WSOP Circuit - Showboat Atlantic City...

[Talking Poker]

2005-06 WSOP Circuit
Showboat Casino – Atlantic City
Official Report

Day One
No-Limit Hold’em
Number of Entries: 96
Total Prize Money: $931,200


End of Day One Standings:

PLAYER HOMETOWN CHIP COUNT TABLE SEAT

Chris Reslock Atlantic City, NJ 49,075 12 4
Steven Jacobs Philadelphia, PA 41,350 13 7
Nick Schulman New York, NJ 39,475 9 1
Neal Gersony Rocky Hill, CT 36,575 11 4
David Weisberger Far Hills, NJ 35,625 10 1
John Juanda Las Vegas, NV 32,000 10 5
Michael Banks Milton, ON (Canada) 31,625 12 3
Daniel Shak Bryn Mawr, PA 31,475 13 8
Alan Schein Aventura, FL 31,000 13 3
Mickey Appleman Fort Lee, NJ 28,525 8 4
James J. Salters Long Island, NY 26,250 8 6
J. Studley New York, NY 23,775 10 6
Pak Kong Lancaster, PA 23,450 12 5
Brian Haveson Newtown, NJ 23,000 11 3
Roland Isra New York, NY 21,225 10 9
Richard Pyne Philadelphia, PA 20,800 9 2
Mike Sich N. Brunswick, NJ 20,475 9 3
Greg Raymer Raleigh, NC 20,025 7 8
Eric Panayiotou Toms River, NJ 19,975 10 4
Don Mullis Mooresville, NC 19,950 13 4
Stefan Wittmoss Stockholm, Sweden 19,000 7 2
Steve Fiosentini Winchester, MA 17,650 10 3
Anthony Licastro Long Valley, NJ 17,350 12 9
Balint Andrew Barta N/A 16,050 12 8
Surinder Sunar Wolverhampton, UK 15,800 11 9
Lee Watkinson Battle Ground, WA 15,750 9 5
Bill Gazes Miami, FL 15,600 7 1
Pat White W. Nyak, NY 15,050 10 8
Alex Jagodik Cleveland, OH 14,800 8 3
Avdo Djkovic New York, NY 14,500 11 8
Sanjay Pandya N/A 13,500 13 6
Andy Bloch Las Vegas, NV 13,350 9 9
Grant Lang Brookfield, CT 12,375 8 1
Glyn Banks Smithville, TN 11,725 7 9
Akio Ishige Atlantic City, NJ 11,450 8 9
Wendy Rosen New York, NY 11,375 7 5
Thomas Francis Manalapan, NJ 11,075 12 1
John Spadavecchia Miami, FL 10,550 13 2
Geoffrey Creagh Towanda, PA 9,875 11 7
Mark Reynolds Eldersburg, MD 9,725 7 3
Joseph Brooks Egg Harbor Twp, NJ 9,450 12 7
Chad Moore Frankfort, IN 8,375 7 6
Bryan Lesser Wesson, NJ 8,200 8 7
Wodyang Lin Morristown, NJ 7,900 8 5
Dan Tolly Kissimmee, FL 7,900 9 4
Frank Vizza CSH, NY 7,075 12 2
John D’Agostino Genobal, France 7,150 12 6
Jan Wronowski NJ 6,725 10 2
Donald Mercer Sneads Ferry, NC 6,100 11 5
Erik Seidel Las Vegas, NV 5,600 10 7
Stephen Lazar New Orleans, LA 5,100 9 6
Douglas Johnson Weston, MA 4,775 8 8
Richard Austin Lansdale, PA 4,575 11 1
Michael Fontan Rockaway, NJ 4,300 13 1
Chris Paspalakis Daytona Beach, FL 4,225 7 4
Gordon Eyug Cliffside Park, NJ 4,050 9 8
Herbert Cheng Elmhurst, NY 3,225 11 6
Ken Goldin Voorhees, NJ 3,125 13 9




Weathering the Storm:

2004 WSOP Champion Greg Raymer Hosts
Showboat Atlantic City’s WSOP Circuit Main Event

Former taxi driver and poker local Chris Reslock has the chip lead after Day One

Five inches of snow and freezing temperatures outside could not keep nearly 100 of the East Coast’s best hold’em players from descending upon Atlantic City to play on the fourth stop of the 2005-06 World Series of Poker tournament circuit. The Showboat Atlantic City, owned and operated by Harrah’s Entertainment, recently opened a state-of- the-art poker room. The WSOP Circuit event is the Showboat’s first attempt at hosting a televised major poker tournament.

