Poker Tournament Results

World Poker Finals / WPT Event Season 4

Place	Name	Prize
1	Robert Saltiel (New York, NY, USA)	$223,080
2	Mark Carlson (Wilbraham, MA, USA)	$121,680
3	Joseph H Neiman (Teaneck, NJ, USA)	$67,600
4	John Fanning (Hingham, MA, USA)	$43,940
5	Tae Baik (Colmer, PA, USA)	$30,520
6	Adam Gomes (Astoria, NY, USA)	$25,350
7	Minh Nguyen (Lake Elsinore, CA, USA)	$20,280
8	Concetta Rinaldi (Oceanside, NY, USA)	$16,900
9	Allan Colon (Oceanside, NY, USA)	$15,210
10	Kenny Chanthamalo (East Lyme, CT, USA)	$13,520
11	William Mitkoff (Lee, MA, USA)	$11,830
12	Christian Tarantino (Long Island, NY, USA)	$10,140
13	Andrew Barta (New York, NY, USA)	$8,450
14	Steven Materas (Pomfret, CT, USA)	$6,760
15	Randall Blair AKA "Dee" (Framingham, MA, USA)	$5,070
16	Lonnie Heimowitz (Monticello, NY, USA)	$4,394
17	Steve Happas AKA "Dakota" (Braintree, MA, USA)	$4,394
18	Jim Keller (Syracuse, NY, USA)	$4,394
19	Joseph Rapine (Wayne, PA, USA)	$4,394
20	Frank Williams (Mastic, NY, USA)	$4,394
21	Eugene Bauerlein (St.Petersburg, FL, USA)	$3,718
22	Kleovoulos Kamais (Farmington, CT, USA)	$3,718
23	Jay Kastner AKA "JK" (Montreal, QC, Canada)	$3,718
24	Feming Chan (W. Windsor, NJ, USA)	$3,718
25	Christopher R Jenkins (Westerly, RI, USA)	$3,718
26	Michael Omelchul (Bellport, NY, USA)	$3,042
27	Shawn Chaconas AKA "luckbox" (Los Angeles, CA, USA)	$3,042
28	Joe Simmons (Philadelphia, PA, USA)	$3,042
29	Darrell New (Ypsilanti, MI, USA)	$3,042
30	Alan Goodman (Brooklyn, NY, USA)	$3,042

Tournament Report

The 2005 World Poker Finals has once again drawn a record number of participants for an event. The $2000 No-Limit championship saw 335 entrants begin play yesterday at Noon competing for a prize pool of $676,000. In 2004 there were 259 entrants and a prize pool of $528,000. On Tuesday, the field of 335 played down to 26; they returned on Wednesday to play to the finish. By 9:30 PM, the final table was set and, at just after 4 AM, there was a winner. It took 25 hours for Robert Saltiel of New York, NY, to emerge victorious and to claim the first place prize of $223,080! An hour into play, four were out in rapid succession. Local player Kenny Chanthamala, East Lyme, CT, had A9 but Joseph Neiman had 10's and Kenny could get no help from the board; he took 10th spot and $13,520. Joe again had 10's and Alan Colon, Oceanside, NY, with KQ, was in 9th with $15,210. Another Oceanside resident, Concetta Rinaldi, the final table short stack did well to claim 8th place money of $16,900. She was all-in with 7's but Bob Saltiel turned over J's. Minh 'Poker Host' Nguyen, Bell Gardens, CA, survived several all-ins before his A6 lost to Bob's 10's (again!). It was to be another 4 plus hours before there was a winner. Adam Gomes, who was at his second final table this year (4th place $1000 Stud), went all-in with AK but Mark Carlson had J's; Adam would return to Astoria, NY, with 6th place money of $25,350. Tae Ho Baik, Englewood, NJ, down to the felt several times, thought he would be in the game a little longer after 788 came on the flop and he had 78. Joe called with K8 and, with a K on the turn, Tae Ho was in 5th with $30,420. Hingham, MA, resident, John Fanning, also at his second final table (6th in $1000 No- Limit), was out in 4th spot after Joe turned a straight. He collected $43,940. Now down to three players, pocket K's proved to be the edge for Bob. Joe Neiman, from Teaneck, NJ, was forced all-in with 98 but Bob's K's relegated Joe to 3rd with $67,600. Head's up play began with a tired Mark Carlson, Wilbraham, MA, as the chip leader. He would maintain his edge but could not put Bob away. Slowly but surely, Bob whittled away at Mark's stack. Mark went all-in with Jh5h after a 3hJc6h; but there was no help on the turn or river and Bob's K's were enough to leave Mark with 2nd place money of $121,680. After the end of two long days, Bob Saltiel claimed the commemorative leather jacket, crystal trophy and $223,080! Reported by Jeffrey A Toth for Foxwoods Resort Casino