EVENT #195/10 to 5/11/97
WORLD SERIES OF POKER
TEXAS HOLD'EM (Limit) $5,000
TOTAL PRIZE MONEY - $560,000 PRIZE MONEY TO DATE - $9,044,000
ENTRIES IN THIS EVENT - 112 TOTAL ENTRIES TO DATE - 3,646
Daily Report Final Table
1stRobert VeltriAnaheim Hills, CA $224,000
2ndDr. Ed StevensLas Vegas, NV$112,000
3rdErik SeidelHenderson, NV$56,000
4thJohn SpadavecchiaN. Miami Beach, FL$36,400
5thLuis SantoniPembroke Pines, FL$28,000
6thNoli FranciscoW. New York, NJ $19,600
7thBrad DaughertyLas Vegas, NV$14,000
8thJeff PierceLas Vegas, NV$11,200
9thAndre BoyerLas Vegas, NV $8,400
10thDorothy PurgasonSan Angelo, TX$6,720
11thSteve PestalCosta Mesa, CA$6,720
12thTrai DangLos Angeles, CA$6,720
13thHieu MaS. El Monte, CA$5,600
14thDon BartonPahrump, NV $5,600
15thJoanne BortnerPalo Alto, CA$5,600
16thMel WeinerLos Angeles, CA$4,480
17thDavid UlliottHull, England$4,480
18thDan HeimillerLas Vegas, NV$4,480

The Poker Hall of Fame Induction will take place just prior to the start of the Championship Event.
Milton Berle will be on hand to start the main event with the traditional announcement "Shuffle up and deal."
Daily Report
Las Vegas, May 11, 1997. About half the sky over Las Vegas was blue and sunny today, while the rest was cloudy. There was a light breeze most of the day and the temperature sign on top of the Horseshoe read 95 degrees at 3:00 PM. My car thermometer read 85 degrees when I was driving home around 2:00 AM.
Don Larrimore, the ace reporter for Binion's Daily Tournament write ups advises me that twelve of the first eighteen tournament winners were foreign born.

"www.wsop.com"

After fooling around with downloading and installing plug ins and getting error messages and trying again etc., I finally found out from one of the technicians that you must be using Windows 95 to see the video feeds. My old Windows 3.1 won't cut the mustard. Bummer.
Smoking Survey: Didn't notice any smokers at todays Final Table.

Volunteer Report

I have been unsuccessful in finding a $10,000 Final Event Entrant who is willing to have me record all of their hands in the Championship Event.

I even asked Doyle Brunson to be my Volunteer, but he declined.

WSOP Final Table Deals

I have received several requests to comment on the Deal making process at the WSOP. I am not privy to any inside information, but I have gotten a pretty good general idea of how they work.

Formal, official Deals at the WSOP are done in private, under the supervision and guidance of Jack McClelland, WSOP Tournament Co-ordinator. Deals represent a reallocation or split of the announced remaining prize pool, that is agreeable to all remaining players. I had thought that all remaining players had to participate in any Deal, but today I learned that all remaining players do not have to participate in an official Deal, as long as all remaining players give their consent.

All pay outs by Binion's, and the tax reporting will reflect the Deal allocation, but press releases and official WSOP earnings reflect the scheduled, announced pay outs.

Jack McClelland tries to immediately squelch any "Deal talking" in the Final Table area, but will stop the playing clock and allow a "Deal break" at any time.

A normal Deal will probably allocate the bulk of the remaining prize pool equally (or unequally, relative to chip count, perceived ability, bargaining skills etc.) between the remaining participants, with a small portion (perhaps 10 % or so) and the Title going to the eventual winner. Some deals may earmark some of the unallocated portion to the eventual second or third place finisher, in addition to the allocation for the first place money.

This year, I don't believe that an official Deal was ever discussed with more than four remaining players, and on at least one occasion, a Deal was probably done with multiple players, and then another was done when fewer players remained.

Binion's attempts to prevent private Deals, which are unenforcable by the participants, and may result in tax complications. I believe that Binion's would prefer a Deal free environment all together, but recognizes that a top heavy pay out structure is conducive to Deals, and has arrived at the current procedure as the best solution.