Interestingly, the Showboat holds the distinction of being Atlantic City’s first casino in to ever host a poker tournament -- which took place back in 1994. Now, eleven years later, poker and the Showboat have jointly entered a new dimension. After a highly-successful series of eight preliminary events, the Showboat’s main event attracted 96 entries. Players are competing for nearly $1 million in prize money.

“This has been a great week -- both for our players and for us,” said Vito Casucci – Showboat Atlantic City Poker Manager. “Overall, we exceeded the turnout that was expected. Given that the Showboat is the newest player in what is a highly-competitive poker market, I’m very proud of our management, the staff, dealers, and everyone associated in bringing the World Series of Poker to Atlantic City.”

After Day One, Atlantic City local poker pro Chris Reslock holds the chip lead. Reslock played masterfully during the first seven hours of the tournament and distanced himself from his rivals. Currently, he is the only player near the 50,000 chip mark. Reslock has been in this spot before. The former taxi driver, who now plays middle- to high-stakes games in Atlantic City, has won his share of poker tournaments and has several in-the-money finishes. Reslock is now in position to strive for his biggest poker win ever.

The $10,000 buy-in championship event attracted several notable players, including two former world champions – Greg “Fossilman’ Raymer (2004) and Chris ‘Jesus’ Ferguson (2000). Ferguson busted out early. Meanwhile, Greg Raymer is an average chip stack, with about 20,000. Still alive going into Day Two are former WSOP gold bracelet winners and well-known players – including John Juanda, Mickey Appleman, Lee Watkinson, Bill Gazes, John Spadavecchia, and Erik Seidel. Former WSOP Circuit winners Alan Schein and Don Mullis are also still in the tournament.

The official host of the championship event is Greg Raymer. Two weeks after 1998 champ Scotty Nguyen hosted the Ballys-Paris (Las Vegas) tournament, Raymer welcomed many of the best tournament hold’em players to Atlantic City. Nguyen ended up making it to the final table of his event. We will see if Raymer can work his own magic and survive two more days to play at the final table, coming this Friday. But right now, it’s Chris Reslock who is the odds on favorite. He’s in the driver’s seat, holding the cards, and the meter is running.

Play will resume on Day Two at 12:00 noon in the main ballroom at the Showboat Atlantic City. Prize money payouts are as follows:

1st $335,235
2nd 186,240
3rd 102,430
4th 74,495
5th 65,185
6th 55,870
7th 46,560
8th 37,250
9th 27,395


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


Official Report by Nolan Dalla – World Series of Poker Media Director
Showboat Atlantic City Poker Manager – Vito Casucci
Tournament Director – Johnny Grooms
Assistant Tournament Director – Jack Effel

[Talking Poker]

2005-06 WSOP Circuit
Showboat Atlantic City
Official Report

Day Two
No-Limit Hold’em
Number of Entries: 96
Total Prize Money: $931,200

End of Day Two Standings:

PLAYER HOMETOWN CHIP COUNT TABLE SEAT

Chris Reslock Atlantic City, NJ 133,900 13 4
Nick Schulman New York, NY 87,400 11 2
James J. Salters Long Island, NY 69,500 11 6
John Juanda Las Vegas, NV 65,500 12 2
Alan Schein Aventura, FL 55,400 12 6
Daniel Shak Bryn Mawr, PA 50,900 13 1
Lee Watkinson Battle Ground, WA 40,100 11 3
Eric Panayiotou Toms River, NJ 38,600 11 7
Roland Isra New York, NY 34,500 13 5
John Spadavecchia Lighthouse Point, FL 32,300 12 5
Dan Tolly Kissimmee, FL 32,300 11 8
Don Mullis Mooresville, NC 31,000 11 5
Mickey Appleman Fort Lee, NJ 30,600 13 7
David Weisberger Far Hills, NJ 29,700 13 6
Rick Austin Lansdale, PA 26,600 12 1
Pak Kong Lancaster, PA 24,000 12 3
Brian Haveson Newtown, NJ 22,300 11 1
Neal Gersony Rocky Hill, CT 21,900 12 8
Steven Jacobs Philadelphia, PA 21,000 13 8
Thomas Francis Manalapan, NJ 20,100 13 3
Chad Moore Frankfort, IN 18,100 12 9
J. Studley New York, NY 18,000 12 4
Alexander Jagodik St. Johns (Antigua) 17,700 13 2
Akio Ishige Atlantic City, NJ 12,900 11 9
Eric Seidel Las Vegas, NV 11,800 12 7
Frank Vizza CSH, NY 7,800 13 9
Chris Paspalakis Daytona Beach, FL 5,200 11 4


