Charlie Boncich
|
Charlie is King of the Sea
By Steven E. Way
The final table at yesterday's New England Poker Classic $220 Omaha 8 or Better event was made up predominantly of players regularly seen at the daily Omaha table here at Foxwoods Resort Casino. The contest started at noon, and with a field of 141 passionate Omaha players the event seemed destined to take most of the day to conclude. Instead it would wind down at just after 10 last night.
The fastest finish so far came with the help of the players who were playing very aggressive poker all afternoon. The aggressive nature carried tight into the final table when Dean Schulz of Akron, OH got to play his one and only final table hand. Schultz pushed in his few remaining chips on Ace, 3 , 7, 8 made pairs with both the Ace and 7 but left the pot behind as Charles Boncich of Huntington, NY began his push to the championship with pocket Kings and making trips on the river.
The number 8 spot would go to local legend James Justice of nearby Lisbon, CT who missed his straight draw to 10's full held by Reiko Miletich of Croston, MD and had his low cracked by Rachel Bryce of Fitchburg, MA.
The eventual winner Boncich had Jose` Santos of Lady Lake Village, NY make an all-in bet. Santos survived when Boncich missed his low drawn, didn't make the call and then showed what he was playing - Kings full. Some moaning and groaning around the table, but Boncich regained his composure and would eventually overcome the adversity.
The next player eliminated, Arthur Peters of Mount Pleasant, NJ went all-in with Ace King and made pairs with both. He would be beat by a wheel proudly laid down by John Robertson of Mitchellville, MD.
Miletich thought trip Aces would be good and pushed all-in. Unfortunately, both he and Boncich had trip Aces and Boncich's Queen out out kicked his by a pip.
Santos, who survived the earlier scare, would have to make his stand just before the limit were about to rise with Jack, 3, 4, 5. Robert Paternostro of Hope Valley, RI would use the trip 10's on the board with his Ace kicker to take the pot.
The final four would play together the longest, trading the blinds back and forth several times before Bryce would get Robertson all-in. Robertson displayed his trip Queens at show down but excused himself after seeing Bryce's 7 high straight.
Bryce would be next to fall, again to Boncich. With the blinds at $2,000-4,000 she pushed all-in after making fives and fours on the flop. Boncich made the small call and watched the river bring him a King for Kings up and the pot.
Only one more hand would be needed to eliminate the now short stacked Paternostro. Boncich, playing in his usual aggressive style, used two pair, Queens up to put Paternostro all-in after the flop. The turn and river brought none of the help Paternostro needed, and he exited the contest by congratulating the winner Boncich on his victory.
Final Table Positions
| 
