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Worcester firefighter Carlo Sciannameo, tired but happy after winning the No Limit Hold 'em Championship event.
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Carlo Outlasts All Others
By Steven E. Way
As the final scene of the final act of this year's tournament began yesterday afternoon here at Foxwoods Resort Casino, all the players were in good spirits and wishing each other well. The contests this year allowed some old friends to reacquaint themselves and many new friends were made around the poker tables. The contest, $220 No-Limit Hold 'em with unlimited rebuys and optional single or double add-ons, took place on Patriots Day, a New England tradition befitting the New England Poker Classic.
The prize pool, the largest of this years tourney, created a first place prize of almost $30,000. The cast of players all acted out their best roles, and after nine hours had eliminated all but the final table. After the dinner break, the action would resume, all the remaining players having made the money. Action would start slow, each player hoping to make it to the top.
After the first hour, no player had yet to be eliminated. The first to be was Anthony Farrell of Rockland, MA who played Ace 7 after the flop came Ace King Queen. Eric Nuss of St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada would make the call and rolled over Ace Queen for the win.
Taking eighth place would be Denton Nelson of Burlington, Ontario, Canada after he played all-in with Ace Jack after the flop showed Ace 4, 4. The winner would again show with Ace Queen, this time belonging to Ray DiDonato of Laurel Springs, DE.
Michael May of New York, NY would finish in sixth place.
May played all-in with Ace Jack off suit Jacob Horowitz of Sydney, Australia called and exposed his King Queen. The men both watched as the flop came King King 7.
James Bucci, Jr. of Hollywood, MD was eliminated playing Ace 5 and with no paired rags on board felt strong and called the bet all-in. DiDonato, with his Pocket Queens had bet and congratulated his friend Bucci.
Fifth would be decided when Horowitz pushed all-in pre flop with Queen Jack and was called by Carlo Sciannameo of Worcester, MA with a pocket pair of Jacks. The board brought no help for either player, and Horowitz was sent to the rail.
Sciannameo then went on to also bust out DiDonato. With a multi-colored flop of Queen 6, 4 Sciannameo checked to DiDonato who pushed all-in for $1,300 and got the call. The turn and river came rag rag and both men showed a Queen but Sciannameo also held a 4 for the win.
Nuss would be next to be eliminated when he went all-in based on Ace 5 off suit. Scott Byron of East Elmridge, NJ called the bet with pocket Kings. Both men then watched as the flop and turn came all diamond, but there would be no help for either hand.
The heads up play of Sciannameo and Byron would last for nearly two hours, with the chip lead changing hands several times. As the tournament structure was eclipsed for the first time this year at just after 4 a.m., the new limits were set at $6,000-12,000 with a $2,000 ante. The players had nearly even stakes at this point and it was any ones game to have.
The final hand began with a pre flop $32,000 all-in wager from Byron holding 10 8 suited. Sciannameo called with a Jack 5 suited and the men watched a rainbow flop appear with a Jack and a pair of Treys. The turn brought a 10 for some drama and the river brought and 8, but the flop was all Sciannameo needed to become the star of the closing act of this years New England Poker Classic.
Final Table Positions
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