Canadian Ish Hazuria
Not H.O.R.S.E.'n Around
The 2008 Winnin' o' the Green drew 140 players willing to invest $335 into the only mixed game event in the 2008 WOG series. 140 players exceeded expectations and the players were eager to play, each talking about their game of choice. One player said they didn't even know how to play Razz and they would treat that as a 20 minute break.
The final table was set at 6:30am as the sun was coming up and the table talk was surrounding everyone's work/school schedule for the day. The final table began with Omaha 8/b with blinds of 500/1,000.
The first elimination occurred when Timothy Pong was all-in against Ish Hazuria. Timothy showed As-4s-x-x and Ish showed K-K-7-7. The board was K-10-6s-Xs-10s and even though Timothy made the nut flush, Ish filled-up when the river paired the board. Timothy tried to shoot an angle to get the pot pushed to him but after a slight hesitation, the dealer and the table got the pot pushed to the proper player. Timothy was eliminated in 8th place.
The next elimination came during the Razz round when Gina Hecht got it all-in on 6th street with (A-4) 4-7-2-7 against "Reno" Muniz's (9-5) A-7-6-5. Gina drew an Ace on the river for giving her 2-pair (3-pair in total) and Reno drew a deuce for a 7 low. Gina Hecht finished in 7th place and earned $1,220.
It took 25 more hands before the next elimination in the Stud Hi-Lo round. With 3 players in the pot after 4th street, Fred Dakduk was all-in. In the end, Fred had (7h-8h) 4-4-7-8 (Q) and was beaten by Reno Muniz and his (J-J) 7-3-A-7 (8). Reno scoops with Jacks-up. Neither player had a low and Fred Dakduk was eliminated in 6th place for $1,630.
In the next round, the game was Limit Hold'em and Josh McSparren, a 3-time final table player in the WOG series, got it all-in with a 7-5 in his big blind against Reno Muniz's Q-3. The board came Q-J-7-8-3 and Josh was behind the entire hand (but definitely not drawing dead). Josh took his 3-for-3 cashes streak in this series by finishing in 5th place for $2,040.
At 8:10am on hand #49 Candace Liu was all-in after the flop in Omaha 8/b. Candace had A-K-K-8 and Ish Hazuria showed 2-3-5-7 on a board of Q-6-3-3-5. Ish picked up a boat on the river for the high and a 7-low edging out Candace's 8-low. Candace Liu was eliminated in 4th place and took home $2,445.
The last hand of the event occurred on hand #52 in Omaha 8/b. Tom Bodnar, from Phoenix, AZ was all-in after the flop against Ish Hazuria. The board was A-J-4-J-6. Tom had K-Q-10-5 missing his straight draw and Ish showed K-Q-J-8 for trip Jacks.
Ish scooped the high-only pot and eliminated Tom Bodnar in 3rd place.
Going into heads-up play, Ish had a 4.5:1 chip lead and made an offer to Reno Muniz. After a bit of negotiation, the deal was accepted and this final table is over…time: 8:25am. Ish Hazuria wins the H.O.R.S.E event.
-- Jay "Bugsy" Siegel
BIOGRAPHY
Ish Hazuria traveled from Toronto, Canada with a friend to play a week of tournament poker at The Bicycle Casino. His buddy won last night's Hold'em event and he is very excited to accomplish the back-to-back win. Ish has been playing some kind of poker for over 18 years but serious poker for the last 3-4 years. Ish learned many card games involving math & strategy from his great-grandmother including the Eastern Indian game of Flash (similar to Mexican Poker). He recalls playing Rummy and other memory-type of card games with his great-grandmother and dedicates this win to her. This is Ish's first trip to Los Angeles and he is impressed with the number of cash games available and the table side food service here at The Bike.
CHIP COUNTS ARRIVING AT FINAL TABLE
Candace Liu $34,500
Gina Hecht $8,000
Josh McSperren $23,500
"Reno" Rick Muniz $39,500
Tom Bodnar $67,500
Ishdeep Hazuria $70,500
Timothy Pong $20,500
Fred Dakduk $16,000 | 
