Poker Tournament Results

New England Poker Classic 2001

Place	Name	Prize
1	Stanley C Berry (West Hartford, CT, USA)	$13,320
2	Gardener M Brightman Jr (Fall River, MA)	$8,490
3	Peter Rallis (Monroe, CT, USA)	$5,094
4	Sal A DeViva (Bellerose, NY)	$3,396
5	Henry J Bianchi (West Warwocl. RI)	$1,600
6	Jeffrey King (Colchester, CT, USA)	$1,400
7	Mike R Nash (Atlantic City, NJ)	$1,200
8	Helen M Rachel (Fall River, MA)	$1,000
9	Jason W Cockrill	$500
10	Walter Goodman	$500
11	Jesse H Totten lll (Alexandria, VA)	$500
12	Robert "Bo" Toft (Yardley, PA, USA)	$500
13	George A. Materas (Ledyard, CT, USA)	$450
14	Frank Stenz AKA "ROPE" (Goodyear, AZ, USA)	$450
15	Alfred Pizzimento (Marlboro, MA, USA)	$450
16	Hank A Hefka	$450
17	Bernard Dibuduo (MA, USA)	$400
18	Bernard P Hoye	$400
19	Mike Gabarick (Easton, PA, USA)	$400
20	Joseph W Polansky	$400
21	Michael Salem AKA "BASEBALL MIKE" (Hope Valley, RI, USA)	$350
22	Grace W. Coombs	$350
23	Peter Campo (Waterford, CT, USA)	$350
24	Ernie Eischer	$350
25	William N Whitney lll	$300
26	Anthony C. Lombardi (North Providence, RI, USA)	$300
27	Rick Robricks	$300
28	David Larry	$300
29	Rich T Eilkins	$250
30	Elias Eoanou (Westerly, RI, USA)	$250
31	William P Connor	$250
32	Thomas King (Waterford, MI, USA)	$250
33	Robert W Claeson	$200
34	Robert Medico AKA "Boston Rob" (East Bridgewater, MA, USA)	$200
35	Ann M. King (Hull, MA, USA)	$200
36	Alfred F Crego	$200
37	John T Lounsbury	$150
38	Bob Cleven	$150
39	Steve Coughlin (Glastonbury, CT, USA)	$150
40	Dennis Wottawa	$150

Tournament Report

Stanley Berry Stanley Buries 'em By Steven E. Way The crisp air on a spring morning in New England was a sign of things to come. As the players gathered in the Poker Room in anticipation of the lead off event, the talk was cordial and friendly, old friends catching up on lost time. The mood would snap dramatically at 11:00 when Tournament Director Michael Ward gave his instructions to the Dealers, Shuffle up and deal! The players were all now playing to beat one another, hoping to grab their share of the $43,900 prize pool. With a starting field of 439 players, another Foxwoods Resort Casino record, the players all started out fast, hoping to make a quick hit at the lower limits in order to survive the higher limits. As the field gradually dwindled, play of course became more restricted. The dinner break gave the final two tables a chance to gather strength in order to finish the contest, and by 8:00 last evening, the battle resumed. When play reached the final table of eight, only one lady remained. Helen Rachel of Fall River, Massachusetts was playing from a short stack when she chose to push all-in with a pair of Kings. Peter Rallis of Shelton, Connecticut however had trip nines and took the pot, knocking Helen out. Seventh place would be claimed by Mike Nash of Atlantic City, New Jersey when he played his last few chips after making Queens up but then showing down against Kings up held by Gardner Brightman of Fall River, Massachusetts. Jeffrey King of nearby Colchester, Connecticut would wind up claiming sixth position when he rode Kings and fives to a showdown against Aces and Jacks played by Sal DeViva of Bellerose, New York. Henry Bianchi of West Warwick, Rhode Island decided to make his final stand with a pair of Aces. After pushing all-in, the last cards came, giving DeViva a set of sixes and the pot. With the contest now four handed, play slowed as each remaining man tried to subtly maneuver the others. After a short lull in the action though, Brightman would force DeViva all-in and win the pot with Jacks up which beat DeVivas starting pair of fours. Several conservative rounds of play later, Stanley Berry of West Hartford, Connecticut decided to join in the action by knocking Rallis out of the contest. Confidently, Rallis played all-in with Kings and Jacks but took a beat when Berry showed down with a Jack high straight. The final hand came after almost 12 hours of play when Berry took two pairs, eights over treys, to beat Brightmans pair of fives. After showing down the hands, the two men who moments ago were locked in battle shook hands as the throng of onlookers congratulated Stan on a superb victory.