In the Driver’s Seat:

Chris Reslock Widens His Chip Lead in
Showboat Atlantic City’s WSOP Circuit Main Event

Former taxi driver and poker local on pace to collect his biggest fare ever

Atlantic City poker pro Chris Reslock widened his chip lead on Day Two. He rocketed up from nearly 50,000 in chips on the first day to 133,900 going into Day Three. Reslock is currently the only player with over 100,000 in chips. Recent tournament winner and poker millionaire Nick Schulman is in a distant second-place with 87,400. Nearly everyone else of the remaining 27 players are out-chipped by at least 2 to 1 by Reslock.

Reslock is well-known locally. He has been playing poker seriously for over ten years and now calls it his profession, after leaving his job as a cab driver. Reslock has yet to breakthrough to the national poker scene, although he clearly has the talent to compete versus poker’s best players.

“I found that driving a cab for years exposed me to many different people and some very unique situations,” Reslock said. “You have to make judgments about people with limited information – which is pretty much like the way it is in poker. I consider those years (spent as a taxi driver) to be very valuable. We are the last of the trail riders, taking people from all walks of life to different places.”

Reslock appears headed for his first televised final table. ESPN is filming the WSOP Circuit event, which is being held at the Showboat Atlantic City. Day Three (Thursday) will play down to the final nine players. On Friday, the final table will begin at 2 pm.

Prize money payouts are as follows:

1st $335,235
2nd 186,240
3rd 102,430
4th 74,495
5th 65,185
6th 55,870
7th 46,560
8th 37,250
9th 27,395


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


Official Report by Nolan Dalla – World Series of Poker Media Director
Showboat Atlantic City Poker Manager – Vito Casucci
Tournament Director – Johnny Grooms
Assistant Tournament Director – Jack Effel

[left68wing]

I love John Juanda's game. Glad to see him towards the top of the list. Will be interesting to see how it turns out.

[Talking Poker]

It's funny.

I see this guy's name all over the place, now that I know to look for it.

This is him:


Anyway, he and I kind of got into it briefly at the poker table in Aruba. A couple of times, in fact.

What started it was this...
Player A limps, Don raises, Player B pushes in (short stackes), everyone else folds (myslef included) and the action is back to Player A, deciding if he wants to call or not. At this point, Don speaks up and says, "If you call this, you're goping to have to put all of those chips in there," implying that he will be pushing in if the guy calls.

I simply say, "I don't think you can say that" and he said, "The hell I can't!" and proceeds to go off on me, telling me that he plays in both circuits and blah blah freaking blah. I honestly don't know if you're allowed to say that or not, but it seemed awfully shady at the time. Sounds like collusion against the all in-player (well, kinda like reverse collusion in this case, but it's the same principle).

IMO, btw, he didn't play all that well. I watched him get lucky and suck out on people a NUMBER of times, and every time he would get AK, he's just shove his entire stack in, no matter what. So naturally, I finished just shy of the bubble and he ended up being part of the 4 way chop that bdawg was in.

[Talking Poker]

2005-06 WSOP Circuit
Showboat Atlantic City
Official Report

Start of Day Four
No-Limit Hold’em
Number of Entries: 96
Total Prize Money: $931,200

The Final Table

Note: Today’s final table includes ten players. Play resumes on Friday, December 9th inside the main ballroom at the Showboat Atlantic City.

Seat 1: John Spadavecchia
Hometown: Lighthouse Point, FL
Chip Count: 81,200
John Spadavecchia is one of three players at this final table who has won a World Series of Poker gold bracelet. For Spadavecchia, that victory came back in 1990. He also won a WSOP Circuit gold ring earlier this year. But Spadavecchia is perhaps best known for making it to the final table in the 1994 world championship event -- which was won by Russ Hamilton. Now living in Florida and a regular player on the tournament circuit, Spadavecchia was described in the classic poker book “Big Deal” as follows: Spadavecchia looks like he walked right off the set of wiseguy movie. Perhaps at today’s final table, he’ll make his opponents an offer they can’t refuse.


