Poker Tournament Results

World Poker Finals / WPT Event Season 5

J.C. Tran

Tournament Report

J.C. TRAN TAKES THE TROPHY: WINS $312,388! The $3000 No-Limit Hold'em Championship of the 2006 World Poker Finals was captured by J C Tran as he overcame the challenge of 338 other competitors. JC, who finished 5th in the 2004 WPF $10K main event, was able to pull through final table adversity and take home the First Place Prize of $312,388! A total of 24 players resumed competition at 1pm and by 4 pm the final table was set. It started with a bang as chip leader Kevin Saul, the second place winner in the $2000 No-Limit, pushed all-in with J's after a $200K bet by JC. JC called Kevin for $360K with Q's and JC became the new chip leader. After an hour of play, the first to leave the table was Anthony O'Hagen of England. Anthony paired a 10 on the turn but his all-in was called by John Frazier with pocket K's. Anthony would take $14,304 for his 10th place finish. Amnon Filippi survived one all-in but the next left him in 9th. His K7 was called by Kevin with 96; a 9 on the flop and turn and a 6 on the river sent Amnon home to New York City with $18,457. Bill Murray of Tewksbury, MA, finally got a hand for his last $69K; but Kevin hit a flush on the turn and Bill was left in 8th position good for $23,072. Todd Gordon had earlier caught a straight on the river to survive but his AK could not improve versus Matt Casterella's pocket J’s. Todd, a resident of Ridgefield, CT, took home $27,686 for 7th place. John Frazier of New Haven, CT, was at his second final table of the WPF 2006. He took 6th in the $600 Shoot-out and was in the same position today. He was pot committed and all-in for a total of $717K versus JC. He made a straight on the turn but it was a diamond, which gave JC a flush, and John was the winner of $32,300. Peter Giordano of Liverpool, NY, had rebuilt his stack after being down under $100K. Pete had 910 and a flop of Q1010 with a 9 on the turn gave him a full house and he was all-in for $405K. Unfortunately, Kevin had Q10 and Peter found himself in 5th place with $41,528. With four players remaining Kevin was the chip leader, JC and Matt about even and Mike Omelchuk trailing. Matt lost a chunk to JC with J's full and then took back a sizable pot from Kevin with Q's over J's. Shortly thereafter, Kevin was all-in with pocket 6’s after a small bet by JC; JC immediately called with pocket A's. With no 6 on the board, JC took down a $1M plus pot and left Kevin with less than $150K. Kevin had $232K when he went all-in with AQ; he paired the Q but JC caught a flush on the river to leave Kevin with 4th place winnings of $55,372. Matt Casterella, a resident of White Plains, NY, had just over $400K and went all-in with pocket K's. JC had an overwhelming chip advantage and called with 36. A 331099 board gave JC a full house and Matt, who had finished 2nd in the 2005 NEPC main event, collected $87,671 for 3rd. JC now had almost a 4 to 1 chip advantage over Michael. Michael went all-in after his 7 paired on the turn; but JC had paired his Q on the flop and, with no help on the river, Michael would return to his home in Bellport, NY, with a 2nd place finish worth $156,886. And J C Tran was the Champion of the inaugural $3000 No-Limit event of the 2006 WPF. JC, a resident of Sacramento, CA, will take home the crystal trophy, commemorative leather jacket and $312,388! Reported by Jeffrey A Toth for Foxwoods Resort Casino