From Copenhagen to Lake Tahoe – It’s Been a Million Dollar Year for Tim Vance

Stateline, NV (Nov. 12) – Ever since the World Series of Poker instituted a $50,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. event three years ago, player interest in multi-game tournaments has increased dramatically. Many players recognize that the supreme test of all-around poker skill is best demonstrated in a mixture of games. H.O.R.S.E. is an acronym for the five most popular casino poker games played in rotation – Hold’em, Omaha, Razz, Seven-Card Stud, and Eight-or-Better.

For the second consecutive year, this year’s World Series of Poker Circuit at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe included a H.O.R.S.E. competition. Despite a mid-week start on Veterans Day, 88 players each paid a $300 entry fee to compete for the 2008 H.O.R.S.E. championship.

The winner was Tim Vance, a 47-year-old touring poker pro from Millstadt, IL. Vance officially collected $9,348 in prize money. This was his second WSOP Circuit victory. In April, Vance won the $500 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em event held at Caesars Indiana. Vance started the year off with a huge win, a million dollar victory at major European event in Copenhagen, Denmark.

This tournament was a two-day affair. After 80 players went bust, the eight finalists returned for a second day. Once guaranteed an in-the-money finish, journeyman Tom Vance started out as the final table chip leader. Chris Dombrowski was a close second. The remaining six players were far behind.

A few hands into play George Geros, from Reno, NV became the final table’s first casualty. He went out eighth and collected $845. Geros already has quite a few good bust out stories. He finished 11th in the 1997 WSOP Main Event, being knocked out by none other than poker legend and champion Stu Ungar.

Seventh place went to recreational poker player Greg McClelland, from Irvine, CA. The real estate agent collected a commission totaling $1,152.

Robert Torres was the next to go out, in sixth place. The account manager for a major retailer cashed out with $1,485 in winnings. Amazingly, this was Torres’ first major poker tournament.

Fifth place was taken by Phil Hawkins, a 57-year-old former casino owner. Hawkins previously ran the Deuces Wild Casino in Auburn, CA. He has won several major poker tournaments in Reno and Las Vegas. However, Hawkins was forced to settle for a payout totaling $1,869 in this tournament.

Bill Bostick was eliminated in fourth place. The auto industry consultant from St. Clair had previously made final tables on the Heartland Poker Tour. However, this marked his first WSOP-related final table appearance. Bostick collected $2,433 in prize money.

It appeared that Chris Dombrowski would pose the biggest challenge to Vance’s bid for victory. But he ended up going out as the third-place finisher. The Florida-based poker pro won the $5,000 buy-in championship held at Turning Stone in New York last month. This marked his fifth time to cash in 2008. Dombrowski was paid $3,431.

The tournament ended on the Omaha High-Low round. Zak Gilbert finished in second place. Gilbert had previously won a HORSE tournament at the Peppermill in his hometown of Reno. But he finished as the runner up in this event, good for a payout totaling $5,045.

When 2008 began for Tim Vance, he could not have possibly dreamed that he would win three major poker tournaments and more than one million dollars. But he has now done it. Yet for all his poker prowess, Vance insists that his biggest accomplishment is his daughter Nanei, who was born just as he started playing on the tour. “This is great. But she is my most amazing accomplishment,” Vance said.

--Max Shapiro

World Series of Poker Commissioner – Jeffrey Pollack

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

Harveys Lake Tahoe Poker Room Manager - Vince Contaxis

Harveys Lake Tahoe Full Services Games Manager - Steve Schorr

Harveys Lake Tahoe Tournament Director - Janis Sexton

To view a complete list of results for Event 8 of the 2008 World Series of Poker Circuit Event at Harvey's Lake Tahoe, click on the link below:

2008 Harvey's Lake Tahoe WSOP Circuit Event #8 Results