Seat 2: Chris Reslock
Hometown: Atlantic City, NJ
Chip Count: 124,000
So far, if this tournament were a stage act, it would most certainly be called “The Chris Reslock Show.” Reslock is a 52-year-old poker pro from right here in Atlantic City. He is married and has three children. He was the chip leader after Day One, and also the chip leader after Day Two. Eight years ago, Reslock decided to take a break from driving a cab for a living and try to play poker professionally. Reslock decided to take a chance. He made an investment in himself. Reslock vowed he could always go back and drive the taxi -- if he went broke. So far, so good. Now, after winning major events here in Atlantic City in recent years and coming to this final table with a decent stack size, it appears Reslock won't have to worry about hustling for fares. In fact, if anyone is interested in a 1992 Chevrolet Caprice with a dead battery and 230,000 miles on it, please contact Mr. Reslock immediately.


Seat 3: Daniel Shak
Hometown: Bryn Mawr, PA
Chip Count: 65,200
Daniel Shak is a 46-year-old hedge-fund manager from Bryn Mawr, PA. He is married and has five children. Shak previously appeared at the final table of an Omaha High-Low event at the 2005 WSOP, where he finished ninth. In addition to his final tale appearance at the Rio earlier this year, Daniel Shak also finished 183rd in the WSOP main event. Considering the field size was an all-time record of 5,619 players, that’s quite an accomplishment. But the real question is – who is the best poker player in the Shak family? Shak’s wife finished in 8th place in the 2005 Ladies World Poker Championship. He better finish higher than eighth-place today, or he’ll never hear the end of it.


Seat 4: John Juanda
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
Chip Count: 213,200
Today’s chip leader is a 34-year-old professional poker player from Las Vegas, NV. John Juanda was born in Indonesia. Today, he is one of tournament poker’s most respected players, having won dozens of major tournaments and millions of dollars in prize money over the last ten years. Juanda has also won three WSOP gold bracelets. Much to his credit, Juanda is just as conscientious away from the table as when playing. He was once asked in an interview if he could change anything about the world, what would it be? His answer was: “To disallow use of weapons in war -- when two countries go to war, have the leaders (or representatives) of each country fight in a ring.” Better yet, how about play a game of hold’em? If that’s the case, let’s hope Juanda is playing on the American side.


Seat 5: Chad Moore
Hometown: Frankfort, IN
Chip Count: 148,900
Chad Moore is a 38-year-old professional poker player from Frankfort, IN. Prior to turning pro, Moore sat on the other side of the table as a poker dealer. Moore has enjoyed great success in tournaments in recent years. He has finished high at final tables here in Atlantic City, Tunica, MS, and elsewhere. When asked in a pre-final table interview -- “what do you want the world to know about you?” – Moore politely responded, “I’m single.” If he wins today’s $335,000 in prize money, he might be able to get a date, or two.


Seat 6: Nick Schulman
Hometown: New York, NY
Chip Count: 152,100
Nick Schulman is poker’s newest millionaire. He won the main event at the Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut only three weeks ago. At age 21, Schulman is one of the youngest players ever to win a major poker tournament. Now, he is going for his first WSOP Circuit championship. Remarkably, Schulman is just as talented with a pool stick in his hands. Prior to turning to poker full-time, he made his living playing billiards. Schulman’s poker career is off to a brilliant start. Today, we will see if he can rack up a win on green felt of a different kind.


Seat 7: Mickey Appleman
Hometown: Fort Lee, NJ
Chip Count: 9,000
Mickey Appleman is a living legend in the gambling world. He has won four WSOP gold bracelets. He won the Super Bowl of Poker in 1985. He has played against and beat the very best in the game -- including the late Stu Ungar, Johnny Moss, Doyle Brunson, and other great names known to every poker player. Appleman has gambled for sky-high amounts on the golf course and inside race and sportsbooks. He made his living for over ten years betting on sports. Appleman gravitated to poker quite by accident. He was once a dedicated social worker and was committed to helping those less fortunate, before he discovered his natural talent for poker and gambling for a living. Now, it is Appleman who is the “least fortunate” of all – coming to the final table with the shortest stack. Were Appleman to stage a remarkable comeback and win this event, it would undoubtedly be his finest tournament moment.


