"Syracuse" Chris Tsipirailidis
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Syracuse Stymies 'em
By Steven E. Way
Here we are, heading into the final weekend of this years World Poker Finals and the "Best Overall Player" award is still up for grabs. Also at stake was the $150,000 prize pool for the $2,580 7-Card Stud championship which resumed action at noon yesterday here at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. The prize pool contained $10,000 in money added by Foxwoods, and also carries the prestige of winning one of the largest 7-Card Stud events in the world.
After playing until just after 2:30 in the morning, the final table of eight players reassembled, and it was clear some had rested for this moment, and some had already celebrated the moment.
Sitting on the short stack would not be easy for Jerri Thomas of Liberty Township, Ohio, but with some tight play was able to move up and eventually capture sixth place.
Eighth place would actually wind up being claimed by Scott Byron of East Elmhurst, New York when he played all-in with 10's and 7's looking for a 9 to make a straight. John Robertson of Mitchellville, Maryland however would have a different idea, and showed trip 4's to take the pot.
Seventh would then be the number for Foxwoods legend Kenny Chanthamala of East Lyme, Connecticut when he took his short stack all-in after making trip Queens, only to be drawn out by Robertson with a flush.
A short while later Hal Koch of Detroit, Michigan would use just a pair of 10's to beat the 5's of Allan Carbee from nearby Oakdale, Connecticut after he went all-in.
Thomas would be the next person sent to the rails when all-in Jacks got busted by the Aces held by "Syracuse" Chris Tspirilidis of, you guessed it, Syracuse, New York.
Fourth place prize money would eventually go to Robertson after he played all-in with split 7's only to have Mike "Sid Jr." Gamerman of Foxboro, Massachusetts make two pair of Jacks and 5's.
The pace of action was soon blistering, now the polar opposite of the board game events. The previous events had set new records for longevity, but this event would be among the fastest final tables in the annals of Foxwoods tournaments.
Third place was captured when Tspirilidis forced Koch all-in with Queens and took down the pot with trip 8's.
Heads up play was equally swift, and in just a little over 2 an a half hours the event was finished, the champion decided. Tspirilidis played cautious with a pair of 8's and made the move when his pair of treys added to his arsenal. Gamerman, with two pair of his own pushed his whole stack in, but was disappointed when he saw that his 7's up were not going to be enough.
So, for the first night that Tournament Director Mike Ward has been been home before midnight, we would like to extend our congratulations to "Syracuse" Chris on a great victory!
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