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Poker Tournament Results

World Poker Finals / WPT Event Season 4

Limit 7 Card Stud

October 29, 2005 at 10:00 AM
Foxwoods Resort Casino
Tournament Schedule

Buy-In	$500 + $65
Prize Pool	$172,500
Entries	341
Report Available

Charles Balistreri

Place	Name	Prize
1	Charles Balistreri (Island Park, NY, USA)	$56,920
2	Eddie D Gravalese (Revere, MA, USA)	$31,050
3	Leonard Green (Huntingdon Valley, PA, USA)	$17,250
4	Pete Lusha (Staten Island, NY, USA)	$11,213
5	Dennis Lacourse (RI)	$7,762
6	Dr Max Stern (Las Vegas, NV, USA)	$6,469
7	George Johnson (Fitchburg, MA)	$5,175
8	John R Malley (Pascoag, RI, USA)	$4,313
9	Kenny Chanthamalo (East Lyme, CT, USA)	$3,881
10	Timothy L. Sheary (New Britain, CT, USA)	$3,450
11	Chris Bjorin (London, UK)	$3,019
12	Louis C Lorett (Buffalo, NY, USA)	$2,587
13	Michael Sid Gamerman (Foxboro, MA, USA)	$2,156
14	Scott Baldyga (Norwich, CT, USA)	$1,725
15	Kevin Cantwell (Shrewsbury, MA, USA)	$1,300
16	Louis N. Avitabile (Hanover, MA, USA)	$1,121
17	Michael Perry AKA "mike" (Oakland, ME, USA)	$1,121
18	Romel Mekhaeel (West Warwick, RI, USA)	$1,121
19	Joseph Masselli (Portland, CT, USA)	$1,121
20	Alan S. Miller (Sharon, MA, USA)	$1,121
21	Tom Kalaj (New York, NY, USA)	$948
22	Carl Brucker (Cleves, OH, USA)	$948
23	Maria Feterman (Las Vegas, NV, USA)	$948
24	Michael McGrath (Lynn, MA, USA)	$948
25	Henry Lemoi (Danielson, CT, USA)	$948
26	Michael Huguenot (Pleasantville, NY, USA)	$776
27	Terrence Hastoo (Teaneck, NJ, USA)	$776
28	Valdet Kelmendi (Staten Island, NY, USA)	$776
29	Avdo Djokovic (Staten Island, NY, USA)	$776
30	Jonathan Bascom (Edison, NJ, USA)	$776

Tournament Report

Charles Balistreri was able to overcome the challenge of 341 opponents to take the $500 Seven Card Stud championship. He is returning to his home town of Island Park, NY, with the trophy, leather jacket and $56,925.
The prize pool for this event this year totaled $172,500 compared to $143,500 for last year - a 20% increase.
Charles' victory was a testament to his perseverance and determination. He began the final table as the short stack and survived four all-in situations before he took the crown. The eighth place finisher was John Malley, Pascoag, RI. His pocket 9's were not enough as Lenny Green from Huntingdon Valley, PA, turned over pocket A's to leave John with $4,313. George Johnson, Fitchburg, MA, left the table richer by $5,175 when his two pair could not improve and he lost to the trip K's of Pete Lusha, Staten Island, NY.
Max Stern, the Las Vegas, NV, resident (pictured on the reverse page with his wife Maria who finished 23rd) put Pete all-in but could not eliminate him. A few hands later, Max found himself all-in against Charles and his two pair (9's up) were not enough for Charles' A's up. His sixth place finish was worth $6,469. Dennis 'Colt 45' Lacourse, North Providence, RI, took fifth spot and $7,762 for his efforts.
The 'Colt 45' was not loaded today and Eddie Gravelese from Revere, MA, took away any hope of reloading with a pair of A's as Dennis went in all-in with a small pair. Eddie, the chip leader for most of the day, next took care of Pete Lusha. Pete had pocket K's but could not improve as Eddie's split A's ruled the day. Pete walked away from the table with $11,213. Lenny Green was the next to succumb to the pressure from Charles and Eddie.
Eddie delivered the final blow with two pair.
Lenny finished in third place which netted him $11,213. With the betting limits at $15,000/$30,000, momentum changes happened quickly. Within a few hands Eddie went from a commanding chip lead to a near all-in. He bet to the river but could not top Charles' 10's and was left with $1000. Charles' A high straight was more than enough to place Eddie in second with winnings of $31,050.
Charles, a true last to first, was the $500 Seven Card Stud Champion for 2005!
Reported by Jeffrey A Toth for Foxwoods Resort Casino