Post by jdaddy on Apr 10, 2008 11:13:36 GMT -4
www.worldseriesofpoker.com
APRIL 10, 2008 - 10:42:40 AM PST
Insurance Firm Owner Robbie Frank Loses Big Lead, Recovers, Wins Event 9
by: Bluff staff (Bluff Media)
Elizabeth, IN--Robbie Frank, who is president of a seniors insurance agency, came to the final table in event nine of the WSOP Circuit tour at Caesars Indiana holding 142,000 of the 350,000 chips in play, later lost the lead, fought his way back, and by the time three were left, he had nearly 80 percent of the chips. Not long after, he had taken the rest from his two final opponents as he registered a decisive win in $500 1/2 no-limit hold'em and 1/2 pot limit Omaha. The victory was worth $14,045.
Frank is 37 and lives in Evansville, Indiana. Married since 2000, he has three children. This is his 16th tournament cash, bringing his total winnings to nearly 150,000. He's had several prior Circuit cashes, three cashes at the WSOP in 2005, and scored a fifth in the 2001 Jack Binion World Poker Open main event in 2001. His biggest payday was $42,868 for winning a $500 no-limit second-chance event at the Gold Strike WPO in 2006.
Frank began playing poker as a kid for nickels and dimes at the kitchen table, learned hold'em in 1995, and began playing tournaments seven years ago. He now plays mainly tournaments because he enjoys the competition. He said he likes to vary his play, and admitted he sometimes plays a bit too recklessly, and tonight got caught a couple of times. He also explained that he had to be especially cautious because his opponents at the final table were generally short chipped and were playing very tight. So when he led out and got raised, he knew he was up against a big hand.
As impressive as Frank's win was, Doug "Rico" Carli's performance was equally noteworthy. Carli, making his third final table in five days, had been going backwards since the dinner break, and arrived with only 7,500 chips. Yet he managed to climb all the way to second place, and only got knocked out after his pocket aces were outdrawn when Frank hit a set of kings. Meanwhile, Carli increased his record-holding number of Circuit cashes to 28.
The final table was set after Jesse Rios was all in with pocket 5s and lost when Frank flopped two small pair. Starting blinds were 600-1,200 with 11:58 left in a hold'em round.
Here were the starting chip counts:
Seat 1. Jason Song 24,000
Seat 2. Robbie Frank 142,000
Seat 3. Eric Dam 17,700
Seat 4. Donnie Godsey 21,200
Seat 5. Steve Mitchell 25,100
Seat 6. Mark Dreshaj 37,000
Seat 7. Thomas McGrath 14,200
Seat 8. Russ Merrll 58,000
Seat 9. Doug Carli 7,500
All players were still around when blinds went to 1,000-2,000 in an Omaha round. At this point, Frank had increased his lead to nearly 160,000. Carli, meanwhile, playing patiently, doubled through once with A-A-Q-9, and then a second time when he had A-K-J-7 and made a straight to beat Jason Song's pocket queens.
On hand 19, Eric "Tony" Dam moved in with A-A-9-7. Frank called with a hand offering all kinds of straight possibilities: 5-6-8-9. He made one on fourth street when the board showed 3-2-2-4 as Dam busted out in ninth place, which paid $867. Dam, 36, is a businessman from Evansville, Indiana. He's played 10 years, this is his seventh Circuit and his poker highlight.
Six hands later, a short-chipped Thomas "Shamrock" McGrath was all in with A-5-4-2 against Donnie Godsey, who had K-Q-9-9 with diamonds and hearts. The board came A-K-J-7-K with three diamonds, and McGrath left in eighth place, which paid $1,300. McGrath, 70, is a contractor from Tryon, North Carolina. He learned poker watching TV tournaments. This is his 20th Circuit, and he's had some 20 prior cashes, the largest being $98,330 for winning a Jack Binion Circuit event in 2006. Other hobbies include fishing and bridge.
On the 33rd deal, the flop came Q-10-3 and Frank, with a set of treys, bet 16,000. Donny Godsey moved in holding A-K-Q-J for a big wraparound. He caught a king on the river, doubled through, and this was the start of a rush that would later get him the chip lead.