1997 WSOP Final Table Statistics

#Event# of HandsTotal TimeOver at
1.$ 2,000 Limit Holdem1082:366:46 PM
2.1,500 Limit Razz2024:028:07 PM
3.1,500 Limit Omaha1293:597:07 PM
4.1,500 Limit 7 Stud?3:588:09 PM
5.1,500 Pot Limit Omaha1093:417:49 PM
6.1,500 Limit 7 Stud Hi-Lo1723:087:15 PM
7.2,000 No Limit Holdem873:227:25 PM
8.2,000 Limit Omaha Hi-Lo1143:287:36 PM
9.2,000 Pot Limit Holdem1313:117:21 PM
10.2,500 Limit 7 Stud1563:127:28 PM
11.2,500 Pot Limit Omaha1133:457:51 PM
12.2,500 Limit 7 Stud Hi-Lo1534:128:18 PM
13.3,000 Limit Holdem1644:268:29 PM
14.3,000 Limit Omaha Hi-Lo1694:268:30 PM
15.3,000 Pot Limit Holdem972:236:31 PM
16.5,000 No Limit Deuce/Seven?2:411:11 AM
17.3,000 No Limit Holdem1293:387:44 PM
18.5,000 Limit 7 Stud1663:487:55 PM
19.5,000 Limit Holdem
20.1,000 Ladies 7 Stud
21.10,000 Final Event

PENALTY BOX

No penalties have been assessed during the last 24 hours.

The WSOP Floorpeople are strictly enforcing the rules, with zero tolerance. Although no official list of violators is maintained, Steve Morrow, Head Assistant Tournament Co-ordinator, advises me that all of the following have received a 20 minute penalty during the 1997 WSOP. Most of the penalties were for using abusive language or throwing cards.
Huck SeedJohnny ChanUnknownBlair Rodman
Phil HelmuthJohn BonettiUnknownPaul Ladanyi
J. J. VolpeNhut TranJeff Chapman
Tom SullivanUnknownUnknown

Binion's still had some of their 1997 WSOP commemorative coins ($20 + tax) available today.

SINGLE TABLE SATELLITES

(Becky Kerber and Barbara Lotief)

As of 8:00 PM tonight, more than twenty $10,000 No-Limit single table satellites had been held today. Ten players buy-in for $1,010 each and receive $4,000 in chips. Blinds start at $50 and $100.

SUPER SATELLITES

(Patty Hughes and Rudy Lotief)

Tonight's No-Limit Super Satellite which started at 8:30 PM was the last one. There were a total of 21 ten handed tables competing for eleven $10,000 Final Event seats and cash. Buy-ins were $220 for $200 in chips, and re-buys could be made for $200 during the first hour of play. Blinds started at $5/10 and increased every 20 minutes.

$10,000 CHAMPIONSHIP ENTRANTS

Updated through Sunday Evening 11 May 1997

1.Nevada Stupak2.Chris "Jesus" Ferguson
3.Chuck Thompson4.Ken Flaton
5.Ken Buntjner6.Mo Fathpour
7.Amadeo Parado8.Laurence Clenau
9.Jay Reisler10.Joseph Winston
11.Keith Taylor12.Andre Boyer
13.Kev Nettles14.Tormod Roren
15.Kenneth Davis16.Don Pittman
17.Marko Trapini18.Steve Kim
19.Sam Merchant20.Andrew Black
21.Anthony Guerriero22.George Gerus, Sr.
23.MacDonald Kempf24.Ron "Carolina Express" Stanley
25."Midnight" Pete Haugan26.Jack Fox
27.John Hendrix28.Dave Crunkleton
29.Jim Brown30.Mike Pilkington
31.Martin Comer32.Samir Khoveis
33.Gary Benson34.David Roepke
35.Don Holt36.J. C. Pearson
37.Tommi Han38.Phuc Bao
39.James Harman40.Ken Jacobs
41.Pete Dixon42.Bruce Van Horn
43.Bill Fain44.Myron Rosenbaum
45.Robert Henry Kojfer46.David Rubin
47.Jim Mascher48.Al McCoy
49.Mallie Hoyer50.Angus Hill
51.Herb Potter52.Allen Barker
53.Dr. Max Stern54.Robert Dale Ellis
55.Peter Lameureaux56.Milt Myers
57.Ken Sahek58.Cal Dykes
59.Alex Horowitz60.Thomas Sparks
61.Monte Kouz62.Phil Helmuth
63.Jack Keller64.Patrick Bruel
65.Louis Asmo66.Dan Fairly
67.Jerre Juhl68.John Strzemp
69.Tibor Tolni70.Gustavo Weiss
71.Melissa Hayden72.Paul Ladanyi
73.John Spadavecchia74.Ivin Mladen
75.Tom McEvoy76.Peter Brehm
77.Minh Ly78.Bill Gazes
79.Praviz Roudi80.Humberto Brenes
81.Pascal Perrault82.Joel Chaseman
83.Marsha Waggoner84.Randy Holland
85.Maria Stern86.Tom Jacobs
87.David Ulliot88.Noel Furlong
89.Brad Daugherty90.Phil Brodrick
91.Thomas Chung92.Vic Kramer
93.John Feranjesh94.Billy "Crocodile" Argyros
95.Alan Brodsky96.Jas Perdesi
97.Fred David98.Edward Stevens
99.Charles Wight III100.Michael Davis
101.Marcus Soloweiczyk102.Jim Ward
103.Matt Lefkowitz104.Buddy Bonnecaze
105.Mike Laing106.Robert Eccleston
107.Bruce Korman108.Mickey Appleman
109.Berry Johnston110.Bobby Hof
111.John Galbraith112.John Esposito
113.Thomas Franjesh114.Jason Gray
115.Shulman Berry116.Russ Hamilton
117.D. J. Keas118.Doyle Brunson
119.Bob Veltri120.Gustavo Echeverri
121.Lyle Berman122.T. J. Cloutier
123.Scotty Nguyen124.Adeeb Harb
125.Jay Heimowitz126.Sam Chehab
127.Barbara Laux128.Eli Balas
129.Jamie Ligator130.Dean Potashner
131.Mick Cowley132.
133.Claud Sigmon134.Jose Rosenkrantz
135.A. Fritz136.
137.Ralph Levine
170.Surinder Sunar
238.Johnny Chan
269.Athena Jordan

