WSOP - Event #31 Results... $2000 No-Limit Hold’em

[Talking Poker]

2006 World Series of Poker
Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino – Las Vegas
Official Results and Report
Event #31
No-Limit Hold’em
Buy-In: $2,000
Number of Entries: 2,050
Total Prize Money: $3,731,000

Official Results:
1. Justin Scott Detroit, MI $842,262
2. Farzad Rouhani Gaithersburg, MD $429,065
3. Bob Bright Las Vegas, NV $261,170
4. Gregory Glass Newport Beach, CA $186,550
5. Nathan Templeton Chattanooga, TN $149,240
6. Carl Olson Seattle, WA $130,585
7. Joshua Wakeman Sandwich, IL $111,930
8. Jason Johnson Coral Springs, FL $93,275
9. Bryan Micon Atlanta, GA $74,620
10 Paul Spano Sacramento, CA $55,965
11 Kendall Fukomoto Honolulu, HI $52,234
12 Chad Mizner Chandler, AZ $48,503
13 Jacob Stearley Spring Lake, MI $44,772
14 Angelo Cordi Indiana Wells, CA $41,041
15 Deborah Lavigne Fairhope, AL $37,310
16 Tony Bloom London, UK $33,579
17 Stephen Jones Springfield, IL $29,848
18 Ryan Fair Coral Springs, FL $26,117
19 Narimal Parmar Lomita, CA $22,386
20 Kayshan Muthy London, UK $22,386
21 Angel Garcia Henderson, NV $22,386
22 Efrain Lopez Miami, FL $18,655
23 Dan Harrington Santa Monica, CA $18,655
24 Graham Smith Bridgenorth, UK $18,655
25 Adam Marshall Pittsburgh, PA $14,924
26 Eduardo Sants NA $14,924
27 David Cesiano Galveston, TX $14,924
28 Jamys Williams Phoenix, AZ $11,193
29 Jose Severino Panama $11,193
30 Brandon Adams Gulf Breeze, FL $11,193
31 Eric Cloutier Lafayette, LA $11,193
32 Kevin Petersen Plano, TX $11,193
33 David Cai Westminster, CA $11,193
34 Mike Hofeld Egg Harber, NJ $11,193
35 Ian Frazer London, England $11,193
36 Logan Trinidade Los Angeles, CA $11,193
37 Nathan Smith Haymarket, VA $9,328
38 Kevin Noel Coral Springs, FL $9,328
39 Ylon Schwartz Brooklyn, NY $9,328
40 Jeffrey Tahler W. Hollywood, CA $9,328
41 Ferit Gabriellson Horsbore, Sweden $9,328
42 John Spanavecchia Lighthouse Point, FL $9,328
43 Alex Brenes San Jose, Costa Rica $9,328
44 Michael McIntyre Tewersbary, MA $9,328
45 Marc Karam Ottawa, Canada $9,328
46 Joseph Nolan Henderson, NV $9,328
47 Ben Armstrong Tulsa, OK $9,328
48 George Long Las Vegas, NV $9,328
49 Michael Katz Manalapan, NJ $9,328
50 Tony Pirone Boston, MA $9,328
51 Bobby Poe Commerce Twp, MI $9,328
52 Randy Holland Winnetka, CA $9,328
53 Ryan Armstrong Belleive, NE $9,328
54 Tony Nasr Whittier, CA $9,328
55 J.P. Vaughan Campo, CA $7,462
56 Mark Hope Denver, CO $7,462
57 Joe Myers Gray's Lake, IL $7,462
58 Chris Tsiprailidis Liverpool, NY $7,462
59 Ryan Moore Newport Beach, CA $7,462
60 Michael Odeh Las Vegas, NV $7,462
61 Ken Koski Howell, MI $7,462
62 T.J. Yurkanin Seattle, WA $7,462
63 Hasan Habib Downey, CA $7,462
64 Chris Convery Capetown, South Africa $7,462
65 Randall Witt Nashville, TN $7,462
66 Mickey Mills Ocean Beach, CA $7,462
67 Karlo Lopez Carolina, Puerto Rico $7,462
68 John Lively Houston, TX $7,462
69 Michael Cribb Rochester Hills, MI $7,462
70 Uskov Alexander Moscow, Russia $7,462
71 Chris Reslock Atlantic City, NJ $7,462
72 Claude Marbeleu Toolouse, France $7,462
73 Praz Bansi London, England $7,462
74 Blake Mason Atlanta, GA $7,462
75 Chi Nguyen Anaheim, CA $7,462
76 Gary Benson Sydney, Australia $7,462
77 Eric Bush Raleigh, NC $7,462
78 Jason Levine Miami, FL $7,462
79 Patrick Pezzin Bari, Italy $7,462
80 Jeff Han Torrance, CA $7,462
81 Paul Andrzejewski Park Ridge, IL $7,462
82 Derek Lawless Heartfordshire, UK $5,597
83 Robert Ohl Mansfield, OH $5,597
84 Les Juliano Austin, TX $5,597
85 David Crouse Huber Heights, OH $5,597
86 Ron Stanley Austin, TX $5,597
87 Brian Fields Huber Heights, OH $5,597
88 Jamad Rashid Henderson, NV $5,597
89 Theo Nerantzinis Bethpage, NY $5,597
90 John Esposito Las Vegas, NV $5,597
91 Mats Iremark Sothenburg, Sweeden $5,597
92 Marcus Collins Perth, Australia $5,597
93 Charles Balesteri Island Park, NY $5,597
94 Randy McKay Finley, ND $5,597
95 James Basar Burnswick, OH $5,597
96 Tony Bueti Mt. Kisco, NY $5,597
97 Jarrod Ankeniman Avon, CT $5,597
