Hon Le Captures 2nd
Winnin ‘O' the Green Title
The 13th event of Winnin ‘O' the Green series was another $300 No Limit Hold'em with no rebuys tournament. A field of 287 players competed for an $86,100 prize pool and a crystal trophy. The final table was set with 9 players due to a double bustout on the final table bubble. The final table was set at 12:30am and only one truly short stack was present to begin final table action.
The first elimination occurred on the very first hand when Brian Tinney, an engineer from Oceanside, CA, pushed all in from the button with an A-10. He was called by Scott Preston, a photographer for Bluff Magazine, who was holding pocket 9's. The board came K-Q-5-3-10. The river 10 saved Brian and sent Scott out in 9th place for $1,290.
It took 3 more hands before Hon Le, a professional and previous champion from event #6, raised preflop and was called by James Lee, a loan officer from Buena Park, CA. The flop was Qc-8c-3h. James check/called Hon's 16,000 bet. The turn was a third club (5c) and James check raised (all-in) Hon's 16,000 turn bet. Hon instantly called and showed the nuts (Ac-4c). James was drawing dead with pocket 6's and the river was an inconsequential 10h. James Lee finished in 8th place for $1,720.
On hand #16, Anthony Tran was all-in with 6h-4h against Ali Binazir's Q-Jo. The board was K-J-4-2-8 and Ali's pair beat Anthony's pair. Anthony Tran was eliminated in 7th place and earned $2,155.
On hand #19, Hon Le called Darrell Busse's all-in preflop raise. Hon was behind with a 10c-8c to Darrell's Ad-3d. The board was Qc-Jd-9d-3c-9c. Hon flopped a straight to Darrell's flush draw. But then Hon improved his hand to a flush by the runner-runner clubs. Darrell Busse finished in 6th place and earned $3,015.
On the first hand of Level 13 with blinds raised to 1,500/3,000 with a 500 ante, Dana K, the short stack entering the final table, pushed all-in for his last 3,000. He was called in two spots by Tom Prillo and Ali Binazir. The flop came K-5-3 and Ali bet out 6,000. Tom min-raised to 12,000 and Ali folded. Tom showed K-8 and Dana showed his Q-3. Dana was drawing thin and the turn/river were 6-A and Tom's pair of Kings were best. Dana K was eliminated in 5th place for $3,875. Not a bad finish considering Dana started the final table with 5 big blinds. Dana was, by far, enjoying himself at the final table and was adamant about mentioning his sponsor: The Cigar Lounge in Granada Hills, CA.
On hand #46, Tom Prillo raised preflop and was called by Brian Tinney for his last chips. Tom held A-6o and Brian held K-9. The board was K-K-2-3-K and Brian made quad Kings. Tom Prillo, from Hollywood, CA finished in 4th place for $5,165.
On hand #58, Brian Tinney re-raised Hon Le all-in with a Q-7 and Hon called with a J-10. The board was Q-9-4-K-9 where Brian hit top pair on the flop but Hon turned a King-high straight. Brian was eliminated in 3rd place and collected $7,750.
Heads up play began with Hon Le's 2:1 chip lead over Ali Binazir. On the fifth hand heads up, Hon Le completed the small blind and Ali raised it to 15,000. Hon Le re-raised all-in and Ali called. Ali's K-Q had Hon's K-6 dominated. The flop of J-9-2 missed both players. The turn Ace also misses but the river 6 is one of Hon's three outs and this match is over. Ali Binazir finished runner up and collected $15,930. Hon Le takes the title, his second in one week, and received the remaining $32,285 of the prize pool.
-Jay 'Bugsy' Siegel
BIOGRAPHY
Hon Le is best known as 'The Kamikaze Kid' after his World Poker Tour season 1 runner up finish. His continual raising and betting always leaves his opponent with a tough decision. Sometimes Hon has the goods and sometimes he doesn't but his opponents just don't know. Hon came to the U.S. from Viet Nam in 1982 and currently resides in Bell Gardens, CA. Bell Gardens is also the home of The Bicycle Casino where Hon has multiple cashes every year. Hon Le was coached by Men 'The Master' Nguyen and has emerged as a feared competitor at any final table.
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