Tony Criniti and his new lucky cigar after winning the $550 7-Card Stud event.
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Criniti Lights 'em Up
By Steven E. Way
On a rainy Sunday afternoon here at Foxwoods Resort Casino 124 players all arrived ready for the day's action at the New England Poker Classic. The event, the $550 7-Card Stud contest, would have a total prize pool of $64,000.
After giving the players long dinner break, Tournament Director Mike Ward made his now customary speech to the final table at just after 9 last evening.
The play was some of the most aggressive yet of the tournament, leading to the early exit of Tony Pham of Boston, MA. Pham pushed all-in with a straight draw, needing an Ace or a 9, and would wind up losing to the pair of Aces held by John Rooney of Framingham, MA.
Seventh place was soon claimed by Nicholas Stefos of Worcester, MA after he played his last $4,000 holding Jacks but would lose the pot to "Lightening" Lou Avitabile of Hanover, MA who had pocket Kings.
Robbie Johnson of Portland, ME would take down the sixth place prize after he played Aces and got no help as Steve "Crunch" Daniel of Belmont, MA made a diamond flush to take the pot.
Four of the the remaining five players all saw the huge chip lead amassed by Avitabile, and saw no benefit to holding back. Rooney, who had already survived a couple of close calls eventually was eliminated while holding a big pair against a wheel belonging to Tony Criniti of Southampton, PA, and collected the fifth place award of almost $5,000.
Fourth would be decided a short time later, when Christian Ivens of Miami, FL pushed all-in with a pocket pair of Deuces while Criniti showed Aces and 4's for the win.
"Crunch" Daniel of Belmont, MA could hold out no longer. With pocket Kings, he went all-in while Criniti called and watched his pair of 7's turn into two more pairs of Jacks and 8's.
The contest would last only a few more short hands as Criniti, playing textbook poker, put his now huge chip lead to work. Avitabile would finally go all-in with a pair of 4's and get no help while Criniti would only need one of the pairs of Jacks and 9's to win the $550 7-Card Stud championship.
Final Table Positions
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