Dean Factor Dominates Final
Omaha Hi-Lo Table
The 2008 Winnin' o' the Green series attracted 117 Omaha Hi-Lo players to event #13 which created a $34,047 prize pool. The final nine players were set at the final table about 12:10am. Although there were several short stacks, each player had their eye on the first place payout of $12,862.
The first elimination occurred on hand #5 when Walter Smiley was all-in against chipleader Dean Factor. Walter held A-4-7-K and Dean had A-5-6-Q. The board came A-4-x-5-J and Dean's two pair of Aces and 5s edged out Walter's Aces and 4s. Neither player had a low hand and Dean scooped the pot. Walter Smiley finished in 9th place and won $680.
It took 20 more hands before another player was eliminated. The short stacks were busy doubling up and the chipleader Dean Factor was slowly building his stack. On hand #25 Susan Lee was all-in preflop with 2 other player creating a side pot. Dean Factor showed A-5-J-K and Kevin La Monica showed A-3-4-Q. The board was 9-5-4-Q-K and each player made two pair but the river King made a higher two pair for Dean (Kings & 5s). There was no possibility for a low hand. Susan Lee mucked her cards after seeing Dean's two pair and finished in 8th place for $765.
Two hands later a three-way pot developed where Eric Wong was all-in on the turn against Manolito Navarro and Ray Bonavida. Eric held A-6-Q-10 while Ray had 3-5-5-7 and Manolito was holding 8-8-J-10. The board came Ad-10d-8-8-5d. Fierce betting to the river between Ray and Manolito ended with Manolito quad 8s taking the high and Ray's 3-7 low taking the other ½ pot. Eric Wong's surrendered his two pair and accepted his 7th place finish for $850.
On hand #35 the hand went too fast for me to get all the action and cards but this is what I can accurately report to you: Manolito Navarro was all-in and covered by Ray Bonavida. Manolito had a strong A-A-Q-8 and Ray showed A-8-Q-J. Very similar hands and both playing for the same low. The board was x-x-x-Q-J with no low possibility. Ray's Jack gave him two pair to edge out Manolito's pair of Queens. Manolito Navarro finished in 6th place and received $1,190.
Hand #43 followed a few large pots ending heads-up and each taking ½ the pot. Kevin La Monica got Jacqueline Britton all-in on the turn. Jacqueline, starting last in chips at the final table, had worked her short stack effectively in outlasting four opponents so far. Jacqueline had A-9-J-J against Kevin's K-Q-7-4. The board was K-5-4-5-7 and Kevin's Kings and 7s scooped the high-only pot. Jacqueline Britton finished in 5th place for $1,530. A very respectable finish considering she started with 8,000 chips of the 234,000 total.
Three hands later Josh McSparren was all-in on the turn in a three-way pot between Kevin La Monica and Dean Factor. The board was 4-3-2-K-4 and Dean bet Kevin out of the pot on the river. Dean showed A-2-5-6 for the nut straight and nut low (wheel). Josh showed an A-2-3-10 for the second best high hand and no low. Josh McSparren, in his second final table appearance at the 2008 WOG, finished in 4th place and took home 2,045.
The last elimination of the night occurred on hand #51 in 3-way action to the flop. The board was A-J-2-2-x and Ray Bonavida was all-in pre-flop. Kevin bet Dean out of the pot holding an A-3-4-K for Aces-up. Ray showed 3-3-5-7 for 3's up. I'm fairly sure there was a low hand and Kevin's 3-4 bested Ray's 3-5. Ray Bonavida was eliminated in 3rd place and earned $3,235.
Both Kevin and Dean struck a deal heads-up and no hands were played. Dean holding a 3:1 chip lead over Kevin was declared the winner and received $12,862 plus one WOG trophy. Kevin La Monica finished runner up and earned $6,300. Kevin played A LOT of hands and really had the final table confused. They were frustrated by not being able to put Kevin on a hand and often avoided pots raised by Kevin. He took some heat by the other players (and anyone who has played with Kevin knows how much heat he spews) but only because they could not figure him out.
-- Jay 'Bugsy' Siegel
BIOGRAPHY
Dean Factor, co-founder and CEO of Smashbox Cosmetics, is the grandson (or great-grandson depending on where you read) of the late Max Factor. Dean was too modest to discuss his heritage so I went to the internet. Cosmetics are in his genes and both he and his brother Davis started a line of cosmetics to be used their own photo studio and now markets it to the public. Poker is his hobby which he regulates to once a week cash games and plays tournaments occasionally. He plays Omaha 8/b, Limit, and No Limit Hold'em cash games and tournaments. Dean learned poker from reading dozens of books and applying many business savvy principles at the poker table. Dean was active in many pots and had his share of ups and downs in some big pots but overall he kept his stack growing slowly and took out 3 final table opponents (4 if you include Kevin).
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