Mark "Cookie" Dreshaj to this point had been having a boisterous good time, chattering, joking and commenting about hands continuously Then, right after the game became hold'em with 1,500-3,000 blinds, he looked down at pocket queens and moved in. "You have to call," he prompted a hesitant Godsey. "But don't suck out," Dreshaj added when Godsey called and turned up A-7. The board came A-3-3-K-K and Dreshaj vented his feelings by stomping his foot in theatrical rage, but quickly recovered and graciously wished good luck to everyone at the table as he departed, cashing seventh for $1,734. "Cookie," 47, is a cook from Gross Pointe Park, Michigan. This is Dreshaj's first Circuit, and his other hobby, not surprisingly, is cooking.
Next out was Jason Song on a bad beat. He was all in with A-Q against Godsky's A-5. The board came 8-7-3-6-9, Godsky had a straight, Song cashed sixth for $2,168, and Godsey was now the chip leader. Song, 35, is a business owner originally from Korea, now living in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. This is his first Circuit. His other pastime is golf.
A few hands later, Carli continued his remarkable recovery as he doubled through again. He had A-Q, moved in on a flop of A-J-10, and won after Godsey called with A-7. He had now increased his starting chips tenfold.
By the time the round ended, Godsey had about 120,000 chips while Frank was down to 80,000. We were back to Omaha, with 2,000-4,000 blinds. With only 9,000 left, Steve "Dr. X-Ray" Mitchell went all in from the button with K-10-6-5. Carli called from the big blind with 4-4-3-5, flopped a set and then filled as Mitchell took out $2,601 for fifth. Mitchell, 37, is a legal consultant from Louisville who learned poker from his grandmother. He's played six Circuits, and his prior poker highlight was a 23rd finish at the World Poker Tour in Biloxi.
On the 65th hand, Frank regained the lead. The flop was Jc-8c-3d-6d. Godsey bet 88,000 on a flush draw, Frank moved in with jacks and treys and filled when a trey rivered.
It had taken 53 hands to lose five players, and would take almost as many as that to lose a sixth. The table finally got down to three in a hold'em round with 3,000-6,000 blinds. On the button, Godsey moved in for 63,000 with pocket 5s. Frank called with A-9 and hit a straight when the board came 8-6-3-7-10. Godsey, finishing fourth, was paid $3,468.
Godsey is a 43-year-old restaurant owner from Kingsport, Tennessee who learned poker three years ago in home games. This is his fourth Circuit, and his poker highlight was a fourth in a $1,000 event at the WPO in Tunica this year that paid $17,500. He has three "wonderful" daughters.
Frank now had about 275,000 chips, his two opponents, Carli and Russ Merrill, the other 75,000. They began nibbling away as first Merrill tripled up and then Carli doubled up, but could never get back into contention.
On hand 126, Merrill limped with pocket aces against Frank's K-10. A flop of K-10-2 gave Frank top two. Merrill bet 15,000, Frank moved in, easily winning when a river 10 gave him a filly. "I played completely wrong," Merrill berated himself as he finished third, worth $4,335. Merrill, 48, is a restaurant owner from Amherst, Virginia. He's played poker 32 years, hold'em five, has played in more than 20 Circuits, and his highlight is a third in the U.S. Poker Classic last year.
The game returned to Omaha, blinds 4,000-8,000. Carli doubled through once, and might have had a chance had he won the last hand. He opened for 24,000 with A-A-J-7, and Frank put him in with K-K-10-6. The board came K-J-4-8-Q, and Frank's set of kings ended the evening.
Carli's cash for second was $7,369. He's is a 52-year-old retired stockbroker turned pro from Alliance, Ohio with close to 70 tournament cashes totaling about $875,000 to date.
