Gregory P. Raymer
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Raymer Zaps Field
By Steven E. Way
Saturday morning at Foxwoods Resort Casino and the players gathering were ready, willing and able to play in the $120 7-Card Stud event at this years “New England Poker Classic”. The field of 252 entrants included a mix of players from all over the country.
The rebuy period during the first part of the tournament is always the most exciting, and the most dangerous. With unlimited rebuys, trouble lurks for those unfamiliar, while victory can be assured with just the right mix. With over $48,000 in rebuys, the pace of play would be slowed dramatically, letting skill take a greater role in the final outcome.
It would be nearly 9:00 last night before the final table was assembled, the latest so far this year. Several players with short stacks insured some tight play by the leaders. Greg Raymer of nearby Stonington, Connecticut would strike first however, making a wheel to knock John Robertson of Mitchville, Maryland from the event.
Seventh place would soon belong to Daniel Brodsky of Bayside, New York when he failed to get any help for his starting pair of Aces against the Kings up played by David Devoe of Bristol, Connecticut.
Kerry Small of Ventnor, New Jersey would be the next player to meet up with “FossilMan”Raymer. Small was playing a big pair of Kings and went all-in but Raymer managed to catch enough cards to make sevens full and knock Small out.
Raymer would also deliver the eviction notice to Jesse Totten of Alexandria, Virginia. Totten took two pair, tens up, all-in and watch again as Raymer stacked the chips after showing Kings and nines.
With half the field now eliminated, the remaining players were looking to advance. Raymer now stood with a massive chip lead and his solid play would be hard for the remaining players to overcome. First to try, and thus wind up in fourth place would be David Devoe of Bristol, Connecticut. Devoe would put all his remaining chips into the pot with two medium pairs, only to see Raymer showdown with two slightly bigger pairs - as in quad tens.
Third place was claimed by Joseph Blondin of Worcester, Massachusetts when he decided to play tens with his short stack. This time it would be Vincent LePore of Las Vegas, Nevada who would do the eliminating as he played for the win with pocket Aces.
The few extra chips just won by LePore would wind up all-in the next hand as he doubled up on Raymer. Raymer was now playing from the short stack and went all-in himself but produced a King high heart flush to all but cripple LePore.
The next hand would be the final hand as LePore caught Kings to start and pushed all-in. Raymer showed his hand - Ace high as the two watched the remaining cards being dealt. When another Ace fell to Raymer on the river, LePore rose to congratulate Greg.
Mega Kudos to “FossilMan” on a Rock Solid Victory!
Steven E. Way
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