WSOP NOTES

Thanks to everyone for the many kind messages I have received regarding my WSOP efforts. I will get around to acknowledging all, but it may take a while.

Several have noted that my 1996 WSOP Final Table data was in a "plainer English" format than the evolving code and abbreviations I am using for the 1997 WSOP. This is true, and I am not even very pleased with the 1996 output, and I wish it weren't so, but I don't think I could have managed the volume of data, within the time constraints I have set for myself, using the limited equipment and skills that I had (have) available, if I had not adopted this type of format.

Basically, I am recording every bet and every visible card of every hand at every final table (a couple of goofs, so far) in the 1997 WSOP. I am using a micro tape recorder, and except for the two goofs, I don't believe that I have missed recording a single card or bet on any hand. The problem arises in transcribing the data from tape to Email so that I can get it to Chuck Weinstock at ConJelco. In addition to being tedious and slow, some typo errors do occur when you factor in my hunt and peck typing, the fact that very little proof reading has been done, and a sometimes less than bright eyed and bushy tailed condition by yours truly.

Some have suggested that I just do the key hands and do them in a flowier manner, but this doesn't interest me, because that is counter to my primary objective of producing a complete record of all available actions in the 1997 WSOP.

It is my current intention to massage the data at some future point, which would include making it more readable. However, this good intention may or may not materialize.

The Final Table
Card by Card and Bet by Bet
WSOP Event #19: $5,000 Limit Holdem
112 Entries, $560,000 Total Prize Pool and chips in play

Final Table chip position:
1.[E] Erik Seidel - Henderson, NV$128,0008
2.[S] Dr. Ed Stevens - Las Vegas120,0006
3.[J] John Spadavecchia - N. Miami Beach, FL80,0005
4.[N] Noli Francisco - W. New York, NJ68,0004
5.[B] Brad Daugherty - Las Vegas47,0001
6.[P] Jeff Pierce - Las Vegas46,0009
7.[R] Robert Veltri - Anaheim Hills, CA40.0002
8.[L] Luis Santoni - Pembroke Pines, FL23,0007
9.[A] Andre Boyer - Las Vegas9,0003

Standard Abbreviations:
Bet [b]Big Blind [bb]
Bring in [bi]Call [c]
Check [ck]Fifth Street [5:]
First In [fi]Flop [fl]
Fold [f]Fourth Street [4:]
River [rv]Seventh Street [7:]
Sixth Street [6:]Small Blind [sb]
Show Down [sd]Third Street [3:]
Turn [t]Winner [w]
    Standard Flop Game Notations

    [K] Kevin Song Seat #1
    [Y] Yvan Lanvin Seat #2

    96. sb K - c K - ck Y - fl 9s 5h 7h - ck Y - b K - f Y - w K

    Interpretation: On hand #96 in heads-up play, Kevin Song had the small blind on the button, Kevin called and Yvan checked. The flop was the 9s 5h 7h. Yvan checked, Kevin bet and Yvan folded. Kevin won the hand.

