Jay Heimowitz
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Heimowitz Hangs On
By Steven E. Way
The skies were a little overcast, a dampness in the air, so with a round of golf out of the question, the remaining nine players returned to Foxwoods Resort Casino for the conclusion of the $1,080 No-Limit Texas Hold 'em event yesterday at noon.
With the first prize of $40,400 at stake, the contest was billed as a battle of the big stacks, East versus West, with both Dan Heimiller of Las Vegas, Nevada and Alan Thompson of Hopkinton, Rhode Island nearly equals while the remaining opponents were decidedly short stacked.
The final table began slow as each man measured their opposition. With the blinds at $300-600, the short stacks would not have much time, and would need to make a move soon.
The first move came when Al Matthews of Peabody, Massachusetts would go all-in with King, Jack and have Heimiller pair an Ace on the flop to take the pot.
When the blinds rose to $400-800, Boris Alic of New York, New York would try his pocket 9's and go all-in but would see Thompson scoop the pot with pocket Queens.
Seventh place would be claimed by "Miami" John Cernuto of Las Vegas, Nevada when he went all-in with a straight and flush draw on the turn but missed as Heimiller took the chips after showing his pocket Kings.
Next out would be Spiro Mitrokostas of West Yarmouth, Massachusetts when he had his pocket 9's cracked by Jay Heimowitz of Bethel, New York with pocket 10's. Mitrokostas is especially notable for having been at the final table of all three No-Limit hold 'em events so far this year.
It is here where play turned around, and the action became wild. The chip lead would change places several times, and several hard fought hands were played. First, Mike May of New York, New York would lay a brutal beat on Thompson's pocket Aces when he drew out a flush with his pocket 7's.
After managing to survive with two chips for several hands, George Bartlett of Clinton, Maryland would finally succumb after going all-in for $30,000 with pocket 10's and having Thompson roll over pocket Queens.
Fourth place would be claimed by May at just about 7:00 last evening when he missed a straight draw and had Heimiller make a pair of Jacks on the flop.
Then it seemed like Heimowitz in the one seat and Heimiller in the two seat would make short work of Thompson who now was clearly short stacked. Thompson had other plans though and tripled up with Queens to take the chip lead.
After playing several hands which depleted his stacks, Heimiller wound up going all-in against Heimowitz's Aces up and getting eliminated. Three handed action had lasted over three and a half hours.
Now heads up, Thompson tossed his last $7,600 in the pot and managed to double up, and then redouble and then redouble his stacks again until the game was truly on.
It would take Heimowitz another two and a half hours to grind back the chips, forcing Thompson all-in at least a dozen times, only to see him survive. Finally, at just after 1:00 this morning - 13 hours after the final table began, Thompson went all-in with Queen, Deuce and Heimowitz called with Ace, Queen. The board brought rags and another Ace on the river, making Jay Heimowitz the latest champion at this years tournament.
Congratulations Jay!
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