Josh Blanchfield finished 8th in Wednesday's $500 Limit Final and Darren Brandes
finished 1st. Today the roles were reversed as Josh was able to win a hard fought
battle for the title in $1000 Limit Hold'em. His take from the prize pool of
$165,000 was a tidy $60,225. Josh, who hails from Boston, MA, was cheered on
to victory by his fiance, Natalia.
Josh earned first place by edging out a game John Robertson of Mitchellville,
MD. John started the final table with $1000 more than the short stack, Pat Poels.
John, slowly and judiciously, built his chips into a commanding position entering
heads up play. Just as assuredly, Josh was able to whittle away at his opponent's
stack until John was forced all-in. John had A2 to Josh's A9. A board of A549K
gave Josh the victory and left John in 2nd spot with $32,175.
Steve Graboski, Harwinton, CT, who eliminated three players from the table,
met his demise at the hands of John Robertson. Steve's Kh10h could not top John's
KdQd especially when three diamonds were on board; Steve won $18,150 for 3rd.
In four way action, John Giannitti, Cromwell, CT, and Dick Cook, Potomac, MD,
were out when Josh made two pair on the turn. John took $12,375 for 4th and
Dick, who was down to the felt earlier in the session, collected $9,075 for
5th.
Matt Matros was the 6th place finisher. His position as chip leader slowly
eroded as he lost key hands, especially to Dick Cook. Forced all-in, he had
A8 but was unable to pair and he lost to Steve's pocket 7's. Matt will return
to Brooklyn, NY, with $6,600.
Keith Laflam, Colchester, VT, was the last of Steve's victims. Keith had to
go all-in with 93; Steve, with 45, hit trip 5's to leave Keith in 7th spot with
$4,950.
Darren Brandes, Clearwater, FL, the winner in $500 Limit Hold'em, was also
out when Steve hit a flush on the turn with Kd6d to top his Q's. Darren's 8th
place finish was worth $4,125.
The 9th place was claimed by Tom Savitsky, Randolph, NJ. The eleventh place
finisher on Wednesday, Tom won $3,713 when his AJ lost to Matt's J's.
Pat Poels, a third place finisher in the $200 No-Limit Shoot-out, finished
10th when Steve hit a flush on the river. Pat will head back to Mesa, AZ, with
an additional $3,300.
After five hours at the final table, Josh Blanchfield put on his commemorative
leather jacket, handed his crystal trophy to Natalia and walked away with $60,225!
Reported by Jeffrey A Toth for Foxwoods Resort Casino |