Seat 8: Julien Studley
Hometown: New York, NY
Chip Count: 38,800
Julien Studley has been a real survivor. He has managed to take a seat at today’s final table, despite never having many chips in this tournament. Studley was born in Belgium and now lives with his wife in New York City. He has been playing poker for many years. However, his greatest success was building a successful business – appropriately named Studley Incorporated. Mr. Studley is also heavily involved in charity work and various philanthropic foundations. Blessed with good fortune, Mr. Studley very much believes in giving back something to others – except at the poker table.


Seat 9: Eracles (Eric) Panayiotou
Hometown: Toms River, NJ
Chip Count: 33,200
Eric Panayiotou is one of four foreign-born players at today’s final table. He is originally from the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean. He now lives close to the New Jersey shore, in Toms River. Panayiotou, age 48, has a B.S. in accounting and is a business owner. He has made it to many final tables – including appearances at the World Series of Poker and the United States Poker Championship, right here in Atlantic City. Panayiotou was the third-place finisher at the USPC back in 2000. He faces a big challenge at today’s final table as one of three short stacks.


Seat 10: Dan Tolly
Hometown: Lumberton, NJ
Chip Count: 94,400
Dan Tolly is an aviator. He was born on an air base in Okinawa, Japan and graduated from the Air Force Academy. After serving as an officer in the Air Force, Tolly later became an airline pilot. Tolly is just as proud of being a father and a grandfather. Tolly is certainly flying high today, with 94,400 in chips. He hopes to be the “Top Gun” in this tournament, collecting his biggest poker prize ever.


Prize money payouts are as follows:

1st $335,235
2nd 186,240
3rd 102,430
4th 74,495
5th 65,185
6th 55,870
7th 46,560
8th 37,250
9th 27,395

Players will draw for the button. There is 1:19 (:45) remaining in the 1,000-2,000 level with antes of 300.


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


Official Report by Nolan Dalla – World Series of Poker Media Director
Showboat Atlantic City Poker Manager – Vito Casucci
Tournament Director – Johnny Grooms
Assistant Tournament Director – Jack Effel

[Talking Poker]

2005-06 WSOP Circuit
Showboat Atlantic City
Official Report

Day Two
No-Limit Hold’em
Number of Entries: 96
Total Prize Money: $931,200

Official Results:

1. Chris Reslock Atlantic City, NJ $335,235
2. John Juanda Las Vegas, NV 186,240
3. Chad Moore Frankfort, IN 102,430
4. Nick Schulman New York, NY 74,495
5. John Spadavecchia Lighthouse Point, FL 65,185
6. Dan Tolly Lumberton, NJ 55,870
7. Eracles (Eric) Panayiotou Toms River, NJ 46,560
8. Julien Studley New York, NY 37,250
9. Daniel Shak Bryn Mawr, PA 27, 395
10. Mickey Appleman Fort Lee, NJ 0

(continued)

[Talking Poker]

Driven to Win:

Atlantic City Poker Pro Chris Reslock
Defeats John Juanda in Grueling 7-Hour Heads-Up Marathon

Back in 1998, Chris Reslock was in his mid-40s and was working what many would consider to be a dead-end job. Reslock was driving a taxi in Atlantic City. Reslock wanted more. He started playing poker part-time to make extra money. Then one day, Reslock decided to take a chance. He made an investment in himself.

Reslock parked his taxi inside a casino parking garage and started playing poker professionally. He vowed that he could always go back to the garage, hop in the cab, return to the streets, and start making a living by driving again if he went broke. Now seven years later, after winning $335,235 in the World Series of Poker Circuit Showboat Atlantic City championship event, it appears Reslock won't have to worry about hustling for fares.

From the very start of this tournament, it seemed Reslock was destined to win. He was the chip leader at the conclusion of both Day One and Day Two. However, after Day Three when he arrived at the final table in fourth place, he must have feared that his momentum was slipping away. Reslock faced a formidable challenge, facing nine very tough opponents. Of these players, three were former WSOP gold bracelet winners – Mickey Appleman (with 4 wins), John Juanda (with 3 wins), and John Spadavecchia (with 1 win).