98 David Stirling Wellington, FL $5,597
99 Jennifer Tilly Los Angeles, CA $5,597
100 Steve Karp Dona, FL $5,597
101 Robert Blechman Culver City, CA $5,597
102 Robert Lendgren Richland, WA $5,597
103 Brett Shaffer Beloit, KS $5,597
104 David Ross Los Angeles, CA $5,597
105 Doris Homonicki Victoria, Australia $5,597
106 Richard Marshall Raleigh, NC $5,597
107 Jeremy Tutre Salt Lake City, UT $5,597
108 Zacharia Butler Brierley Hill, UK $5,597
109 Joseph Burkley Lowell, MA $3,731
110 Dow Sjolestad Phoenix, AZ $3,731
111 John Loisana Chapel Hill, NC $3,731
112 Andrew Stirling Wellington, FL $3,731
113 Eric Nelson Sioux City, IA $3,731
114 Joseph Torres NA $3,731
115 Jeff Bryan Fort Calhoun, NE $3,731
116 Roy Wilder Livermore, CA $3,731
117 David Cussio El Paso, TX $3,731
118 Mark Davis NA $3,731
119 Ron McMillan Las Vegas, NV $3,731
120 Jeff Shulman Las Vegas, NV $3,731
121 Claus Vallo Copenhagen, Denmark $3,731
122 Harold Cohen Los Angeles, CA $3,731
123 Walter Chambers Baton Rouge, LA $3,731
124 Kakoun Haim Paris, France $3,731
125 Hutson Richarde Charlotte, NC $3,731
126 Jason Fleurant Vancouver, Canada $3,731
127 James Kilaryian Moneta, VA $3,731
128 Johnny Kitchens III Lake Mary, Fl $3,731
129 Jeppe Mikkelsen Aarhus, Denmark $3,731
130 Greg Hemphill Galsgow, Sweeden $3,731
131 Jose Barbero Buenos Aires, Argentina $3,731
132 Vegard Nygard Oslo, Norway $3,731
133 Zack Stewart Santa Monica, CA $3,731
134 Craig Gold Belmont, CA $3,731
135 Javier Sarache Pembrook Farms, FL $3,731
136 Jeffrey Johnson West Palm Beach, FL $3,731
137 James Routos Kent, WA $3,731
138 Cong Do Brigantine, NJ $3,731
139 Marc Cipriano Las Vegas, NV $3,731
140 Sean Willis Murrell's Inlet, SC $3,731
141 Tommy Hang Lynwood, WA $3,731
142 Richard E. Park Huntington, CA $3,731
143 Jeffrey Lambert Thousand Oaks, CA $3,731
144 Brian Malcolm Redmond, WA $3,731
145 Anthony Consola Chicago, IL $3,731
146 John Vincent NA $3,731
147 Roger Pape Fort Morgan, CO $3,731
148 Orlando Moretti Ontario, Canada $3,731
149 Amir Nurant El Cajon, CA $3,731
150 Michael Carroll Torrance, CA $3,731
151 Alexander Dokunov Las Vegas, NV $3,731
152 Ernesto Espino Las Vegas, NV $3,731
153 Gregory Vamplew NA $3,731
154 John Bonetti Houston, TX $2,798
155 Stephen McClean Dublin, Ireland $2,798
156 Adam Greens New York, NY $2,798
157 Jason Barnett Oxford, AL $2,798
158 Jan Selberg NA $2,798
159 Peter Longmore NA $2,798
160 Thomas Macey Chicago, IL $2,798
161 Jess Susi San Diego, CA $2,798
162 Richard Predham NA $2,798
163 Jeff Samuelson Doniphan, NE $2,798
164 Aram Zerounian Portola Hills, CA $2,798
165 Craig Hartman Fort Wayne, IN $2,798
166 Kevin O'Sullivan CA $2,798
167 Jason Ryan Houston, TX $2,798
168 Alexander Lieu Pasadena, CA $2,798
169 Johan Dunder Stockholm, Sweden $2,798
170 Troy Van Riverside, CA $2,798
171 Michael Clark Ludera Ranch, CA $2,798
172 Keith Taylor Mancepa, AZ $2,798
173 Mike Caro Shell Knob, MO $2,798
174 Elijah Harrod Boswell, GA $2,798
175 Kevin Paulk Lynn Hoven, FL $2,798
176 Anahit Coalajian Glendak, CA $2,798
177 Paul Quadie Highland Ranch, CO $2,798
178 Gino Criscione Laguna Niguel, CA $2,798
179 Che Coye Lake Elsinore, CA $2,798
180 Brett Marshall Fresno, CA $2,798
181 Dan Gatto Galt, CA $2,798
182 Saul Prusoff Alpharetta, GA $2,798
183 Alan Fidellow Yorktown Heights, NY $2,798
184 Ali Zayeu El Paso, TX $2,798
185 Farid Vaghefi San Diego, CA $2,798
186 Jerome Saunders Orlando, FL $2,798
187 Paul Tschernia Henderson, NV $2,798
188 Gregory Cartin Brookline, MA $2,798
189 Keith Block Pomona, NY $2,798
190 Michelle Law Las Vegas, NV $2,798
191 Patrick Heneghan Chicago, IL $2,798
192 James Bates NA $1,632
193 Peter Calvo NA $1,632
194 Juan Moranjo Miami Lakes, FL $1,632
195 Keith Jacobs Calabasas, CA $1,632
196 Broc Segura New Iberia, LA $1,632
197 Emanuel Failla Commach, NY $1,632
198 Gregory Monaldi Davie, FL $1,632
199 Ryan Fronda Farhem, Hampshire $1,632
200 Mohammed Shafia NA $1,632
201 William Thorson NA $1,632
202 Samuel Silverman Las Vegas, NV $1,632
203 Romain Feriolo Marseille, France $1,632

