Record-Setting Opening-Day Circuit Event Is Won by Metin Esen After 24 Hours Play

Service Station Owner is Victorious After 90-Minute Match with 21-Year Old Student

Atlantic City, NJ—Harrah's Atlantic City, the fourth stop of the 2008-2009 WSOP Circuit Tour, scored its biggest opening day ever as 1,181 players entered the $340 no-limit hold'em kick-off event, generating a prize pool of $354,300. It was one of the largest first-day events in Circuit history.

The winner, after nearly 24 hours of two-day play and 90 minutes of heads-up action that saw remarkable hands, twists and turns and chip-lead changes, was Metin Guven Esen, a 48-year-old native of Turkey who now lives in Wading River, New York where he owns two service stations. His win was worth $85,032 along with a striking diamond-and-gold trophy ring. Esen, a recreational player who plays tournaments exclusively because of the competition, excitement and socializing, has had a half-dozen small prior cashes, his best finish being fourth in a $300 Trump Classic no-limit event last year. His final opponent, and the chip leader for most of the final table, was Raymond Rossi Jr., a 21-year-old student. Down 2-1 at one point, the turning point for Esen came when both men turned a straight, with Esen's being higher. Playing on only 2-1/2 hours sleep because he couldn't get a room here last night, Esen felt that Rossi would win the event, but as play went on he realized he could "pull it out"...and did. Esen is married, learned poker in family games five years ago and also enjoys travel.

Meanwhile, the poker venue here has undergone some major changes. The poker room was expanded to 40 tables, capacity in the upstairs tournament ballroom was increased to 83 tables, and the WSOP Cash Academy will now be held here on Jan.24 and 25.

And Harrah's Atlantic City overall has undergone numerous expansions and upgrades since last year. Most striking is the addition of the elegant, 45-story Waterfront Tower, the second-tallest building in New Jersey. Visitors arriving at night are greeted by an amazing light show because the entire face of the tower has been made into a gigantic LCD screen displaying different images such as a 500-foot tall American flag and the WSOP logo. Other additions and upgrades include suites, super suites and a "bachelor party" suite (including a pool table) and expanded retail shops.

The indoor 82-degree pool now features a jaw-dropping 90-foot glass dome and tall palm trees along with 12 private cabanas and VIP table service, making it a tropical paradise by day and the hottest club in New Jersey by night. As a final touch, the live-band bar adjacent to the poker room now offers two poker drinks: the kicker," made with Ketel One vodka and Red Bull, and "the flush," with vodka, Red Bull and cranberry juice.

Entrants in this first event started with 5,000 chips, giving them lots of play, so when day one ended at 2 a.m., 59 players were still left with 100,000 in average chips. It took Four hours to get to the final nine after Duane Hunton's A-J lost to Mina Akladious' A-K. Play commenced with Akladious leading with 1.6 million chips. Blinds were 10,000-20,000 and in two minutes went to 15,000-30,000 with 4,000 antes.

Here were the starting chip counts:

SEAT 1: John Phatt – 729,000 Chips

SEAT 2: Ross Shapiro – 377,000 Chips

SEAT 3: Mike Rodriguez – 100,000 Chips

SEAT 4: Peter Becchina – 227,000 Chips

SEAT 5: Vincent Basilicata – 393,000 Chips

SEAT 6: Mina Akladious – 1,600,000 Chips

SEAT 7: Raymond Rossi, Jr. – 673,000 Chips

SEAT 8: Metin Esen – 1,351,000 Chips

SEAT 9: Robert Wing – 560,000 Chips

In early action, Vincent Basilicata was first out when he moved in with pocket 8s. John Henry Phatt won easily when his A-K made top two after the board came A-10-J-5-K. Ninth place paid $7,086 Basilica.21, is a student from Queens, New York entering his first Circuit. He's played for seven years and is self-taught.

Soon after there was a big chip exchange. On a flop of 6-7-3, Akladious bet 200,000 holding 6d-4d, and Rossi moved in for 631,000 with Jd-7d. Akladious stood up and hesitated for a long time until a clock was put on him. He finally called, losing a big chunk of his chips after Rossi rivered a third 7.

Next to leave was Robert Wing. He held A-10 and moved in when a flop of 2c-4c-6d looked safe. He was called by Rossi who held Qc-Jc for a flush draw. The turn paired Wing's 10, and a river ace gave him two pair. Unfortunately for him it was the ace of clubs, and Rossi's flush left Wing in eighth place, worth $10,619, as Rossi took the lead. Wing is from Jacksonville Beach, Florida and is married with three children.

