Poker Info

OK-J Inaugural "The Seniors" World Championship

The Seniors" World Championship of Poker (WCOP) made an arrangement with Binions (WSOP) to hold "Oklahoma Johnny" Hale's "The Seniors" World Championship (WCOP/WSOP). The Inaugural event was held May 7th 2001 at 2:00 P.M. in Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada and the finals were held May the 8th.

Prior to the event, John Bonetti was inducted into "The Seniors Hall of Fame." Photos available

Out-chipped more than 5-1 when he got heads-up with Gary Pollak, Jay Heimowitz fought back to win the inaugural “The Seniors” championship event at the World Series and claim his Sixth gold bracelet. The affable Heimowitz, a retired beer distributor, said he had gotten a “second wind” in the tournament, drawing inspiration from his back-to-back wins at Foxwoods.

Thanks to the tireless promotional efforts of “Oklahoma” Johnny Hale, the no-limit hold’em tournament attracted an impressive 340 entrants, second only to the first hold’em event this year. With such a large turnout, it was 2 a.m. before the field narrowed down to two tables, so action was halted and both tables were brought back the next day.

Preceding the tournament, John Bonetti was inducted into the Seniors Hall of Fame. Bonetti, who didn’t play his first tournament until he was 57, holds three WSOP bracelets and has won over $3,000,000 in tournament prize money. He has played in the championship event 16 times and finished in the money an astounding 12 times, twice finishing third. Among his numerous titles are championship wins from Foxwoods, Four Queens, Bay 101 Shooting Stars and the Irish Eccentric event.

Vince Burgio, who introduced him, described the colorful Bonetti as a tough, hard-nosed competitor who gives no quarter and asks no quarter, but who also shows generosity and compassion for those less fortunate who need “a stake in a satellite or a few bucks to get home on on.”

In his acceptance speech, Bonetti called poker “The greatest game in the world,” and stressed that nobody is ever too old to learn the game or to keep getting better at it.

Special trappings for “The Seniors” event included a “Ring of Honor” table covering with the names of all inductees and flags from nations represented in past events; special logoed Seniors chips; and a permanently-on-display “Golden Eagle” trophy to be inscribed with the names of each year’s winner.

Pat Burke didn’t have much time to admire the setting. On the sixth hand, with $200 antes and $500-$1,000 blinds, he called George Rodis’ raise all in for $2,300 with Q-2. Rodis had pocket fours and they held up. Not much later, Rodis claimed a second victim when Larry Murphy bet his last $4,200 with A-J into a flop of 10-6-3. George called with pocket jacks, and Larry couldn’t improve either.

Blinds rose to $500 and $1,500, with $300 antes. Phyllis Meyers, who came to the final table with the second-lowest chip count, wasn’t afraid to move in twice in a row. She wasn’t called and got some breathing room. A few hands later she picked up another $23,000 when her pocket nines beat the A-9 held by Mike Cox, a “retired poker player.”

With blinds approaching, Scott Mayfield raised with his last $4,300 holding Q-3. Cox called with A-10 and broke him when rags came. After a whole series of uncalled raises, two players finally got involved. After Norm Ketchum made it $6,000 to go with Q-10, Cox, holding pocket nines, raised him all in. Ketchum couldn’t catch ’em when the board came A-4-2-K-6 and six seniors were now left.

Steve Kaufman, a professor with a final table at last year’s WSOP, was left with $6,200 after getting involved with Cox. With a king on board, he bet $18,000 with K-4 and a flush draw. Cox moved in for $37,000 more and won with K-Q. Steve survived a few more hands before losing his last $1,200 to Cox, his K-J versus A-10.

Meyers, a personable poker player with four WSOP final tables, had written on her bio sheet that “I want a bracelet and I want it now!” Not yet, Phyllis. She went all in for about $15,000 with J-10. Heimowitz called with K-J and left her in fifth place.

In later action, Pollak bet $10,000 on a flop of 10-9-7 and two spades and Rodis moved in for about $45,000 more. Pollak hesitated. “My favorite hand,” he said, looking at his pocket queens, finally calling. George had 6-3 of spades. Gary caught a third lady on the river, no spades came and the table was now down to three.

Trailing in chips, Heimowitz lost about $45,000 more to Pollak after he re-raised to $24,000 before the flop, bet $21,000 on a flop of A-K-4, then folded when Pollak moved in. Pollak, a pro who’s worked at Commerce and Hustler casinos, now had the chip lead with about $200,000.

With blinds at $1,500-$3,000 and $700 antes, Heimowitz went all in after he bet $6,000 with K-3 of diamonds and Pollak raised $30,000 with A-8. Jay was saved by a three on the river. Pollak then crippled Cox by winning a $230,000 pot, the biggest of the night. Mike raised to $12,000 with A-Q of spades, Gary re-raised $25,000 more and Cox moved in. “Let’s go,” said Gary, turning over an A-K. Nobody improved, and $114,700 of Mike’s chips moved across the table. A couple of hands later Gary took his last $11,700. He had Q-9 of hearts to Mike’s A-K and won when he made a flush with two running hearts.

Heads-up, Jay was a big underdog, but quickly doubled up to about $125,000. With 9-7 of clubs to Gary’s A-Q, he missed a flush draw but won when a river seven paired him. A hand later he picked up another $35,000 when Pollak bet $20,000 into a board of Q-6-4, then folded when Heimowitz raised.

After a few more hands, Jay had a slight lead. On the last hand, he raised to $8,000 with A-K. Gary raised $30,000 more with K-J of diamonds. Jay pushed in another $133,000 and Gary called. The board came A-6-2-8-9, and Jay Heimowitz became the first WSOP Seniors champion.

-Max Shapiro