Easy Money
Justin Scott Wins Gold Bracelet and $842,262
Detroit poker player destroys final table in wire-to-wire victory

Las Vegas, NV – Justin Scott flew into Las Vegas and promptly lost his entire bankroll at a baccarat table. This would not be an unusual story, since millions of visitors arrive in the gambling capital of the world each year and then leave town with less money. Scott’s story is unique because out of the ashes of defeat in the pit, the 22-year-old professional poker player from Detroit scratched together a $2,000 buy-in for the No-Limit Hold’em championship and ended up winning $842,262 at the 2006 World Series of Poker, presented by Milwaukee’s Best Light.

Scott steamrolled over a staggering field of 2,050 players – one of the largest tournaments held thus far at the World Series. After 2,041 players had been eliminated over two long days, nine players took their seats at the final table upon the Rio poker stage. The nine finalists comprised largely an unknown group of poker players. None had previously won a WSOP gold bracelet. When play began, Justin Scott enjoyed a decisive chip lead. Nathan Templeton was second, with everyone else far off in the distance. ESPN television was on hand to film the seven-hour finale, which featured perhaps the most dominant victory by any player yet at this year’s WSOP.

Name Chip Count Seat
Carl Olson 301,000 1
Nathan Templeton 832,000 2
Bob Bright 324,000 3
Jason Johnson 174,000 4
Farzad Rouhani 133,000 5
Greg Glass 267,000 6
Josh Wakeman 319,000 7
Justin Scott 1,500,000 8
Bryan Micon 224,000 9

Bryan Micon, a.k.a. “Neverwinpoker” fulfilled his namesake by being the first player to bust out. Micon took a horrible beat when his pocket kings were trounced by Jason Johnson’s ace-king. Johnson caught two devastating aces on the board to crush Micon. The Atlanta-based poker player took $74,620 for ninth place.

What goes around comes around. After busting-out Micon, Jason Johnson was himself eliminated when his ace-queen lost of Justin Scott’s ace-king. Neither player made a pair, but the king-kicker in Scott’s hand played and Johnson was knocked out. Johnson, a painter from Florida, cashed out for $93,275. Johnson’s elimination would mark the first of seven consecutive players to be eliminated by Scott. His play at this final table was so domineering, that as play progressed spectators could see the growing sense of frustration on the faces of Scott’s powerless opponents.

