26th Annual
World Series of Poker

$2,500 Buy-in
Entries: 186
Total Prize Money: $465,000

1994 Winner: Mike Laing - $212,000

1995 Champion: MEN NGUYEN

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

1. Men "The Master" Nguyen			$186,000
Bell Gardens, California
2. Carl McKelvey				  93,000
Victoria, Texas
3. Walter Threadgill				  46,500
Gainesville, Texas
4. Daniel Barnett				  30,225
Corona Del Mar, California
5. Wing Wong					  23,250
Scottsdale, Arizona
6. Lee Salem					  16,275
San Diego, California
7. Erik Seidel					  11,625
New York, New York
8. Russ Bouffiou				   9,300
McFarland, Wisconsin
9. Tom McCormick				   6,975
Fargo, North Dakota
10. Norm Michaud				   5,580
Bakersfield, California
11. Pat Fleming					   5,580
Las Vegas, Nevada
12. Julio Anicete				   5,580
Gardena, California
13. Scotty Nguyen				   4,650
Las Vegas, Nevada
14. Michael Moore				   4,650
San Rafael, California
15. Herb Chessler *				   4,185
Las Vegas, Nevada
16. Lew Spitzer *				   4,185
Spokane, Washington
17. David Chew					   3,720
Ceritos, California
18. Huck Seed					   3,720
Las Vegas, Nevada
* Tie

. Nguyen also was awarded a World Series bracelet, plus $96,000, for his victory in the $2,500 buy-in limit Seven-Card Stud, High-Low Split Eight-or-Better event held May 4. To date, he is the only player who has won two competitions in this year's tournament.

. "I'm so happy to collect my third World Series title," Nguyen said. "Now my goal is to catch up with Phil Hellmuth and Ted Forrest and win three tournaments in one year. I'm hoping to win the championship event."

. One of the top tournament players in the world, Nguyen has to his credit not only three World Series titles, but also titles from the Hall of Fame Poker Classic, the Queens Poker Classic, the L.A. Poker Classic, and the Diamond Jim Brady Poker Tournament. Formerly the owner of a laundry and a furniture store in Los Angeles, Nguyen sold both businesses in 1988 to pursue poker as a full-time profession. He was introduced to Five-Card Stud many years ago in his native Vietnam and has played a variety of poker games ever since.

. Nguyen came to the final table as the chip leader and promptly proceeded to mow down the opposition. By the time heads-up play began, he had more than a 4-to-1 advantage over runner-up Carl McKelvey, and the end was nigh. The decisive hand came down when McKelvey raised before the flop with A-K, Nguyen reraised with K-10, and McKelvey called all in. The flop came K-6-4, giving McKelvey the lead with his ace kicker, and a nine on the turn improved his chances. But Lady Luck was with "The Master," bringing Nguyen a ten on the river to claim the $50,000 pot and his third WSP title.

. For his second-place finish in the limit Hold'em event, McKelvey received $93,000. A 52-year-old professional player from Victoria, Texas, he holds titles from the Hall of Fame, the Diamond Jim Brady, and the Stairway to the Stars poker tournaments.

. Finishing in third place for $46,500 was Walter Threadgill, a 66-year-old recreational poker player from Gainesville, Texas. Retired from the oil business, Threadgill has cashed in several previous World Series tournaments and holds a title from the Queens Poker Classic. He has been a poker player for 50 years.

. Threadgill was eliminated from the Hold'em competition when he called all in before the flop with A-Q against Nguyen, who had raised with pocket deuces. The final board showed 8-8-4-10-5, and Nguyen took down the pot with eights up.

The Final Hand

Next Event. Previous Event.