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William Gerics is all smiles after a long battle in the $220 7-Card Stud event.
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Gerics Wins Big Hands
By Steven E. Way
"Dealers, shuffle up and deal." was the now familiar refrain as the Tournament Director got the action underway yesterday afternoon here at the New England Poker Classic at Foxwoods Resort Casino. The prize pool of over $50,000 was generated by the 259 players entering the $220 Limit 7-Card Stud event.
The final table action commenced at just after 10 last evening, and saw the contestants play fairly conservatively. Daniel Brodsky of Bayside, NY was the first to be eliminated, claiming eighth place after both he and Ron Schnell of Pembroke Pines, FL both went all-in for $3,500 based on pocket pairs. Both men finished with two pair, Schnell adding 4's to his Aces while Brodsky added Kings to his Jacks.
Seventh place would take a raise in the limits before being decided, eventually going to Foxwoods favorite James Kinsey of Cape Cod, MA. Kinsey had a four flush and paired an Ace on fifth street and decided to go all-in. Schnell would again be the spoiler, holding his straight draw but pairing twice with 8's and 5's.
Rudy Drautz of Brooklyn, NY would claim sixth place. Drautz has made several in the money mentions in this year's tournament, including a third place finish. Drautz pushed all his chips into action when he started with 7, 8, 9 of diamonds. He paired the 7, picked up a 5 and a 4 and watched the river make two pair with another 4. His opponent, William Gerics of Manasquan, NJ would take his pocket Kings and add a pair of Queens to collect the pot.
The remaining five players all sat nearly expressionless for over an hour. Hand after hand would go unchallenged, resulting only in antes changing locations. Schnell would eventually claim fifth place when Leo DeSouza took him all-in with Kings full. Schnell mucked the hand after seeing the Kings, saying only "I had something less than that."
The remaining four players took a short break and then returned to higher limits, now $10,000-20,000. Still playing very cautiously, no hand went to showdown for nearly 45 minutes. The pace of play caused Tournament Director Mike Ward to comment "I just want to remind you all, you are in a casino." which brought a laugh from the four remaining players.
After the breaking of the tension, action did loosen up some, and soon Anthony Lombardi of North Providence, RI would go all-in with a straight draw for his last few chips and could only watch as Gerics made 5's full.
Soon DeSouza would join Lombardi on the rail. DeSouza, who was the chip leader just a few short hands earlier, wound up going all-in for his last $15,000 holding pocket Queens. Gerics called the early bet and would roll over two small pairs at the end to take the pot.
Now both Gerics and his remaining opponent Robert Campbell of Brookline, MA had almost even stacks. The slow play earlier would take it's toll quickly, as one aggressive hand would diminish Campbell's stacks and then force him all-in for the last few chips with a pair of Deuces. Gerics, holding 10's watched the Dealer burn and turn the last cards of the evening and make him the newest champion.
Final Table Positions
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