. He now has 43 lifetime cashes (ranked 8th all-time). He has won over $3M at the WSOP (ranked 16th all-time).

-- At least two poker players have already cashed three times at this year’s World Series – Steve-Paul Ambrose and Tony Cousineau.

-- by Nolan Dalla

2007 World Series of Poker News Flash: Busiest Day in WSOP History

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 21:58:09 -0500

2007 World Series of Poker

Rio All-Suite Casino and Hotel

NEWS FLASH!

2007 World Series of Poker Continues to Smash Records!

"It’s Official: June 9, 2007 is the busiest day in WSOP history."

3,009 Tournament Players Pack into the Rio in a Single Day

Las Vegas, NV (June 9, 2007) – The World Series of Poker presented by Milwaukee’s Best Light entered its second week. The world’s biggest and richest sporting spectacle shows no signs of slowing down. Today, the largest number of poker players ever to enter a single day of events filled the Rio All-Suites Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas.

The two tournaments held today combined for a record 3,009 entries. The $1,500 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em event attracted 2,628 entries. The $2,500 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. championship attracted 381 players (which was also the largest H.O.R.S.E. tournament in history). No single day in the 38-year history of the WSOP has been busier. In fact, the huge turnout is believed to be the biggest tournament day if any poker event held anywhere.

"We are off to a terrific start this year," said WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack. "I continue to believe this will be the best World Series of Poker ever."

The record number bested the old mark by 11 participants. Just seven days ago 2,998 tournament players registered for the day’s events. Both tournaments on this day are expected to play through Monday, June 11. First place in Event #15 will pay $637,254 and 270 players will receive prize money. First place in Event #16 will pay $238,881 and will pay 876 places.

The largest poker tournament in history remains the 2006 WSOP $10,000 buy-in championship event, with 8,773 players. However, that official "Day One" was divided across four separate dates, due to the enormous size of the field.

by Nolan Dalla

2007 WSOP Event #13 - End of Day 1

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 21:43:26 -0500

2007 World Series of Poker

Rio All-Suite Casino and Hotel

Official Results

Event #13

Pot-Limit Hold’em World Championship

Buy-In: $5,000

Number of Entries: 398

Total Prize Money: $1,870,600

Date of Tournament: June 8-10, 2007

End of Day One Results:

Name/Chip Count/Table/Seat

Jason Lester 62500 66 1

Greg Mueller 228000 66 5

Danny Ryan 54000 71 1

Chris Fergusen 91500 71 5

Mike Hauptman 125500 71 6

Max Greenwood 110000 71 3

Nicky Appleman 16000 71

Eric Lynch 85500 71 2

Alex Melinikow 105500 71 7

Jeff Lisandro 94000 71 9

Tony Cousinean 63500 71

Cliff Josephy 36000 66 9

Joe Sebok 71500 66 2

Steve Billirakis 95000 66 3

Matt Gianetti 53000 66 6

Travis Rice 122500 66 7

Lex Veldhuis 116500 72 9

Jan Von Halle 110500 72 6

Gary Rabin 37500 72 8

Keith Lehr 108000 65 5

Aviv Shaham 60000 65 4

Danny Fuhs 8000 66 8

Michael Binger 40500 66 4

Alan Jaffray 116000 72 5

Randy Haddoy 11800 72 4

Joe Patrick 64000 72 7

Humberto Brenes 83000 65 3

Fouad El Adli 38000 65 2

Guy Bowles 59000 65 1

William Jansen 38500 72 3

Chris Sandrock 78000 72

Doug Dearborn 35000 78 5

Dan Alspach 196000 58 4

Mark McPherson 26000 78 3

Craig Marquis 47000 78 2

Kathy Liebert 48000 78 1

Eric Hershler 37000 77 3

Gavin Griffin 152500 77 1

Mladen Ivin 78500 78 9

Fazad Bonyadi 86000 78 8

Shawn Buchanan 136500 78 7

Ryan Aguilar 106500 65 9

Allen Cunningham 49000 65 8

Tad Jurgens 30500 65 7

Mark Smith 39000 65 6

Rob Hollink 34500 77 4

Paul Zuzelo 66000 77 5

Scott Fischman 135500 77 6

John Dwyer 44500 77 7

Alex Kravchenko 94500 77 8

Kiril Gerasimov 60000 77 9

-- by Nolan Dalla

2007 WSOP Gold Bracelet Winner Event #11 - Chris Reslock

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 21:40:05 -0500

2007 World Series of Poker

Rio All-Suite Casino and Hotel

Official Results

Event #11

Seven-Card Stud World Championship

Buy-In: $5,000

Number of Entries: 180

Total Prize Money: $846,000

Date of Tournament: June 6-9, 2007

WSOP GOLD BRACELET WINNER

EVENT #11 – CHRIS RESLOCK

Below is a photo of Event #11 winner Chris Reslock. Photos are courtesy of ImageMasters Photography.

The winner of the "Seven-Card Stud World Championship" at the 2007 World Series of Poker is Chris Reslock. He is originally from Chicago, IL. Reslock, now 58, lives and plays poker for a living in Atlantic City, NJ.

Before turning to poker as a career, Reslock was a licensed taxi driver. When casino poker was first legalized in Atlantic City in 1993, Reslock started playing $10-20 hold’em games. He started making more money at the poker table than as a driver. So, with confidence he could make it as a pro, he quit driving and started to play poker full-time.

The longer story of how Reslock changed careers is near-legendary. Unsure as to whether he could make it as a pro poker player, Reslock planted his taxi in the parking garage at one of the big casinos – a sort of insurance policy that in case things did not work out, the cab was always there to pay the bills. The taxi sat in the garage for a week. Then, a month passed. Then, several months passed. Reslock never even bothered to go back to the casino to see if the car had been towed. Given that he has won over a million dollars in tournaments, and acquired a fair sum from cash games as well, don’t expect Reslock to be behind the wheel of anything other than a luxury car from now on.

Reslock’s breakthrough tournament win was in 2003 at the "Showdown at the Sands" in Atlantic City. In 2005, he won the WSOP Circuit championship at the Atlantic City Showboat (good for $335K). That event was televised by ESPN. With the win, he qualified to play in the 2006 Tournament of Champions in Las Vegas. He took fourth place in that tournament (netting $150,000), which was filled with former champions. Reslock won his first WSOP gold bracelet after finishing in the money four times. First place paid $258,453.

The runner-up was poker superstar and five-time WSOP gold bracelet winner Phil Ivey. David Oppenheim finished in third place. He is noted for playing in the highest cash games in the world. Considering the stiff competition Reslock faced in this event, his victory is all the more impressive.