    Standard Stud Notations

    [B] Peter Brownstein Seat #1
    [L] Linda Johnson Seat #2

    170. 3: 4h 9s - bi L 9s - c B 4h - 4: Ad Kc - b B - f L - w B

    Interpretation: On hand #170 in heads-up Razz play, the doorcards on third street in seat order were the 4h for Peter and the 9s for Linda. Linda's 9s made the bring-in bet and Peter called. On 4th street Peter got the Ad and Linda got the Kc. Peter Bet. Linda folded. Peter won the hand.

    Cards were in the air at 4:05 PM with Jack McClelland and Jim Albrecht presiding. 48 minutes remain at the $4,000/8,000 level, with $2,000/4,000 blinds.

  1. sb J - bb S - fi c J - ck S - fl 7s Js Ac - both ck - t 8h - both ck - rv 5h - both ck - J shows Kc 6h - S shows Qd 2h - w J
  2. sb S - bb L - fi r P - all fold - w P
  3. sb L - bb E - fi r B - c A - f L - f E - b1000 B in dark - fl 4c Th 6h - c1000 A all in - B shows Ts Tc - A shows 9d 9h - t As - rv 8s - w B

    *** Andre Boyer finishe 9th at 4:09 PM.

  4. sb E - bb P - all fold to bb - w P
  5. sb P - bb B - fi r L - f P - c B - fl 6d 3h 4d - b B - r L - c B - t 6s - ck B - b1000 L all in - c B - L shows As 4c - B shows Qc Jd - rv Ah - w L
  6. sb B - bb R - fi r P - f B - c R - fl Th 8s 8d - b R - f P - w R
  7. sb R - bb N - fi r P - c R - c N - fl 8c 6s 3s - all ck - t Tc - b R - f N - c P - rv Js - b R - c P - R shows Jd Kd - P shows Ad T h - w R
  8. sb N - bb J - fi r E - r P - f N - f J - c E - fl 7s Ad 6s - ck E - b P - r E - c P all in - P shows 9s 9c - E shows Ah Th - t Qs - rv Ac - w E

    *** Jeff Pierce finishes 8th at 4:17 PM.

  9. sb J - bb S - fi r R - all fold - w R
  10. sb S - bb L - fi r N - f S - c L - fl 6h 6c Qd - ck L - b N - f L shows As - w N
  11. sb L - bb E - fi r S - all fold - w S
  12. sb E - bb B - fi r R - all fold - w R
  13. sb B - bb R - fi r S - all fold - w S
  14. sb R - bb N - fi r E - c R - f N - fl 4h 9s 9d - ck R - b E - c R - t 3h - both ck - rv As - ck R - b E - c R - E shows Ah 8h - R shows Ac Jh - w R
  15. sb N - bb J - fi r E - c R - f N - f J - fl 7s Qs 5h - b E - r R - c E - t 7h - ck E - b R - f E - w R shows Ks Kh
  16. sb J - bb S - fi r J - f S - w J
  17. sb S - bb L - fi r S - f L shows 4 2 - w S
  18. sb L - bb E - fi r B - c L - f E - fl Tc 4d 8d - ck L - b B - r L - c B - t 8s - b6000 L all in - c B - L shows As Qc - B shows Ah Qs - rv 6d - split pot
  19. sb E - bb B - fi r N - c J - f E - f B - fl 5h 3c 6c - ck N - b J - r N - r J - c N - t 4c - ck N - b J - c N - rv Td - ck N - b J - c N - J shows Ac Tc - N mucks - w J
  20. sb B - bb R - fi r E - f B - c R - fl 9h 8h 7s - ck R - b E - r R - c E - t Qc - b R - c E - rv 2s - both ck - R shows Qh 5h - E mucks - w R