The final table included two very distinct phases. The first phase went by in a flash, at least when compared with most major poker tournaments. Eight players were eliminated in a lightning-fast pace -- just under three hours. But if anyone in the audience was thinking of making early dinner reservations, such arrangements would be rudely postponed. It might have been wiser to make breakfast reservations for the following morning.

It was an 11-hour final table that, despite an interesting mix of personalities and obvious talent, did not produce many exciting moments. Oddly enough, there were few, if any bad beats, miracle draw-outs, or emotional outbursts. It was, for all intents and purposes, perhaps the only final on record where the smaller stack (when ‘all in”) failed to double up each and every time. When 1983 WSOP champion described no-limit hold’em as “hours and hours of pure boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror,” he must have been thinking about a final table like this.

10th Place – Tenth-place was a mixed blessing. On one hand, the player made it to the final table and appeared on ESPN, albeit briefly. The downside was – he received absolutely no prize money. Mickey Appleman took the proverbial bittersweet pill. He moved all-in with his last 9,000 holding A-9 suited. John Spadavecchia, holding A-J, busted Appleman when a Jack fell. Mickey Appleman, a living legend in the gambling world, took poker’s worst beat as the tournament’s bubble finisher. Outlasting nine-tenths of the field and surviving four days was never less satisfying.

9th Place – Daniel Shak, a hedge-fund manager from Pennsylvania who enjoyed a successful run at this year’s WSOP, went out next. He was dealt A-Q and flopped and Ace. Trouble was, John Juanda held K-K and managed to flop a King, good for trips. The three cowboys held up and Shak went from 60,000 in chips to the payout window. Shak collected $27,395 for ninth place. With Shak’s elimination, Juanda extended his chip lead to 280,000, nearly 2 to 1 versus the rest of the field.

8th Place – Julien Studley was the ultimate survivor in this tournament. He never had many chips, but managed to hang on long enough to make it to the final table. Studley’s luck finally ran out when he was dealt pocket 8s and called a raise by Chris Reslock, with A-4 suited. Short stacked, Stuley was committed to the pot, even though an Ace flopped and was all-in. Studley failed to improve and Reslock dragged away the last of Studley’s chips. Julien Studley, a successful New York businessman and philanthropist, collected $37,250 for eighth place. That pot gave Reslock 210,000, which was second in chips.

7th Place – Then, Reslock’s pulled off an encore. Eric Panayiotou was short on chips and moved all-in with 8-8. Reslock was dealt A-5 this time, called the raise and – almost as if he knew it was coming – flopped an Ace. The pocket eights, often called ‘snowmen,’ melted. Reslock had eliminated two players back to back with a similar hand. Panayiotou ended up as the seventh-place finisher, grossing $46,560 in prize money.

6th Place – Next, Dan Tolley took the fall. He was dealt Q-10 and found himself all-in versus John Juanda’s Q-J. Both players flopped a pair, but Juanda had the better kicker and Tolley was doomed. Dan Tolly, an airline pilot, crash landed in sixth place. $55,870 helped to cushion the blow somewhat.

5th Place – John Spadavecchia went out next. He was all-in with A-7, which was dominated by Chris Reslock’s A-K. Spadavecchia was drawing slim. When a King fell on the river, Spadavecchia’s tournament life ended. Spadavecchia, who appeared at the final table of the 1994 World Series of Poker, ended up in fifth place. He received $65,185.

4th Place – With Reslock and Juanda dueling for the chip lead, Nick Schulman got clever at the wrong time. He tried to make a move trying to steal with 4-5 and was caught bluffing. Reslock had A-8 and called Schulman’s last 98,000 on the turn. The board showed A-8-3-10. That gave Reslock two pair. Schulman hoped to steal the pot with the bluff, but did still have four outs drawing to an inside straight. A brick ended the night for Schulman, which meant poker’s newest millionaire was the fourth-place finisher. Schulman won the main event at Foxwoods in Connecticut only three weeks ago. He added $74,495 to his poker bankroll.

3rd Place – The next big hand took place just moments later. Chris Moore, who stayed under the radar all day, was all in with pocket Sevens against Reslock’s J-J. The flop came 8-9-10. That meant neither player wanted to make trips on the turn, since the opponent would make a straight. Two blanks ended it for Moore and he collected $109.430 for third place. Moore later explained he failed to catch a hand of any significance at the final table. Considering that fact, his finish had to be satisfying.