--Max Shapiro
For more information, please contact:
Max Shapiro -- WSOP Media Director at (323) 356-3303
Or visit our official website: www.worldseriesofpoker.com
World Series of Poker Commissioner – Jeffrey Pollack
Director of Poker Operations for Harrah’s Entertainment – Jack Effel
Caesars Indiana Poker Room Manager – Jimmy Allen
Tournament Directors -- Sue Stetar and Chris Reason
APRIL 10, 2008 - 10:42:40 AM PST
Insurance Firm Owner Robbie Frank Loses Big Lead, Recovers, Wins Event 9
by: Bluff staff (Bluff Media)
Elizabeth, IN--Robbie Frank, who is president of a seniors insurance agency, came to the final table in event nine of the WSOP Circuit tour at Caesars Indiana holding 142,000 of the 350,000 chips in play, later lost the lead, fought his way back, and by the time three were left, he had nearly 80 percent of the chips. Not long after, he had taken the rest from his two final opponents as he registered a decisive win in $500 1/2 no-limit hold'em and 1/2 pot limit Omaha. The victory was worth $14,045.
Frank is 37 and lives in Evansville, Indiana. Married since 2000, he has three children. This is his 16th tournament cash, bringing his total winnings to nearly 150,000. He's had several prior Circuit cashes, three cashes at the WSOP in 2005, and scored a fifth in the 2001 Jack Binion World Poker Open main event in 2001. His biggest payday was $42,868 for winning a $500 no-limit second-chance event at the Gold Strike WPO in 2006.
Frank began playing poker as a kid for nickels and dimes at the kitchen table, learned hold'em in 1995, and began playing tournaments seven years ago. He now plays mainly tournaments because he enjoys the competition. He said he likes to vary his play, and admitted he sometimes plays a bit too recklessly, and tonight got caught a couple of times. He also explained that he had to be especially cautious because his opponents at the final table were generally short chipped and were playing very tight. So when he led out and got raised, he knew he was up against a big hand.
As impressive as Frank's win was, Doug "Rico" Carli's performance was equally noteworthy. Carli, making his third final table in five days, had been going backwards since the dinner break, and arrived with only 7,500 chips. Yet he managed to climb all the way to second place, and only got knocked out after his pocket aces were outdrawn when Frank hit a set of kings. Meanwhile, Carli increased his record-holding number of Circuit cashes to 28.
The final table was set after Jesse Rios was all in with pocket 5s and lost when Frank flopped two small pair. Starting blinds were 600-1,200 with 11:58 left in a hold'em round.
Here were the starting chip counts:
Seat 1. Jason Song 24,000
Seat 2. Robbie Frank 142,000
Seat 3. Eric Dam 17,700
Seat 4. Donnie Godsey 21,200
Seat 5. Steve Mitchell 25,100
Seat 6. Mark Dreshaj 37,000
Seat 7. Thomas McGrath 14,200
Seat 8. Russ Merrll 58,000
Seat 9. Doug Carli 7,500
All players were still around when blinds went to 1,000-2,000 in an Omaha round. At this point, Frank had increased his lead to nearly 160,000. Carli, meanwhile, playing patiently, doubled through once with A-A-Q-9, and then a second time when he had A-K-J-7 and made a straight to beat Jason Song's pocket queens.
On hand 19, Eric "Tony" Dam moved in with A-A-9-7. Frank called with a hand offering all kinds of straight possibilities: 5-6-8-9. He made one on fourth street when the board showed 3-2-2-4 as Dam busted out in ninth place, which paid $867. Dam, 36, is a businessman from Evansville, Indiana. He's played 10 years, this is his seventh Circuit and his poker highlight.
Six hands later, a short-chipped Thomas "Shamrock" McGrath was all in with A-5-4-2 against Donnie Godsey, who had K-Q-9-9 with diamonds and hearts. The board came A-K-J-7-K with three diamonds, and McGrath left in eighth place, which paid $1,300. McGrath, 70, is a contractor from Tryon, North Carolina. He learned poker watching TV tournaments. This is his 20th Circuit, and he's had some 20 prior cashes, the largest being $98,330 for winning a Jack Binion Circuit event in 2006. Other hobbies include fishing and bridge.
On the 33rd deal, the flop came Q-10-3 and Frank, with a set of treys, bet 16,000. Donny Godsey moved in holding A-K-Q-J for a big wraparound. He caught a king on the river, doubled through, and this was the start of a rush that would later get him the chip lead.
