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Men Nguyen
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I was running good and got lucky at the final table,” said Men “The Master”
Nguyen, whose inimitable style of play was also a considerable factor in his triumph over 161 formidable opponents in the $500 buy-in (with rebuys) No-Limit Hold’em competition. For claiming top honors in the 10th event of the 2001 Jack Binion World Poker Open, he was awarded $83,032 in prize money, plus a traditional WPO gold and diamond bracelet.
“It feels great to have a Mississippi bracelet,” commented the Master, who also owns four World Series of Poker bracelets, four Hall of Fame watches, five U.S. Poker Championship watches, and countless titles from other major tournaments. A 47-year-old professional competitor from Bell Gardens, California, he counts among his top poker accomplishments winning three Best All-Around Player awards in the same year.
Nguyen came to the final table in middle chip position and wasted no time in dispatching his two short-stacked opponents to seize the lead. On the second deal he took out 1998 World Champion of Poker Scotty Nguyen, who moved all in before the flop with pocket eights. The Master held A-K, and when the board brought A-J-7/2-6, the former champ was gone in ninth place for $3,321.
Nguyen next turned his attention to Fred Sigur, who had survived two crucial battles before taking his last shot with Au Ku, moving all in before the flop. Nguyen called from the small blind with Q-J, and David Pham also called. “You think you can win against the Master and the Dragon?” Nguyen asked in jest. When the flop came Jª 10u 7u, Sigur had a chance to do so, but he failed to catch a third diamond and bit the dust in eighth place for $4,151.
Though he arrived for the final showdown as the chip leader, Leo Boothe saw his stack chopped in half after folding twice in a row against Allen Cunningham, who came over the top with sizeable raises. It wasn’t long before Tournament Coordinator Jack McClelland quipped, “Here come de judge,” as Booth moved $18,900 all in before the flop with Au 9u. He was called by David Pham, who held A-K, and when the board brought a decisive K-Q-9/5-5, the Louisiana District Court judge was excused in seventh place for $5,189.
A few rounds later, Charlie Watkins met his demise when he moved about $13,000 all in before the flop with A¨ 5¨ and was challenged by Ralph Perry, who held pocket treys in the big blind. The flop came K-K-4, with one club, but Watkins got no more help and was shot down in sixth place for $7,265.
Up until now, Allen Cunningham had held his own. But he soon felt the Dragon’s fire when he came over the top with 10-8, moving all in from the big blind against David Pham, who had put in a pre-flop raise with A-9 suited. The flop came 10-8-5, giving Cunningham top two, but when running nines fell on board, he was toasted in fifth place for $9,341.
In his third appearance at the final table during this year’s WPO, Can Hua was washed up only two hands later when he moved all in from the button with A-9 and was challenged by Men the Master, who held Q-J in the big blind. The fourth-street board showed Q-6-2/8, and when no miracle ace came on the river to save him, Hua was left high and dry in fourth place for $12,454.
At three-handed play, Nguyen held a huge lead, with David Pham in second place and Ralph Perry in a distant third, trying to stay alive. On a quest for more chips, Perry soon saw an opportunity in A-10 and raised before the flop. But he had the misfortune of running into the Dragon, who was still smokin’ and came over the top with K-10. Perry called all in, and the flop brought Q-J-7. When a nine turned to give Pham a king-high straight, Perry needed a king for an ace-high straight and survival. But a river 10 sealed his fate, and he was sent home with third place and $20,758.
A 35-year-old poker pro from Henderson, Nevada, Perry holds a title from the Queens Poker Classic and has cashed in several other major competitions.
When heads-up play began, Nguyen still held more than a 2-to-1 advantage over Pham and bit by bit cut down his opponent’s stack. It was finally all over when Nguyen raised before the flop with K-9 and Pham put his last few chips all in with 8-2 suited. When the board brought 7-7-6/10-Q to slay the Dragon, the Master won the pot and claimed the title with a king kicker.
“I took second place this time, but I’m looking forward to winning the World Poker Open main event and the World Series of Poker championship this year,” said Pham, who received $41,516 for his runner-up finish. A 35-year-old professional player from Bell Gardens, California, and the owner of a nail salon, the Dragon has cashed numerous times and holds titles from several major tournaments, including the L.A. Poker Classic, the California State Poker Championship, and the National Championship of Poker. Pham made two No-Limit Hold’em final tables at last year’s World Series and was named the 2000 Player of the Year.« |