Fittingly, the two players who unquestionably dominated the event from start to finish ended up playing against each other for the WSOP Showboat championship. When heads-up play began, Juanda had 509,100 to Reslock’s 450,900.

The two finalists battled for an hour before the first big hand. Reslock picked up 100,000 from Juanda’s stack and seized the chip lead. That lasted exactly one hand. Disaster struck Reslock when he was dealt 9-7 and flopped two pair. Reslock slowed-played the hand and let Juanda catch trips on the river (sixes) good enough to take down a 350,000 pot. Murmurs in the crowd suggested the end might be near. Such premonitions were off by about six hours.

During the next forty hands or so, Reslock picked up several small pots to draw back close to even. The see-saw battle continued and three hours after the duel started both players were even in chips.

Two more hours went by and Friday turned into Saturday. At precisely 12:15 am the hand of the tournament came like a comet out of the night sky. Juanda was dealt pocket Jacks. Reslock was dealt pocket Aces. Before the flop, Juanda moved all-in with a re-raise, and Reslock called. When the flop brought a Jack, Juanda’s supports screamed with joy. But they were so focused on the Jack that they missed that an Ace has also flopped. Remarkably, both players flopped a set. Juanda was drawing to the case Jack, missed, and in one hand was down by nearly a 4 to 1 to his pesky rival. After the buzz died down, the chip counts stood as follows: Reslock with 754,500 and Juanda with 205,500.

Once again, whispers that the final table was about to end would fade. Juanda silenced that prospect when he won a few pots and drew back close to 300,000. Demonstrating the fortitude that has made Juanda one of poker’s most respected superstars, it appeared he might stage a comeback and the final table would drag into the morning hours.

The final hand caught everyone by surprise. Juanda was dealt A-K. Reslock was dealt K-7 (suited diamonds). Juanda raised and Reslock called. The flop came 7-6-3, with two diamonds. Juanda moved all-in with the two overcards, and Reslock, with top pair and a flush draw made the call instantly. The crowd, which has been in a trance-like state jumped to their feet just in time to see two blanks fall and Reslock win the final hand of the late night hour.

2nd Place – John Juanda, the winner of three WSOP gold bracelets, was disappointed by the defeat. “Maybe because I was so tired, I made a mental mistake,” Juanda said of the final fateful hand. “I could not put (Reslock) on a hand. He played solid all night long.”

“When you play heads-up and you are an experienced player, you wait for the opponent to break down or make a mistake. But, he didn’t.”

Afterward, Reslock was highly complimentary of Juanda’s play. “He’s as good a player as I have ever played against,” Reslock stated.

John Juanda, the second-place finisher, collected $186,240 in prize money.

1st Place – Chris Reslock is 52-years-old and married with three children. He is well-known in most of Atlantic City’s cardrooms, having crafted out career playing limits from as low at $5-10 years ago, to $100-200 today.

“I think there is a real hometown advantage when you play poker,” Reslock said. “This win is good for Atlantic City. It shows we can play against and beat the best.”

Don’t expect to see Chris Reslock behind the wheel of his rusting taxicab, anytime soon. In fact, if anyone is interested in a 1992 Chevrolet Caprice with a dead battery and 230,000 miles on it, please contact Mr. Reslock immediately.

[Talking Poker]

I can't believe there were only 96 entries in this! That's CRAZY.... Where was everyone? I thought poker was supposed to be popular???

[BDMK]

because by and large the poker sites are not running a lot of sats for these events yet...

if/when that happens, it will take off. for now, the WPT has a kind of a monopoly in that way.

[bdawg31]

I have to say, he used that AK-shove move to his advantage somewhat. He basically ANNOUNCED he did that - and like you said he did do that every single time. He would show it when people folded. But, at one point - he shoved all in after a kid raised preflop. The kid went in the tank and he said "You are going to need a pair for this to be a coin flip". So, the kid thought and thought and finally showed something like AJish and folded. The guy showed A9s - or some kind of dominated hand. That gave him chips and then he really started the banter (he was pretty decent at table banter). That was the play that got him to the final table though. (this happened when we were down to two tables).