Paul Kessler
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Kessler Conquers Crowd
By Steven E. Way
The weather in New England can be fickle, and as Mark Twain once said, "If you don't like the weather here, just wait a minute." Yesterday was a prime example of that adage as the clear sky and warm sun of the previous few days gave way to a murky overcast with a chill to the air. The result was that all of the regions golfers would have to come indoors and play poker. So, as has been the norm for the past week here at Foxwoods Resort Casino, Tournament Director Mike Ward greeted the 165 No-Limit Texas Hold 'em players who had all paid the $550 buy-in to the event.
The players all generally managed to keep play slow and conservative, making the final two tables was their inital goal. After getting the field to 18 players, it would take another hour to pare the field even more and create a final table of 9 players.
It would take over 60 hands of nothing more than swapping the blinds, and seeing an occasional flop before someone would make a move. Sandy Blecker of New York City, New York pushed all-in before the flop with Ace, 10 of clubs. His opponent, Anthony Criniti of Southampton, Pennsylvania would make the call with a pair of 5's in the pocket. After the flop brought a double gut-shot draw for Criniti, and the turn and river brought a 5, 6 Criniti was able to roll over 5's full and take the hand.
Next, Richard P. Anthony of New York City, New York would be next to go. Anthony, playing Jack, 9 suited got another Jack on the turn and went all-in. Spyridon Mitrokostas of West Yarmouth, Massachusetts would call with Jack, King, using the King to out kick Anthony.
Mitrokostas would be next to go out as his missed draw and a small pair by Ray DiDonato of Laurel Springs, New Jersey would send him to collect seventh place.
Then, in rapid fire succession, John Robertson of Mitchellville, Maryland was taken out of the game by Aces full held by James Wilsey of Brockton, Massachusetts.
On the very next hand, Gregg Turk of Vienna, Virginia would then be eliminated by a simple pair of 6's held by Didonato.
Four handed, play again tightened up some, but eventually DiDonato would catch pocket Aces and push all-in. Criniti, with pocket 8's make the call, and the board came 8, Jack, Jack for a full house.
Wilsey, now the short stack would not last much longer. Soon he got involved in a pot by pushing all-in with pocket Queens. He got a caller, Paul Kessler of Forest Hills, NY who had pocket Aces. With a board of 2, 7, 6, 4, King, Wilsey was eliminated.
The final scene was then set as Criniti with about one third of the chips would try to hold off the attacks of Kessler. With the blinds at $3,000-6,000 and an ante of $1,000 , along with nearly 2 am on the clock, the fight would not be long. Soon Kessler would put Criniti all-in while holding Ace, 8 to Criniti's Ace, 7. When the board came all rags and of no help, the Ace high would play in both hands, as well as the 8 in Kessler's for the win.
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