    *** Approx chip count: R 150K J 125K S 125K E 80K B 35K N 25K L 25K

  21. sb R - bb N - fi c S - c R - ck N - fl Ad Tc Kd - ck R - ck N - b S - c R - f N - t Th - b R - r S - f R shows Ac - w S
  22. sb N - bb J - fi r R - f N - c J - fl Kd 2h Qc - b J - f R - w J
  23. sb J - bb S - fi r N - all fold - w N
  24. sb S - bb L - fi r S - f L shows 2s 7h - w S shows Qs Kd
  25. sb L - bb E - fi r N - f L - c E - fl 2d 2c 4c - both ck - t Td - b E - f N - w E
  26. sb E - bb B - fi r N - f E - r B - c N - fl 9h Ks 5h - b B - r2000 N all in - c B - B shows As Kh - N shows 3h 3s - t 7c - rv 3d - w N
  27. sb B - bb R - fi r J - all fold - w J
  28. sb R - bb N - fi r R - f N - w R
  29. sb N - bb J - fi r R - all fold - w R
  30. sb J - bb S - fi r B - f J - r S - c B all in - B shows Ad 7h - S shows Jd 8s - board Tc Ah 5h 3c 6d - w B
  31. sb S - bb L - fi c B - f S - ck L - fl 7c 8d 5c - b L - r B - r L - r B - c2000 L - all in - B shows 9s Ts - L shows 7h Tc - t 4h - rv 3h - w L
  32. sb L - bb E - all fold to bb - w E
  33. sb E - bb B - fi r R - r N - f E - f B - c R - fl 9s 6h 2h - ck R - b N - f R - w N

    *** At 4:55 limits increase to $6,000/12,000 with $3,000/6,000 blinds.

  34. sb B - bb R - fi c B all in - ck R - B shows Qs 2s - R shows Kd 7c - board Ks Kh Qd 8h 5s - w R

    *** Brad Daugherty finishes 7th at 4:56 PM.

  35. sb R - bb N - fi r E - c R - c N - fl 6h 2h 2c - ck R - b N - r E - f R - r N - f E - w N
  36. sb N - bb J - fi r R - all fold - w R
  37. sb J - bb S - fi r L - c N - f J - f S - fl 6c Qc 3s - b L - f N - w L
  38. sb S - bb L - fi r R - all fold - L shows 2s 8s - w R
  39. sb L - bb E - fi r R - f L - c E - fl 7h 3c 6s - ck E - b R - f E - w R shows 7c 7s
  40. sb E - bb R - fi r E - f R - w E
  41. sb R - bb N - fi r J - f R - c N - fl 8h Jd Jh - ck N - b J - c N - t 3h - both ck - rv 6c - both ck - J shows Ad Qs - N shows 8d 7c - w N
  42. sb N - bb J - fi c N - ck J - fl 7s 8s Js - ck N - b J - c N - t 9s - both ck - rv 9h - both ck - J shows 7d 5h - N shows Jd 8h - w N
  43. sb J - bb S - fi r L - c J - f S - fl 5c Qc 7s - both ck - t 6d - ck J - b L - c J - rv Ks - b J - f L - w J
  44. sb S - bb L - fi r R - r J - f S - f L -c R - fl Qh Ts Kh - ck R - b J - c R - t 3d - ck R b J - c R - rv Ah - both ck - J shows Ac Ks - R mucks - w J
  45. sb L - bb E - fi r S - f L - c E - fl 9s Ac 5h - ck E - b S - f E - w S
  46. sb E - bb R - fi c N - c E - ck R - fl Ah 9s Ad - b N - r E - f R - c N - t Jd - b E - c N - rv 6c - b E - c N - E shows Ac 4s - N mucks - w E
  47. sb R - bb N - fi c R - ck N - fl Kh Ah 9c - b R - f N - w R
  48. sb N - bb J - fi r R - c N - f J - fl As 9d Qd - ck N - b R - r N - r R - c N - t 4h - ck N - b R - c11000 N all in - N shows Kd 6d - R shows Ac 9h - rv 4c - w R

    *** Noli Francisco finishes 6th at 5:18 PM.

  49. sb J - bb S - fi r L - c R - f J - f S - fl 9s 5d 6h - b L - r R - c3000 L all in - L shows Ah 8d - R shows Kh Kc - t Js - rv 3h - w R

    *** Luis Santoni finishes 5th at 5:19 PM.

  50. sb S - bb E - fi r S - c E - fl 5h Td Js - ck S - b E - c S - t As - b S - f E - w S
  51. sb E - bb R - fi r J - all fold - w J
  52. sb R - bb J - fi r R - f J shows 2d 4s - w R
  53. sb J - bb S - fi r J - f S - w J
  54. sb S - bb E - fi c S - ck E - fl Kc 5d Jd - both ck - t 6c - b S - c E - rv 7d - both ck - S shows Qh 8h - E shows 3c 7c - w E
  55. sb E - bb R - fi c E - ck R - fl Tc 9c Ac - b E - f R - w E
  56. sb R - bb J - fi c R - ck J - fl 3c 5h Qh - b R - c J - t Td - b R - c J - rv Jc - both ck - J shows 5d 2s - R shows 7h 5c - split pot

