Karlo Gharabegian Captures Another Limit Hold'em Tournament Win
The second event of the 2006 Legends of Poker attracted 215 players and created a prize pool of $64,500. The Grand Ballroom was recently reconfigured with bleacher seating to accommodate spectators interested in final table viewing. As midnight approached, the play became cautious while the players neared the 27-person payoff bubble. Play picked up dramatically once the bubble burst, but it was not until 1:30am that we arrived at our 10-handed final table.
Karlo Gharabegian, a television editor, built his stack late in the tournament and arrived at the final table with a substantial chip lead ($104,000). Kyle Miaso, a poker pro from Scottsdale, Arizona, was in 2nd place with $67,000. Play got underway at 1:40am with 36 minutes left in Level 13 (Blinds 2,000/4,000).
Karlo won the first two consecutive hands of the final table by raising in the small blind and then again on the button. Karlo got no callers in either hand and added to his dominating chip stack.
The first elimination occurred in hand #3 as the button, Rich Rivlin, an Executive VP from Laguna Hills, raised and big blind, Andy 'Coach' Lambo 2-bet. Rich called and the first flop of the final table was 3-Q-10. Andy bet and Rich called for his final chips. Andy showed 99 and Rich flipped his A5o. The turn was a 4 and a river 6 gave Rich a 4-card straight and Andy's pair of 9's held up. Rich Rivlin finished in 10th place and earned $810.
On the very next hand, Kim Chen Lim raised and Michael Poirier made it three bets. Kim made the final raise all-in for his last 2,000 chips and Michael called. The hands were revealed and Michael had AA and Kim was in bad shape with A5o. The flop was 8-5-J and Kim's position was looking better but he still had to hit a two-outer to survive. The turn was a 10 and river 3. Kim missed and was eliminated in 9th place and took home $965 and a 'ran into Aces' story.
It would be ten more hands until the next elimination. On hand #14, Mark 'Doc' Saginor, a retired M.D. and professor at UCLA, raised all-in and the big blind Bob Simmons called. Doc held A8 and realized he ran into Simmon's pocket Aces.
The flop was 3-6-8 which added some hope--Doc needed a two-outer (sound familiar?). The turn was a 9 and river 7. No 2-outer and Doc picked up $1,290 for his 8th place finish. Doc also took home the night's familiar 'ran into Aces' story.
The last hand of the final table is not for the faint of heart. You will hear sucking sounds followed by re-sucking sounds but all is well in the world because I can tell you that the best hand held up in the end. Michael Poirier raised in middle position and was called all-in by Craig Repoz in the cut-off position. Craig had just lost a big pot two hands before and was not in a good mood. Michael showed his AA and Craig was the 20% dog with 44. The flop was 4-J-10 and Craig flopped a set! Michael needed an Ace or runner-runner Jacks to win this one. The turn was a Jack— and now Michael holds two pair and can win with another Jack or Ace (4 outs) on the river. Well, the river was another Jack! Michael made runner-runner for the bigger full house (Jacks full of Aces vs. Jacks full of 4's). Craig thought he had won the pot and exclaimed 'Pass the Sugar', a Joe Hachem phrase made famous at the 2005 WSOP Main event, but then realized he lost and was just eliminated after flopping a set and turning a full house. His mood went from bad to worse and he collected $1,620 for his 7th place finish. He was told that the best hand (when the money went in) ended up holding up. As you would expect, it was not consoling news.
The chip leader, Karlo, suggested looking at a chip count with the final 6 players. They agreed and were all pleased with the deal. Karlo Gharabegian was declared the winner and was awarded the 'Legends of the Ring', a white gold ring. Along with the ring he received 1st place money and the congratulations from the remaining final table participants and tournament staff.
-Jay 'Bugsy' Siegel
BIOGRAPHY
Karlo Gharabegian is a graduate of USC and a television editor from Upland, CA. He has been playing poker for over 9 years and typically plays 20/40 and 40/80 Limit Hold'em. Karlo had won a 2005 Winning O' the Green Limit Hold'em tourney and this is his second Limit Hold'em win at The Bicycle Casino. Karlo learned to play poker from his father when he was just 7 years old. His dad had passed away 8 years ago, and Karlo wishes he could play tournaments with his dad today. He wants to dedicate his win to his father. Karlo also wants to thank his girlfriend Michelle for inspiring him to succeed in poker and in life. Karlo is a confident, yet humble, player who will continue to tear up the tournaments. He expects to play as many tournaments as possible at the Legends of Poker and does not rule out a run at the $10K WPT event on August 26th.
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