David E. Robbins, Jr. Wins Event #5 at WSOP Circuit in Tunica

2007 Grand Casino Tunica
World Series of Poker
(WSOP) Circuit Event
Event #5
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em
Tournament Report

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2007 Grand Casino Tunica WSOP Circuit Event Report

What a Comeback!
Georgia Man Stages Late Rally and
Wins $1,500 Buy-In Hold’em
Championship at WSOP Cicuit Tunica

David E. Robbins, Jr.

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David E. Robbins, Jr. wins first major poker tournament at
WSOP Circuit in Tunica

Tunica, MS – It’s an old cliché to say “never give up.” The chip and a chair
story has been told many, many times in poker over the years. But the
notion that a player can rise from the ashes and stage a dramatic comeback
victory is very much alive in tournament poker. It does happen. David E.
Robbins, a 38-year-old mortgage lender from Fortson, Georgia knows the
story well. He lived it in the $1500 buy-in no-limit hold’em championship at
the Tuinica Grand Casino-Resort, in Tunica., Mississippi.

A total of 176 players entered Event #5 at this year’s tournament in Tunica,
generating a prize pool totaling $261,900. After 167 players were eliminated
during 14 long hours of play on Day One, nine finalists returned to the final
table for Day Two. The early chip leader was Kenneth “KB” Blanton, from the
suburbs of Dallas. David Robbins began second in the chip count. The
seating positions and starting chip counts were as follows:

The first player departed quickly. Just a few hands into play, Lance Popp
busted out. The partner in a mortgage brokerage company collected $5,122
for ninth place. Mr. Popp has an impressive record in his short but sweet
poker tournament career. So far, he has played in four tournaments. He has
cashed in three.

Next, Tony Cason hit the rail. The Shreveport, Louisiana telecommunications
professional ended up in eighth place. He received $7,862.

The next player to exit was James English. The retired real estate broker
from Florida has previously cashed for as high as $215,000 (at the Borgata in
Atlantic City). He had to settle for seventh place in this event – good for
$10,243.

Paul Nichols arrived as one of the lowest stacks. But he did manage to
survive a few hours before busting out in sixth place. The 32-year-old senior
technology specialist and former USMC staff sergeant from Cleveland, Ohio
collected $12,804 in prize money.

Charlie Porter is the owner of a roofing and construction company in
Alabama. He has enjoyed some good fortune in poker tournaments recently,
winning over $50,000 in prize money in recent months. Mr. Porter generously
gives half of all his tournament winnings to charity. He has worked to build
churches in Africa and does many noteworthy projects making him a role
model for all poker players. Mr. Potter had a cheering section in this event.
But he could finish no higher than fifth place. His earnings amounted to
$15,365.

Kenneth “KB” Blanton also had a cheering section. The remaining four
players were close to even in the chip count, which might have made for a
long night. They agreed to make a deal. Terms were not disclosed.
However, the players agreed to play on for rights to the championship title
and WSOP Circuit gold ring. Interestingly enough, although no prize money
was at stake after the deal was struck, this prolonged the intensity of the
competition. The final four battled for two hours before the next player was
eliminated.

That moment finally came when KB went AWOL. Mr. Blanton arrived as the
chip leader but ran out of momentum later in the tournament. Mr. Blanton
busted out with A-K suited versus James Mankowski’s pocket kings. The
excavation specialist from Caddo Mills, Texas – who made a final table at the
2005 WSOP (paying $111,500) – earned $20,486 for fourth place.

One of the key hands of the tournament took place when David Robbins was
low on chips and was all-in with pocket eights against James Mankowski’s A-
J. An ace or jack from the deck would have busted-out Mr. Robbins and likely
made Mr. Mankowski into the tournament favorite. Instead, no ace or jack
fell, and Mr. Robbins was able to double through. A short time later, Mr.
Mankowski took a terrible beat when his A-8 dominated Jeff Burns’ 8-7.
However, the deck sprayed a poisonous combination of cards for Mr.
Mankowski – J-8-7-8-3 giving his opponent a full house, eights full of sevens.
The Florida-based poker player officially received $25,608 in prize money.

When heads-up play began, Jeff Burns held a 2 to 1 chip lead over David
Robbins. But a late flurry of good cards helped to propel Mr. Robbins to
victory. In his final few hands, Mr. Robbins was dealt pocket aces, pocket
jacks, A-2, and pocket tens which blistered Mr. Burns’ chances of holding the
chip lead.

The final hand of the tournament came when Mr. Burns moved all in with A-Q
and was called by Mr. Robbins with 10-10. The pocket pair held up and Mr.
Robbins was awarded the championship ring.

The runner up was Jeff Burns, who has made it to several final tables at
tournaments in Tunica in recent years. The 37-year-old Mt. Juliet, Tennessee
man officially collected $43,534.

The winner of the $1500 buy-in hold’em championship was David E. Robbins.
His previous poker tournament success includes cashes in Biloxi, Mississippi
and elsewhere. However, this was his biggest payday ever.

Report by Nolan Dalla

To view a complete listing of results for Event #5 of the 2007 Grand
Casino Tunica WSOP Circuit Event, click on the link below:

2007 Grand Casino Tunica WSOP Circuit Results - Event #5

Tournament Director – Janis Sexton

Grand Tunica Poker Room Manager – Karen

Seat 1
Seat 2
Seat 3
Seat 4
Seat 5
Seat 6
Seat 7
Seat 8
Seat 9

Jeff Burns
Paul Nichols
James C. Mankowski
Kenneth Blanton
David E. Robbins, Jr.
Charlie Potter
Tony Cason
James English
Lance Popp

84,000