    *** Bathroom break at 5:29 PM. Cards back in the air at 5:36 PM.

    Approx chip count: E 100K S 120K J 160K R 190K

  57. sb J - bb S - fi r R - all fold - w R
  58. sb S - bb E - fi r R - f S - c E - fl 2c Jd 4h - ck E - b R - f E - w R
  59. sb E - bb R - fi c J - c E - ck R - fl Ah 4d 3h - b E - all fold - w E
  60. sb R - bb J - fi r E - c R - f J - fl 7s Ac 4c - both ck - t 3h - both ck - rv 5s - b R - c E - R shows As 7h - E mucks - w R
  61. sb J - bb S - fi r R - all fold - w R
  62. sb S - bb E - fi r J - c S - c E - fl 4h 9d 3s - ck S - b E - c J - f S - t 5c - b E - c J - rv 6h - b E - f J - w E
  63. sb E - bb R - fi c E - r R - f E - w R
  64. sb R - bb J - fi r E - all fold - w E
  65. sb J - bb S - fi r E - c R - f J - c S - fl 6c 7c Qd - b R - f S - r E - c R - t 9d - b E - c R - rv Td - both ck - R shows Ac 7d - E mucks - w R

    *** Approx chip count: R 300K J 110K S 80K E 80K

  66. sb S - bb E - fi r J - f S - c E - fl 5c Kc 2h - ck E - b J - r E - r J - c E - t 7c - ck E - b J - c E - rv Jc - b E - f J - w E
  67. sb E - bb R - fi c E - r R - c E - fl 4d 2h 3s - ck E - b R - c E - t 7d - ck E - b R - f E - w R
  68. sb R - bb J - fi r E - f R - c J - fl Qh 6s Jc - ck J - b E - c J - t 3s - ck J - b E - f J - w E
  69. sb J - bb S - fi r E - c R - f J - f S - fl 8c Td 5d - b E - c R - t Ts - both ck - rv 2d - b E - c R - E shows Ad 7d - R shows Kd Tc - w E
  70. sb S - bb E - all fold to bb - w E
  71. sb E - bb R - fi r E - c R - fl Qs 3d Kh - b E - c R - t 8d - both ck - rv Jd - b E - r R - c E - R shows Js Jh - E mucks - w R
  72. sb R - bb J - fi r S - r R - f J - r S - r R - c S - fl 9d 8h 7h - ck R - b S - c R - t Ad - ck R - b S - rv 8s - ck R - b S - f R shows Th Td - w S
  73. sb J - bb S - fi r R - all fold - w R

    *** Limits increase at 6:13 PM to $10,000/20,000 with $5,000/10,000 blinds.

    Approx chip count: R 310K J 40K S 100K E 120K

  74. sb S - bb E - fi r S - c E - fl Ad Ks 2h - b S - c E - t 4h - ck S - b E - c S - rv 8c - both ck S shows Kd 6d - E mucks - w S
  75. sb E - bb R - fi r J - r S - f E - f R - r5000 J all in - c S - J shows Kd Ts - S shows Ah Jh - board 7d 8d Jc 2s Ac - w S

    *** John Spadavecchia finishes 4th at 6:15 PM.

  76. sb R - bb S - fi r E - r R - r S - f E - c R - fl 5c Ks 7h - ck R - b S - c R - t 6c - ck R - b S - r R - c S - rv 8c - b R - c S - R shows 6s 6h - S shows Js Jh - w R
  77. sb S - bb E - fi r R - f S - c E - fl 8s 7c 8c - both ck - t As - ck E - b R - r15000 E all in - c R - R shows Ad Jh - E shows 7h 3h - rv 4s - w R

    *** Eric Seidel finishes 3rd at 6:19 PM

    Approx chip count: R 475K S 85K

  78. sb and button S - f S - w R
  79. sb R - f R - w S
  80. sb S - r S - c R - fl Qh 5d 2h - ck R - b S - f R - w S
  81. sb R - r R - f S - w R