Dr. Josh Wakeman attended his first WSOP and this was his first-ever final table appearance. The chiropractor from Illinois had his back broken when his ace-jack was upset by Justin Scott’s queen-seven. Two queens flopped, and Dr. Wakeman was discharged in seventh place. In what has been a great year in poker for chiropractors (world champ Joe Hachem’s former profession), Wakeman collected $111,930 in prize money.

The Justin Scott express rolled on. Already ahead in chips by a 3 to 1 count, Scott’s total domination continued. Carl Olson went out next. His pocket sixes were flattened by Scott’s ace-seven. The proverbial toss-up situation with a pair versus two overcards went Scott’s way, when an ace flopped. Olson, a University of Washington graduate who now plays poker professionally, received $130,585 for sixth place.

If there was any thought that Justin Scott might eventually go card dead and take a few hits, it vanished when the chip leader busted out yet another player – this time holding pocket deuces. Scott’s deuce-deuce edged out Nathan Templeton’s queen-ten when the real estate investor from Tennessee failed to connect with a pair. Templeton’s share of the prize poll amounted to $149,240 for fifth place.

By this time, Justin Scott was an immovable force. He amassed the vast majority of the chips still in play, making the spectacle more of a contest for “second place” than any lingering suspense as to who would be the tournament winner. Scott obliterated yet another player when his ace-king broke Greg Glass’ king-ten. Both players flopped top pair when a king came. Drawing slim with two cards still to come, Glass failed to hit a ten. Was Glass half-full or half-empty? It depends on how one views a fourth-place finish. The 40-year-old poker player from California received $186,550 in prize money.

Things were not so bright for Bob Bright. The CEO of a stock trading firm in Las Vegas cashed out as the third-place finisher when his ace-six failed to connect with the board. Justin Scott’s pocket threes held up on the final hand, fizzling out Bright’s chances of a comeback victory. Bright, who won the “Best All-Around” player award at Caesar’s Las Vegas on this year’s WSOP Circuit, had to settle for $261,170 and third place, this time.

Looking at the chip discrepancy going into heads-up play, Farzad Rouhani must have felt like a stalled Hyundai sitting in the middle of the rail road tracks looking up at a roaring freight train. Rouhani was down nearly 13 to 1 – the single-largest lead going into heads-up play at the WSOP in over three years. Scott’s 3,800,000 in chips, festooned in dozens of neat columns looked like the Acropolis compared to Rouhani’s 290,000 shack.

Overlooked in Scott’s extraordinary victory was Rouhani’s remarkable survival skills. Perhaps no player had fewer key cards or bigger hands at this year’s World Series, and yet still managed to win more prize money ($429,065). On the previous day, when play had dwindled down to 35-players, Rouhani had less than 100,000 in chips and made a few key folds holding marginal hands which enabled him to survive longer in the tournament. Rouhani never had many chips in this event, yet still managed to outlast all but the last of 2,050 players.

Rouhani put all of his last chips into the pot as the favorite. His pocket eights were in the lead on the final hand of the tournament. But Scott simply could not be stopped. His queen-six made a pair when a queen landed on board, and Rouhani ended up as the last victim of what can only be described as poker’s closest thing to a massacre.

The new poker champion was interviewed afterward and began with a classic understatement. “I came in with 1.5 million,” Scott said. “I was able to use my chips to run over the table.”

Scott was complimentary toward his opponents, particularly Rouhani. “Maybe I’m going to write a poker book,” he said. “I’m going to put (Rouhani) in it for how to play short-handed in tournaments. He was simply amazing.”

Justin Scott’s trip to Las Vegas may have started off with a wimper. But it certainly ended with a bang. He went from being flat broke to $842,262 richer. “I’m going to pay off the rest of my dad’s home,” Scott said. “Then, I’m going to buy a home for myself.”

A bit of free advice – stay away from the baccarat tables.

by Nolan Dalla

Note: All content in this report may be re-printed by media.

Overall Tournament Statistics (through end of Event #31):
Total Entries to Date: 28,551
Total Prize Money Distributed: $ 60,193,207
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World Series of Poker Commissioner – Jeffrey Pollack
Director, Sponsorship and Licensing -- Ty Stewart
Director, Communications and Operations – Gary Thompson
Director, Broadcasting and New Media – Craig Abrahams
Vice President of Specialty Gaming -- Howard Greenbaum
WSOP Tournament Director – Robert Daily
WSOP Tournament Director / Director of Poker Operations for Harrah’s Entertainment – Jack Effel