| Places 19th - 27th $680
Leanos Has Easy No-Limit Win
Michael Leanos, a computer programmer turned pro, came to tonight's final table with a big chip lead, remained on or near the top throughout, and was ahead 365,000-318,000 when he got heads-up with retired Air Force colonel Jerry Simon in tonight's $300 no-limit event. Earlier, a six-way chip-count deal was made when Leanos was tied with restaurant manager Allen Zuckerman, and the six then played for $11,000. Simon now suggested that he and Leanos chop the 11 grand with Leanos taking the win, and he agreed. Simon himself had played a remarkable game, going all in eight times at the final table and always coming out on top.
The final 10 got there after two players were knocked out at once, Linda Balint at one table, Phach Ngo at another. Steve Austin was making an astounding sixth final, along with two wins. With two tables left, he had the chip lead, then suffered some bad beats such as losing with kings versus A-K and queens versus 10s, and sat down with 22,000, only 3k more than the lowest player. He would be first out, but added even more distance to his all-around points lead.
Opening blinds were 2,000-4,000 with 500 antes, 11:56 left, Leanos in front with 211,500 chips. There were all-ins the first four hands. The fourth time, Ricky Patton called with pocket 9s and was left with about 12,000 when Allen Zuckerman, all in with A-Q, flopped an ace. Austin busted out on hand seven. He moved in for 12,000 with J-Q. Leanos re-raised to 60,000 with A-Q and won when the board showed A-J-4-10-9.
Next to go, with 3,000-6,000 blinds and 1,000 antes, was mortgage broker Jeff Wilson. In the small blind, he threw in his last 3,000 with just 7-3. Patton again had pocket 9s and made a set. 'Why couldn't I do that last time?' he asked. Five hands later, Antoine Hasrouni, a mechanical engineer, tried an all-in move from the button with Ks-3s. He was drawing dead when Frank Nascimento called with As-5s and hit an ace on the turn.
Allen Zuckerman took 66,000 chips from Jamie Gold when his J-J held up against Gold's 9-9, and he now had about 200,000. Leanos, meanwhile, had maintained his lead, picking up chips by raising often to 20,000 or 25,000.
As play continued, Jerry Simon moved in three times and got away, to the chant of 'Jerry, Jerry, Jerry' from his gallery of supporters. At the next break, Zuckerman and Leanos were in a race for the lead with 192,000 and 184,000 respectively. Blinds now were 4,000-8,000, and 1,000 antes. On the first hand, Zuckerman moved in for 67,000 with Kc-8c. Patton, still hanging on, called for his last 11,000 with Ad-5d. Four clubs hit, and Patton was flushed away.
A chip count was made, and after long debate the players agreed to the deal. Zuckerman and Leanos were tied with 187,000, and each got $23,775. Other chips and payouts were: Gold, 97,000 and $14,615; Simon, 74,000 and $12,275; Nascimento, 73,000 and $12,175; and Caesar Natividad, 60,000 and $10,855.
Soon after, Natividad moved in for 54,000 with A-8. Simon had A-10, and Natividad ended sixth when the board came A-J-4-9-3.
A lot of chips changed hands on the 37th deal. Leanos opened for 18,000. Zuckerman called. Nascimento moved in for 55,000 more and Leanos called. Leanos had him dominated with 7-7 against 5-5, until a 5 flopped and Nascimento filled on the river. Jamie Gold, a talent manager/TV producer with 26 final tables last year, ended fifth when he moved in with A-5 and was mowed down by Leanos' A-A. We then got down to three on hand 57. Simon moved in for the seventh time with pocket 10s. Zuckerman chased him all in with pocket 6s and couldn't catch him.
Ten hands later it was over. Blinds were 6,000-12,000 now. Nascimento, an air conditioning contractor with a win at a $300 Commerce event, moved in with 4c-2c ('Write that I had pocket kings,' he asked) and Simon picked him off with A-6, then made the deal offer that ended the action. - Max Shapiro
BIOGRAPHY
Michael Leanos was a computer programmer who had been playing poker for 10 years when he decided to turn pro 2-1/2 years ago. He has several prior wins at the Bellagio's $1,000 events and at Commerce. No-limit is his preferred game. 'It gives me the freedom to play my own style, the way I want,' he said. 'You can't be creative with limit hold'em.' His style of play, he said, is more aggressive than not. He also plays no-limit in side games, putting in a lot of hours, though he puts in even more time playing tournaments.
Tonight he had a bit of a rocky start. Then he hauled in a lot of chips when he had pocket aces against pocket kings with two tables left. That got him the lead, and it was smooth sailing after that.
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