    *** Deal break from 6:24 PM until 6:35 PM. Probable Deal.

    Chip count: R 465K S 95K

  82. sb S - r S - f R - w S
  83. sb R - r R - r S - c R - fl Jc 7d 4h - b S - f R - w S
  84. sb S - r S - f R - w S
  85. sb R - r R - f S - w R
  86. sb S - f S - w R
  87. sb R - r R - r S - r R - c S - fl 9s 4s Jd - b S - c R - t 2c - ck S - b R - c S - rv 3s - b S - c R - S shows Ks Ts - R shows Ad Ah - w S
  88. sb S - r S - c R - fl 8h Qc 5c - b R - c S - t 6h - b R - f S - w R
  89. sb R - c R - ck S - fl Kh Ah 2d - both ck - t Js - ck S - b R - f S - w R
  90. sb S - f S - w R
  91. sb R - r R - r S - c R - fl 4h Ts Qh - b S - f R - w S
  92. sb S - f S - w R
  93. sb R - r R - f S - w R
  94. sb S - f S - w R
  95. sb R - f R - w S
  96. sb S - r S - c R - fl 2c Ts Th - ck R - b S - c R - t 3s - both ck - b R - f S - w R
  97. sb R - r R - f S - w R
  98. sb S - c S - r R - c S - fl 6h 6d Th - b R - f S - w R
  99. sb R - f R - w S
  100. sb S - r S - r R - r S - c R - fl 7d 8s 9c - ck R - b S - r R - c S - t 3d - b R - c S - rv 8s - b R - r S - c R - S shows Ac Kc - R shows Ah Qd - w S
  101. sb R - f R - w S
  102. sb S - f S - w R
  103. sb R - r R - c S - fl Th 8s 4c - ck S - b R - c S - t Jd - b S - c R - rv 8d - both ck - S shows Qd 9h - R mucks - w S
  104. sb S - f S - w R
  105. sb R - f R - w S
  106. sb S - r S - c R - fl Kd Ks 9d - ck R - b S - r R - f S - w R
  107. sb R - r R - f S - w R
  108. sb S - r S - c R - fl 8s 3c Qs - ck R - b S - r R - f S - w R
  109. sb R - r R - c S - fl Kh 5c 3d - ck S - b R - r S - c R - t As - b S - r R - f S - w R
  110. sb S - r S - c R - fl 8h Qs 3h - ck R - b S - r R - c S - t Qc - b R - c S - rv Tc - b R - c S - R shows 5h 9h - S shows As Ks - w S
  111. sb R - r R - r S - r R - c S - fl 3s Kh Js - b S - c R - t Ad - b S - f R - w S
  112. sb S - c S - ck R - fl Ac 4h 6c - b R - f S - w R
  113. sb R - c R - ck S - fl Jd Ac 6c - b S - f R - w S
  114. sb S - f S - w R
  115. sb R - r R - c S - fl 7s Tc 5d - ck S - b R - f S - w R

    *** Approx chip count: R 280K S 280K

  116. sb S - f S - w R
  117. sb R - c R - r S - r R - c S - fl Qh Ah 9h - b S - c R - t Qs - b S - c R - rv Ad - ck S - b R - c S - R shows Ac Ts - S mucks - w R
  118. sb S - r S - c R - fl 2h 9d 2s - ck R - b S - c R - t Jc - b S - r R - r S - r R - r S - r R - c S - rv 4d - b R - r S - c R - S shows Ks Kh - R shows Kc 2d - w R

    *** Chip count: R 535K S 25K

  119. sb R - r R - f S - w R
  120. sb S - both go all in - S shows 9c Kh - R shows 4h 6d - board 7c 5c Jd Kh Th - w S
  121. sb R - r R - r S - both go all in - S shows Ac 9s - R shows 6d Jd - board Td Ad 3s 9c 6c - w S

    *** Limits increase at 7:13 PM to $20,000/40,000 with $10,000/20,000 blinds.

  122. sb S - r S - f R - w S
  123. sb R - r R - c S - fl 2d 8s 6s - ck S - b R - f S - w R
  124. sb S - r S - f R shows 2h 3d - w S
  125. sb R - r R - c S - fl 2s 8h 3d - b S all in - c R - S shows Qs 7s - R shows Ks Ts - t Kd - rv 2c - w R

    Dr. Ed Stevens finishes 2nd and Robery Veltri wins the $5,000 Limit Holdem WSOP Championship at 7:17 PM.

Final Table Chip Standings - Seat Positions

Missing Picture
Robert Veltri, a poker veteran who "enjoyed being a long shot," outlasted 111 competitors to capture the title in the $5,000 buy in Limit Hold'em event. For his victory, the 59 year-old former roofing contractor was awarded $224,000 and his first gold WSOP winner's bracelet. It was his third major tournament win and his third time in the money at the World series where his earnings now total $430,350. Veltri finished third in the 1991 Championship Event.