Meanwhile, Mike "Gumby" Rodriguez, who started much the lowest with 100,000 chips, was giving a lesson in survival, going all in and staying alive four times, the last two when he flopped a set of nines! At this point he had zoomed up to more than a million.

As action continued, Phatt and Esen tangled in a pot. With the board showing 6-6-9-6, Phatt tried an all-in move holding J-10. It was the wrong move at the wrong time because Esen, with 6-2, had quads. For seventh, Phatt took out $14,172. Phatt, 56, is a Verizon technician from Howell, New Jersey. Married with two children, he's played family poker for 30 years, five in tournaments, and has entered 22 Circuits. His poker highlight came when Chris Moneymaker won the championship and poker exploded. He also enjoys fishing and hunting.

Players took a break, returning to blinds of 20,000-40,000 with 5,000 antes. Rossi was now well in front with 2.3 million of the 5.9 million chips in play. Busting out next was Akladious. He pushed in for 380,000 with Kc-Qc and couldn't overtake Esen's A-K when the board came J-J-5-3-3. Akladious, earning $17,715 for sixth, is 26, and from Lake Worth, Florida where he owns his own business.

As the level neared an end, Ross "Rosco" Shapiro moved in from the small blind for 400,000 with 6c-4c and was called by Rodriguez in the big blind holding (what else?) his third pair of 9s. The miracle 9s prevailed when the board came Q-4-J-A-8 as Shapiro cashed fifth for $21,258. Shapiro, 28, is a loan officer from Bethesda, Maryland. He said he needed something to do after breaking up with his girlfriend in college, and the movie Rounders inspired him to try poker. He's played seven years and made five prior casino final tables. This is his third Circuit. He also enjoys ice hockey and is a "proud member" of Tau Kappa Epsilon, the largest college social fraternity, which he says changed his life.

The remaining four briefly discussed a deal but decided to keep playing. Rounds were now an hour, with blinds of 30,000-60,000 and 5,000 antes. Halfway through, Rodriguez went all in and was called by Rossi. Rodriguez had by far the better hand, A-8 versus 8-7, but they weren't 9s, and he got outdrawn when the board came 7-3-5-9-4. For fourth, Rodriguez, who is 56 and from New York City, took home $24,801.

Rossi now had about 3 million chips to 2.3 million for Esen and 700,000 for Peter Becchina. After another deal discussion went nowhere, Becchina moved in with 9-8. Esen called, easily won with K-7, and the two finalists started their match very close to even.

For third, Becchina was paid $28,344.He is 33, from Philadelphia, and self-employed. He learned poker from his father 18 years ago and this is his first Circuit.

By the time limits went up again to 40,000-80,000 with 10,000 antes, Rossi had taken about a 2-1 lead. Half-way through, Esen had movedslightly ahead, then fell back again when he bet 700,000 into a board of A-2-8, folding when Rossi pushed in. The big hand came when the board showed K-9-7-10. Rossi, with J-8 for a jack-high straight, bet 400,000, then moved in when Esen made it 800,000 to go. Esen had Q-J for the nut straight, and now had a 9-1 lead.

But it wasn't over yet. First, Rossi, with a lesser hand, escaped with a chop when the board came 2-2-A-2-K. Next, he was way behind with pocket 10s when Esen, with K-8, flopped two pair, but survived when a third 10 hit the river. He then doubled through again when his A-3 beat Esen's K-9. Finally, close to midnight, Rossi moved in with pocket treys. "Let's gamble," Esen said, calling with 10c-8c. Esen took the lead when the flop came 9c-8s-9s, then wrapped things up with a flush when a Kc turned and a 5c hit the river.

For second, Rossi settled for $47,848, This is the first Circuit try for the 21-year old student from Philadelphia who taught himself poker three years ago.

--Max Shapiro

World Series of Poker Commissioner – Jeffrey Pollack

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

Harrah's Atlantic City Poker Room Manager & Tournament Director: John Arthur

To view a complete list of results for Event #1 of the 2008 World Series of Poker Circuit Event at Harrah's Atlantic City, click on the link below:

2008 Harrah's Atlantic City WSOP Circuit Event #1 Results