Event #14: Texas Hold'em (No Limit) $1,000 4/8/01
TOTAL PRIZE MONEY: $134,830
ENTRIES IN THIS EVENT: 139
Report by Lynn Loomis
"In a brief and bruising heads-up battle,
Jason Viriyayuthakorn vanquished the
last of 138 formidable opponents to capture top honors in the 14th event of the 2001 Jack Binion World Poker Open. For his victory in the $1,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold'em competition, Viriyayuthakorn was awarded $53,932 in prize money, a traditional WPO gold and diamond bracelet, and his first major tournament title.
"I'm glad it happened here, because this tournament is just the best," he said. "It's well-run, and the people are all friendly." A 25-year-old professional player from Hamilton, New Jersey, Viriyayuthakorn quit his former job as an auto dealership business manager after placing fifth in the 2000 WPO championship event and has since cashed in several other major competitions, including the Taj Mahal's U.S. Poker Championship.
Arriving for the final showdown in only fair position, Viriyayuthakorn managed to stay out of trouble and steadily build his stack while several players were eliminated during the next three hours. The first to go was Jon Hoellein, who was short-stacked from the outset and soon made his last effort at survival when he called all in from the big blind with A-2. But Don O'Callaghan held pocket queens, and when the board came Q-9-7/6-3, Hoellein exited in ninth place for $2,158.
The chips flowed around the table for 90 minutes before O'Callaghan met his demise when he put in a small pre-flop raise with A-J and Chris Tsiprailidis limped from the big blind with pocket aces. When the flop came 7-4-2, Tsiprailidis check-raised and O'Callaghan called all in. But he got no help on board and expired in eighth place for $2,696.
After losing an $18,000 pot with pocket fours to Toto Leonidas' pocket 10s, Peter Vilandos was left with only one $100 chip. But he doubled through several times, then won a sizeable pot with kings up against Nicola Salameh, who now found himself in sudden jeopardy. Seeking escape, Salameh soon saw hope in pocket sixes and moved all in before the flop. But Viriyayuthakorn called from the big blind with pocket 10s, and when the board brought 10-4-2/Q-8, Salameh was gone in seventh place for $3,370.
Though Vilandos had recently boosted his stack -- or as Amarillo Slim would say, "run his toothpick into a lumberyard" -- he saw it topple a few hands later when he moved in before the flop with K-10 and was called by Tsiprailidis, who held pocket kings. The flop came Q-10-6, but Vilandos got no more help and was crushed in sixth place for $4,719.
Up until now, Toto Leonidas had held his own. But he was dispatched moments later when he moved in before the flop with K-Q and was challenged by Viriyayuthakorn, who held pocket eights on the button. On fourth street the board showed 10-10-5/J, but Leonidas failed to catch on the river and was washed up in fifth place for $6,067.
Though Chris Tsiprailidis had maintained a solid position throughout the final-table play, he soon saw his stack almost decimated when he moved in from the button with 5h 4h, trying to intimidate Viriyayuthakorn, who was in the big blind with Ac Ku. After a long think, Viriyayuthakorn called all in and made a club flush on the river to claim the $80,000 pot and put Tsiprailidis almost down to the felt. On the very next hand, "Syracuse Chris" was sent home with fourth place and $8,089 when his ace high proved no good against Jimmy Tran's 10s up. A poker pro from Syracuse, New York, Tsiprailidis won the WPO bracelet and $70,703 in the $500 No-Limit Hold'em event held March 31.
It wasn't long before Jimmy Tran made his last stand when he took 5-3 from the small blind up against Richard Tatalovich, who was in the big blind with J-3. The flop came J-3-2, and when a five turned, Tran moved all in and Tatalovich called. Only another five could save Tran, and when the river brought an eight, he bit the dust in third place for $13,483. The 41-year-old owner of a grocery store in Houston, Texas, Tran won three events in a row at the 1999 Sam Boyd Poker Classic and has cashed in several other major competitions, including the L.A. Poker Classic.
Only a slight underdog to Tatalovich when heads-up play began,Viriyayuthakorn soon seized the advantage and the end was swift and sudden. The decisive hand came down when Viriyayuthakorn raised before the flop with pocket nines, Tatalovich reraised, moving all in with Q-6, and Viriyayuthakorn called. When the fourth-street board showed K-J-J/9, Tatalovich was drawing dead, and Viriyayuthakorn won the pot and claimed the title with a full house.
"Jason is a great player and a deserving champion," said Tatalovich, who received $26,966 for his runner-up finish. "I violated my number-one cardinal rule, not to beat myself," he added. "I played perfect poker for two days, then made one really bad move. It goes to show what can happen when you lose your focus for just one moment." A poker pro from Scottsdale, Arizona, Tatalovich is the reigning U.S. Poker Champion and has several other major titles to his credit.
The Final Table Chip Standings & Seat Positions:
| Seat Position/Player | Chip Count |
| Seat 1: Jon Hoellein (Pittsburgh, PA) | $2,525 |
| Seat 2: Nicola Salameh (Houston, TX) | $11,300 |
| Seat 3: Richard Tatalovich (Scottsdale, AZ) | $31,750 |
| Seat 4: Don O'Callaghan (London, England) | $13,125 |
| Seat 5: Peter Vilandos (Houston, TX) | $16,175 |
| Seat 6: Chris Tsiprailidis (Syracuse, NY) | $29,800 |
| Seat 7: Alfredo "Toto" Leonidae (Arleta, CA) | $9,950 |
| Seat 8: Jason Viriyayuthahorn (Hamilton, NJ) | $10,850 |
| Seat 9: Jimmy Tran (Houston, TX) | $13,525 |
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