Mark "Cookie" Dreshaj to this point had been having a boisterous good time, chattering, joking and commenting about hands continuously Then, right after the game became hold'em with 1,500-3,000 blinds, he looked down at pocket queens and moved in. "You have to call," he prompted a hesitant Godsey. "But don't suck out," Dreshaj added when Godsey called and turned up A-7. The board came A-3-3-K-K and Dreshaj vented his feelings by stomping his foot in theatrical rage, but quickly recovered and graciously wished good luck to everyone at the table as he departed, cashing seventh for $1,734. "Cookie," 47, is a cook from Gross Pointe Park, Michigan. This is Dreshaj's first Circuit, and his other hobby, not surprisingly, is cooking.
Next out was Jason Song on a bad beat. He was all in with A-Q against Godsky's A-5. The board came 8-7-3-6-9, Godsky had a straight, Song cashed sixth for $2,168, and Godsey was now the chip leader. Song, 35, is a business owner originally from Korea, now living in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. This is his first Circuit. His other pastime is golf.
A few hands later, Carli continued his remarkable recovery as he doubled through again. He had A-Q, moved in on a flop of A-J-10, and won after Godsey called with A-7. He had now increased his starting chips tenfold.
By the time the round ended, Godsey had about 120,000 chips while Frank was down to 80,000. We were back to Omaha, with 2,000-4,000 blinds. With only 9,000 left, Steve "Dr. X-Ray" Mitchell went all in from the button with K-10-6-5. Carli called from the big blind with 4-4-3-5, flopped a set and then filled as Mitchell took out $2,601 for fifth. Mitchell, 37, is a legal consultant from Louisville who learned poker from his grandmother. He's played six Circuits, and his prior poker highlight was a 23rd finish at the World Poker Tour in Biloxi.
On the 65th hand, Frank regained the lead. The flop was Jc-8c-3d-6d. Godsey bet 88,000 on a flush draw, Frank moved in with jacks and treys and filled when a trey rivered.
It had taken 53 hands to lose five players, and would take almost as many as that to lose a sixth. The table finally got down to three in a hold'em round with 3,000-6,000 blinds. On the button, Godsey moved in for 63,000 with pocket 5s. Frank called with A-9 and hit a straight when the board came 8-6-3-7-10. Godsey, finishing fourth, was paid $3,468.
Godsey is a 43-year-old restaurant owner from Kingsport, Tennessee who learned poker three years ago in home games. This is his fourth Circuit, and his poker highlight was a fourth in a $1,000 event at the WPO in Tunica this year that paid $17,500. He has three "wonderful" daughters.
Frank now had about 275,000 chips, his two opponents, Carli and Russ Merrill, the other 75,000. They began nibbling away as first Merrill tripled up and then Carli doubled up, but could never get back into contention.
On hand 126, Merrill limped with pocket aces against Frank's K-10. A flop of K-10-2 gave Frank top two. Merrill bet 15,000, Frank moved in, easily winning when a river 10 gave him a filly. "I played completely wrong," Merrill berated himself as he finished third, worth $4,335. Merrill, 48, is a restaurant owner from Amherst, Virginia. He's played poker 32 years, hold'em five, has played in more than 20 Circuits, and his highlight is a third in the U.S. Poker Classic last year.
The game returned to Omaha, blinds 4,000-8,000. Carli doubled through once, and might have had a chance had he won the last hand. He opened for 24,000 with A-A-J-7, and Frank put him in with K-K-10-6. The board came K-J-4-8-Q, and Frank's set of kings ended the evening.
Carli's cash for second was $7,369. He's is a 52-year-old retired stockbroker turned pro from Alliance, Ohio with close to 70 tournament cashes totaling about $875,000 to date.
--Max Shapiro
For more information, please contact:
Max Shapiro -- WSOP Media Director at (323) 356-3303
Or visit our official website: www.worldseriesofpoker.com
World Series of Poker Commissioner – Jeffrey Pollack
Director of Poker Operations for Harrah’s Entertainment – Jack Effel
Caesars Indiana Poker Room Manager – Jimmy Allen
Tournament Directors -- Sue Stetar and Chris Reason