2006 World Series of Poker Circuit
Grand Casino-Resort – Tunica, Mississippi
Official Report
Day Three
No-Limit Hold’em
Buy-In: $9,800 (+200)
Number of Entries: 241
Number of Players Remaining: 9
Total Prize Money: $2,289,500
End of Day Three Standings (Chip Counts):
1. Brian Lamkin Austin, TX 600,000
2. Daniel Negreanu Las Vegas, NV 410,000
3. Kia Mohajeri Bockledge, FL 331,000
4. Wendell Barnes Charcton, MA 237,000
5. Robert Schulz Southaven, MS 229,000
6. Bryant King Spokane, WA 200,000
7. Lee Markholt Eatonville, WA 177,000
8. Chad Brown Los Angeles, CA 123,000
9. Brandon Adams Boston, MA 103,000
Eliminated Players (in-the-money)
10. Ernie Shepherd Lizella, GA $32,055
11. Mark Gregorich Las Vegas, NV 32,055
12. Daniel Alaei Las Vegas, NV 32,055
13. Don Barton Pahrump, NV 27,475
14. Hertzel Zalewski Houston, TX 27,475
15. Bill Edler Las Vegas, NV 27,475
16. Michael Tait Ft. Lauderdale, FL 22,895
17. Larry Satterwhite Houston, TX 22,895
18. Phil Galfond Gaithersburg, MD 22,895
Texan Brian Lamkin the Chip Leader Going into Final Table in WSOP Circuit Championship at Tunica Grand
The Final Table:
Seat 1: Brian Lamkin
Hometown: Austin, TX
Chip Count: 600,000
Brian Lamkin is from Austin, TX. He is the 37-year-old owner of a commercial flooring company. Lamkin has been playing poker for 20 years and has entered three WSOP events, to date. His highest cash up to this point was in a major tournament at the Bellagio (Las Vegas) last month. Lamkin is engaged to be married and there would be no sweeter wedding gift than to win first prize here in Tunica – which is over three-quarters of a million dollars. He comes in as the favorite, with a respectable chip lead.
Seat 2: Daniel Negreanu
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
Chip Count: 410,000
Born in Canada, Daniel Negreanu is now one of poker’s biggest superstars. His breakthrough win came at the 1999 World Series of Poker, when he won his first gold bracelet. He has since won two more. Negreanu was named Card Player Magazine’s ‘Player of the Year’ in 2004. He is just as famous for his poker writings, which are carried by several top poker websites. Now, at age 31, Negreanu is married and has settled down in Las Vegas. When he’s not sitting at final tables, he can usually be found playing in the highest-limit cash games in the world. Yet Negreanu candidly admits that last year was an off-year for him. He would like nothing more than to start off 2006 with a big win. He’s well on his way, currently ranked second in the chip count.
Seat 3: Robert Schulz
Hometown: Southaven, MS
Chip Count: 229,000
If anyone at today’s final table has a home field advantage, it is Robert Schulz from nearby Southaven, MS. Schulz, age 27, was actually born in the New York City area. He was once a craps dealer before he turned to poker playing to make his living. Schultz came close to winning an event here last summer when he cashed in second place in a field of 879. He’s in good shape coming in to this final table, with about an average stack size.
Seat 4: Brandon Adams
Hometown: Boston, MA
Chip Count: 103,000
If formal education were a prerequisite for winning poker tournaments, then today’s championship would go to Brandon Adams. He is scheduled to earn his PhD later this year from Harvard University. Adams was at a televised final table a few months ago, when he appeared in the 2005 Tournament of Champions. He has the toughest challenge of anyone in today’s finale – with the shortest chip count.
Seat 5: Wendell Barnes
Hometown: Charcton, MA
Chip Count: 237,000
Wendell Barnes, age 38, is from Charcton, MA. He is married and has two children. Barnes says he started playing poker about 15 years ago and mostly plays with friends. He is certainly going to have a lot more friends if he wins this tournament. To date, his best finish was at the New England Poker Classic – a second-place showing worth $80,000. He also won Event #12 here in Tunica last week, the no-limit hold’em shootout. Barnes lists his occupation as a welder. He hopes to catch fire and melt all of his opponents at today’s final table
Seat 6: Bryant King
Hometown: Spokane, WA
Chip Count: 200,000
Bryant King is a 38-year-old concert promoter originally from Kentucky. He now lives in Spokane, WA. King says he learned to play poker from his grandmother. King came close to the big prize in last year’s main event at the World Series of Poker. He finished 21st – a remarkable accomplishment considering there were 5,619 entries. This event started with 241 players and King is currently sixth in the chip count.
Seat 7: Lee Markholt
Hometown: Eatonville, WA
Chip Count: 177,000
Lee Markholt is a 42-year-old professional poker player from Eatonville, WA. He is married and has two children. Markholt is no stranger to playing for big prize money. He has made it to two WSOP final tables in his distinguished poker career, but has yet to win a gold bracelet. He did win $225,000 at the Five Diamond Classic at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, last year. Markholt won his way into this tournament via a one-table satellite. He arrives seventh in the chip count.
Seat 8: Kia Mohajeri
Hometown: Bockledge, FL
Chip Count: 331,000
Today’s senior citizen at the final table is 52-year-old Kia Mohajeri. He was born in Tehran, Iran – and now lives in Florida. Kia is married and has one child. He lists his profession as an electrical engineer. Mohajeri hopes to shock the poker world with a victory today and he is well on his way – currently third in the chip count. Mohajeri won a major poker tournament held last year at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas.
Seat 9: Chad Brown
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Chip Count: 123,000
Chad Brown has appeared in front of more television cameras than everyone else at this final table – combined. That’s because he was, and remains, a professional actor. He has appeared in films, on television, and as host of a TV game show. Brown has been a commentator on poker programs and is currently working on a project with fellow-actor Joe Mantegna. But today, Brown’s focus will be on winning a poker tournament. Brown, who lives in Los Angeles, has appeared at many final tables and has won his fair share. It will take quite a performance today by Brown to overcome his chip disadvantage. He’s currently eighth in chips.
The final table begins on Friday, January 27th at 2 pm CST.
Note: All content in this report may be re-printed by media.
Report by – Nolan Dalla (Media Director)
Photographs available through Eric Harkins
Tunica Grand Poker Room Manager – Karen Kaegin
Tournament Director – Johnny Grooms
Co-Tournament Director – Jack Effel
|