1995 Hall of Fame Poker Classic

$1,500 Buy-in
Entries: 195
Total Prize Money: $292,500

1994 Winner: Todd Brunson - $105,600

1995 Champion: PHIL HELLMUTH

• The Winners.
• The Showdown.
• The Final Table.
• The Final Hand.

1. Phil Hellmuth                           $117,000
Menlo Park, California
2. Peter Brehm                               58,500
Houston, Texas
3. Eli Balas                                 29,250
Las Vegas, Nevada
4. Joel Chaseman                             19,013
Potomac, Maryland
5. Jim Bechtel                               14,625
Gilbert, Arizona
6. Catherine Brown                           10,238
San Antonio, Texas
7. Mike Hart                                  7,312
Las Vegas, Nevada
8. George Singh                               5,850
Durango, Colorado
9. Bruce Van Horn                             4,387
Ada, Oklahoma
10. Dorothy Purgason                          3,510
Big Spring, Texas
11. Lonnie Heimowitz                          3,510
Monticello, New York
12. Mike Laing                                3,510
Franklin, Pennsylvania
13. Dennis Choquette                          2,925
Englewood, Colorado
14. Paul Vinci                                2,925
Whittier, California
15. Larry Gillerman                           2,925
Las Vegas, Nevada
16. Linda Christopher                         2,340
San Jose, California
17. Don Williams                              2,340
Las Vegas, Nevada
18. Scotty Warbucks                           2,340
Los Angeles, California

. A 31-year-old professional poker player from Menlo Park, California, Hellmuth now has to his credit two Hall of Fame titles, five World Series of Poker titles -- three of which were won during the 1993 tournament -- and countless titles from other major competitions. He began playing poker 12 years ago and won the world championship at the age of 24.

. Hellmuth came to the final table with more than a 2-to-1 chip lead over each of his remaining opponents, but by the time heads-up play began, it was almost an even match-up between him and runner-up Peter Brehm. For nearly half an hour, the two men traded chips back and forth, then Hellmuth won two huge pots in a row to seize a substantial lead. It was all over soon thereafter when Brehm went all in before the flop with J-9 offsuit and Hellmuth called with K-10. The final board showed Q-8-8-K-9, and Hellmuth claimed the pot and his second Hall of Fame title with a pair of kings.

. Brehm, a 35-year-old recreational player, received $58,500 for his second-place finish. A management consultant from Houston, Texas, Brehm began playing poker just two years ago and has cashed in two of the four tournaments he has entered.

. Winning third place in the limit Hold'em competition and pocketing $29,250 was Eli Balas of Las Vegas. A 40-year-old jeweler, Balas holds titles from the World Series of Poker, the Queens Poker Classic, the L.A. Poker Classic, and the Diamond Jim Brady tournament, and has cashed in numerous other major competitions. He has been playing poker since 1985.

. After forfeiting a big pot for a bet on the river, Balas had only $6,000 in chips left. He put them all in on the next hand with Q-7 and was called by Peter Brehm, who held Q-10. The flop came 10-8-2, and when blanks fell on the turn and river, Brehm took down the money with a pair of tens.

. Dispatched in fourth place for $19,013 was Joel Chaseman of Potomac, Maryland, who bit the dust when he called all in on the flop with J-3 against Phil Hellmuth, who held 9-7. The flop showed K-6-4, giving Chaseman the lead, but Hellmuth caught a nine on the turn to win the pot.

. Jim Bechtel of Gilbert, Arizona, the 1993 World Champion of Poker, finished in fifth place for $14,625. Bechtel was knocked out of the competition when he called all in before the flop with a pair of deuces against Peter Brehm, who held pocket jacks. The final board read A-K-6-7-6, and Brehm claimed the pot with jacks up.

The Final Hand

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