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| Michael Simon wins the 2006 WPT World Poker Challenge Title |
April 3, 2006
The next to last event before this year's World Poker Tour Championship
event in Las Vegas ended Thursday evening with the crowning of a new
champion during the World Poker Challenge in Reno. Competition was tough
throughout the tournament as 592 players came to the tables in the $5,000
Main Event with early surprises and a final table that featured some of the
great unknown poker players around today.
Early on through the first two days of the tournament were dominated by the
presence of professional poker player Liz Lieu. Lieu raced to an early lead
through skillful play and a fearless style that left many opponents scratching
their heads as she gathered their chips and they left the tournament. Liz's
story wasn't the only signal that some excellent players are in the shadows
of tournament poker, however.
With only 36 players cashing out in the event (a low 6% of the field; WPT
events usually cashed out at up to 25% of the field), action was slow as the
bubble burst on Day Three. Once that occurred, however, action increased
with busts quickly taking the field down to six. Poker professionals David
Plastik, Gavin Smith, Chau Giang, Juan Carlos Mortensen, Liz Lieu, Patrick
Poels and Fabrice Soulier all busted out before the final ten in the event. With
the departure of online player Carl Olson on the televised bubble in seventh
place, the final table was set.
What was unique about this final table was the amount of formidable
unknown professional poker players that have made a great impression on
the poker world. Jason Stern and Greg Mueller both have quite impressive
tournament resumes, although not in major tournaments. They have often
won in preliminary events of many tournaments around the world, that is
why they are not noticed by those who only look at high prize pool
tournaments. Tom Schneider is a regular in the cash game world who also is
an author and businessman. Barry Greenstein, the "Robin Hood of Poker",
began the final table with the second chip stack and the drive to add a
second WPT title in 2006.
Early on, Michael Simon, chip leader when the final table began, severely
diminished Barry Greenstein's chip stack with trip eights and an Ace kicker
beating Greenstein's King kicker. Greenstein was never able to get back from
that hand and finished in sixth place. Jonas Norrman, who qualified for this
event online for $6, was the next to go out in fifth place. He turned $6 into
$113,830 for his great play. Greg Mueller finsihed in fourth place soon after.
After Tom Schneider was busted out of the tournament in third place, it came
down to Jason Stern and Michael Simon. The two players fought back and
forth over the next hour and a half before Simon was able to take the title
from Stern. Michael Simon became the champion of the Reno tournament,
winning a trophy, a $25,000 entry into the WPT Championship and
$1,331,889 for his efforts.
The WPT Events move from Reno to the latest event to be added to the WPT
schedule, the Foxwoods Poker Classic tournament in Mashantucket,
Connecticut. The Foxwoods Poker Classic will be the last chance for players
to win their way into the WPT Championship at Bellagio in Las Vegas.
The next to last event before this year's World Poker Tour Championship
event in Las Vegas ended Thursday evening with the crowning of a new
champion during the World Poker Challenge in Reno. Competition was tough
throughout the tournament as 592 players came to the tables in the $5,000
Main Event with early surprises and a final table that featured some of the
great unknown poker players around today.
Early on through the first two days of the tournament were dominated by the
presence of professional poker player Liz Lieu. Lieu raced to an early lead
through skillful play and a fearless style that left many opponents scratching
their heads as she gathered their chips and they left the tournament. Liz's
story wasn't the only signal that some excellent players are in the shadows
of tournament poker, however.
With only 36 players cashing out in the event (a low 6% of the field; WPT
events usually cashed out at up to 25% of the field), action was slow as the
bubble burst on Day Three. Once that occurred, however, action increased
with busts quickly taking the field down to six. Poker professionals David
Plastik, Gavin Smith, Chau Giang, Juan Carlos Mortensen, Liz Lieu, Patrick
Poels and Fabrice Soulier all busted out before the final ten in the event. With
the departure of online player Carl Olson on the televised bubble in seventh
place, the final table was set.
What was unique about this final table was the amount of formidable
unknown professional poker players that have made a great impression on
the poker world. Jason Stern and Greg Mueller both have quite impressive
tournament resumes, although not in major tournaments. They have often
won in preliminary events of many tournaments around the world, that is
why they are not noticed by those who only look at high prize pool
tournaments. Tom Schneider is a regular in the cash game world who also is
an author and businessman. Barry Greenstein, the "Robin Hood of Poker",
began the final table with the second chip stack and the drive to add a
second WPT title in 2006.
Early on, Michael Simon, chip leader when the final table began, severely
diminished Barry Greenstein's chip stack with trip eights and an Ace kicker
beating Greenstein's King kicker. Greenstein was never able to get back from
that hand and finished in sixth place. Jonas Norrman, who qualified for this
event online for $6, was the next to go out in fifth place. He turned $6 into
$113,830 for his great play. Greg Mueller finsihed in fourth place soon after.
After Tom Schneider was busted out of the tournament in third place, it came
down to Jason Stern and Michael Simon. The two players fought back and
forth over the next hour and a half before Simon was able to take the title
from Stern. Michael Simon became the champion of the Reno tournament,
winning a trophy, a $25,000 entry into the WPT Championship and
$1,331,889 for his efforts.
The WPT Events move from Reno to the latest event to be added to the WPT
schedule, the Foxwoods Poker Classic tournament in Mashantucket,
Connecticut. The Foxwoods Poker Classic will be the last chance for players
to win their way into the WPT Championship at Bellagio in Las Vegas.
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