"I feel great," he said. "It takes a lot of luck -- you have to catch the cards at the right time. You've got to get lucky on the flop." He did just that in the key late hand against runner-up Dr. Ed Stevens who held pocket kings. Veltri flopped two deuces to his K-2, winning a $400,000 pot which essentially decided the contest.

"Without a doubt the Doc and I were long shots at the final table," Veltri said. "I always like to be the long shot -- you get action. I never worry about chip leads. You win a hand at those high limits and go on. Anyway, after playing poker for 43 years, I realize that to get to the final table is good enough. Everything after that is a freeroll."

Veltri said, "What's so good about the World Series is that you get the chance to play against big-league players from all around the world."

Veltri said he felt "comfortable" throughout his 56-minute heads-up battle with Stevens, despite four lead changes in one 15-minute period. After starting final-table play with only $40,000 in chips, Veltri faced off against Stevens with a $465,000--$95,000 advantage. He lost most of that when his A-Q lost to the doctor's A-K with a board of 7-8-9/3-A. In the final hand, Stevens was all in with Q-7 of spades against Veltri's K-10 also of spades, which was never headed with a board of 8-3-2/K-2.

Runner-up Stevens, a 58 year-old retired ear, nose and throat specialist, collected $112,000 on his first finish in the money at the World Series. "I had a lot of fun," he said. "I'm a casual player, perhaps a couple of times a week. I was probably the least skilled player at the final table. Stevens' only major tournament victory was the 1983 Amarillo Slim championship.

Coincidentally, as Veltri said to him after the tournament's decisive hand, "deuces came back to haunt" Stevens: on the first day, Veltri after some thought called a bet on the river with a pair of deuces, catching Stevens bluffing with a busted straight draw.

Third place went to tournament standout Erik Seidel, whose $56,000 prize money elevated him one spot to 16th on the WSOP Top Money Winners list with earnings of $1,069,876. This was the third final table this year for Seidel, 37, who has three gold bracelets, a runner-up finish to 1988 World Champion Johnny Chan and 11 final tables in 15 money finishes.

"I didn't have much to work with today," said Seidel who was the initial final-table long stack. "I'm not happy with this finish, but I feel like I played well today." Holding 7h-3h, he was all in against Veltri's A-J which won on the turn: 8-8-7/A-4.

Another tournament veteran, John Spadavecchia, took fourth place and $36,400, his third finish in the money this year. The 1991 Deuce-to-Seven Champion, Spadavecchia, 58, finished third in the memorably protracted three-way struggle at the 1994 World Championship event. He has seven final tables in his ten money finishes and has now won $672,377. He was eliminated with K-l0 which became one pair when Stevens made two pair with his A-J.

Fifth place went to Luis Santoni, who has had an adventurous World Series this year, finishing in the money four times and managing to play one tournament and a final table in another simultaneously if briefly. Santoni, 51, attributed his rush to a combination of luck and cards. Late on the first day of this hold'em event, with $81,000 in chips, he decided to slow his usual aggressive style and play "well and tight." But no cards came, and he reached the final table with only $23,000 which he nursed to his fifth-place finish.

Still another tournament veteran, Noli Francisco, took sixth, his 14th time in the money at the World Series which included three runner-up finishes and eight final tables. He was knocked out in a big pot when he flopped As-Qd-9d to his K-6 of diamonds against Veltri's A-9. When Francisco's flush draw missed, Veltri won with aces.

Brad Daugherty, the 1991 World Champion, finished seventh after surviving one all-in venture. Daugherty remains 12th on the World Series Top Money Winners list with earnings now totalling $1,118,425. He was eliminated holding Q-2 of spades when Veltri, with K-7 offsuit, flopped three kings.

Eighth place went to Jeff Pierce, a tournament regular who has three money finishes this year and has now won $73,607 at the WSOP. All in before the flop with a pair of nines including a spade, Pierce turned a flush draw which didn't materialize against Seidel's A-10 of hearts with a board of A-7-6/Q-A.

Andre Boyer, shortest stack at the outset, didn't like his pocket nines any better: The popular Canadian-born player raised with them before the flop but ran into Daugherty's pocket tens and a killing flop of 10-6-4 . Boyer has now won $118,210 in four money finishes at the WSOP.


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