Dorie Ensor
|
Dorie Decks 'em
By Steven E. Way
The first high low split event of the 2000 World Poker Finals was held yesterday at Foxwoods Resort Casino. A field of 275 gathered at Noon in the tournament area for the $220 7-Card Stud 8 or better contest.
Generally considered a slow paced game, this event was on fire all day long, burning off the chips and eliminating players until the final eight gathered at just after 10:30 last night.
Bill Botchis of nearby Niantic, Connecticut struck first by laying down a wheel and scooping the pot after betting enough to get Lenny Lombardo of Plainfield, Illinois all-in.
Next to be put on the rails was Joseph Blondin of Worcester, Massachusetts when he played an Ace, 3 and missed his low without a pair against a small pair held by Fernando Bracelli of Caspoggio, Italy.
Sixth place would be taken by Gene Agresta of Amsterdam, New York when his pair of Jacks with no low got popped by Aces up held by Burton Bramble of West Warwick, Rhode Island.
Soon there after another player departed. After starting the final table with a sizable chip lead, Botchis would have to play all-in with Aces but lost out to the two low pairs in Bracelli's hand.
Fate however held the same cards for Bracelli as he was soon dispatched as well. Bracelli played a pair of deuces from a short stack, but with no help, Bramble's Aces earned him the pot, narrowing the field to three.
For third place, Clifford Welch of Hollis Maine played from the shortest stack to within distance of the title. However, after a few hands at higher limits, he was all-in for his last $1,500 on the ante. After being dealt the deuce of clubs, he knew the end was near. Dorie Ensor of Biloxi, Mississippi would show down with Aces full just for effect.
Now at heads up, with the limits at $20,000-40,000 the final two combatants would play for over another hour. Several times the all-in fate of Bramble rested on the seventh card, and always the right card came. The chip lead changed back and forth at least ten times
Until at last Ensor hit trip 5's and Bramble missed a low draw.
Ensor, who had arrived at Foxwoods less than 24 hours before, had really came to play in today's Omaha 8 or better event, but gave the Stud event a try because she enjoys playing it on the internet.
Congratulations Dorie, and welcome to Foxwoods!
 | 
