Dennis Maguire winds up with the trophy and all the chips at the conclusion of the $120 No-Limit Texas Hold 'em event.
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Maguire Menaces Field
By Steven E. Way
Sixteen hours is all it took to crown a champion in yesterday's $120 buy-in No-Limit Texas Hold 'em event. This year's champion, Dennis Maguire of Peabody, MA was awarded his trophy at just after 4 a.m.
The event which featured one optional rebuy, was started with a field of 318 at high noon in the tournament area just outside the main poker room. Twelve hours later the final table was convened, and another four hours would be needed to bring the event to completion.
The final table was already down to 8 players as a result of a tie between the number 9 and 10 positions, and Raymond Houle of Terryville, CT would waste no time in leaving 7 players to finish things off. Houle pushed all-in for $10,700 after flopping a pair of Jacks. The button, Robert Lee of Kingston, Ontario, Canada would not need any help for his pocket Aces to take the pot and eliminate Houle.
Thomas Cope of Dobbs Ferry, NY came to the final table woefully short stacked, and made several aggressive plays, at one point doubling up three hands in a row to get back in contention. Unfortunately, what is given, may also be taken away. Cope would push all-in for $11,000 and be eliminated by Maguire's two pair.
Now at almost 2 a.m., and the blinds at $1,500-3,000 with a $500 ante, Jacob Horowitz, transplanted to New York City from down under Sydney, Australia would be the next player eliminated from play. Horowitz pushed all-in with a pair of Aces, and a pair of fours to take down the pot.
Now down to the fearless five, play would slow as each remaining contestant looked for the edge that would take them closer to the top. Robert Lee would become the number 5 finisher after playing very aggressively earlier, but succumbing to the never-ending blinds. Pushing all-in for his last $16,000 on the button with a pre-flop draw, Maguire again added to his stacks when the board came all rags leaving Maguire's Ace high the winner.
Thomas O'Boyle would stage a valiant defense, repelling numerous attacks against his short stacks, but eventually O'Boyle took a stand on the small blind with jack, 10. Dr. Willard Noyes of Thompson, PA would make the call holding Queen, 9. After the board brought only a pair of Aces, Noyes stacked the pot while O'Boyle collectded fourth place.
Now the clock was reading almost 3 a.m. and the clear chip leader Maguire showed no signs of letting the other players, both on much shorter stacks, back into contention. One of the few hands Maguire played was against Noyes who pushed all-in pre-flop. Noyes mucked his hand without showing after Maguire exposed his pocket Kings.
It would take another hour of heads up play to get to the awarding of the trophy, and Michael Keohand of West Orange, NJ who played very steady and solid all night, suddenly became aggressive and at one point took the chip lead away from Maguire. But the lead would not hold up, as Maguire would eventually claim first place with a pair of Jacks against Keohan's missed draws.
Final Table Positions
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