Adam Goldgell
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Goldgell Has Midas Touch
By Steven E. Way
Midweek here at the New England Poker Classic tournament being held at Foxwoods Resort Casino brought about the first stud event which featured unlimited rebuys. With 155 entrants each averaging about two rebuys each, the prize pool quickly grew to one of the largest yet at just over 50,000 dollars.
The event was also one of the fastest yet held, clocking in at just under 14 hours from start to finish. The final table of eight experienced poker players assembled at just before midnight after starting play at noon.
After just a few hands, Eddie Fishman of New York, NY was the first to make an exit. Fishman, who now has made the final table in three events, came woefully short stacked with only $8,100. A pair of treys prompted Fishman to push all-in, but a pair of Kings laid down by the eventual champ Adam Goldgell of Hicksville, NY would take the pot and set the scene for the rest of the action.
The second short stack would also make a quick departure. Charlie Townsend of Rehoboth, DE was in with all his chips and mucked a pair of fours after Goldgell again showed down with a better pair, Aces this time.
Thomas Leavey of East Bridgewater, MA would hold on a little longer, but would eventually be left at the felt holding a pair of Queens and a flush draw. Tim Sheary of New Britain, CT would see his pocket Aces survive and claim the pot.
Sheary would be the next to go however, claiming fifth place after seeing his two pair - fives and treys beat by Goldgell's Queens up.
The final four players presented the story of the match visually. The three players in seats one two and three looking across the table at Goldgell sitting in the seven seat.
Roger Proulx of Dracut, MA would try to double up his stacks with two pair against Patrick Burton of Virginia Beach, VA. The bad news for Proulx was that Burton was sitting with trip Aces and he was eliminated.
Next came two huge pots which would all but end the competition Paul Katinas of Worcester, MA would be left short stacked and finally forced to play all-in with a pair of fives. Goldgell, now smelling victory, would end Katinas's quest with Queens up, and leaving the contest heads up.
Now, a big play by the underdog Burton with a Queen high club flush would see nearly all his chips in action. Goldgell took the pot down with his Ace high heart flush.
The end came on the very next hand as Goldgell played to get Burton's remaining chips all-in. Burton's only draw missed, and Goldgell's of course hit. A diamond flush was the final hand of this spectacular event.
Final Table Positions
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