Bronislav Berezovsky
|
Bronislav Busts ’em
Steven E. Way
Limit Hold’em was the game, and the field of 154 hardened players all came to play. With a first prize of over $15,000 the action would be measured and sure, but would take the bold and creative to win the day. With the last Hold’em championship of this year’s “New England Poker Classic” tournament on the line, the cards were in the air at 11:00 in the morning.
When the final table was finally culled from the field, the remaining ten players were some of the best on the east coast, each one capable of winning the event. When play resumed after the dinner break, Michael Hills of Niantic, Connecticut would take little time in getting eliminated. Looking down at Pocket sevens and with a short stack, Hills pushed all-in against the big stack Harold Weiner on New London, Connecticut who played ten, nine off and had the board bring him one more of each without any help for Hills hand.
Ninth place was claimed by Thomas King of Hull, Massachusetts when he pushed in with Ace, five against an eight, seven belonging to David Pacheco of Fall River, Massachusetts. With a flop of Ace, eight, Jack, Hull was ahead, but the turn came eight and a river Queen finished the tale.
Foxwoods living legend Edward Ross of nearby Ledyard, Connecticut was the next sent to the rail when he played his last chips with King, ten against an Ace, five played by Stefano Berio of Norwich,
Soon it was Helmut “Hal” Koch’s turn to collect seventh place. Koch was forced to play seven, Trey off suit and could only watch as Bronislav Berezovsky of Brooklyn, New York played with Ace, four, and managed to have fours full by the turn.
Now playing for sixth position, James Mitchell of Atlantic City, New Jersey committed his chips with pocket Queens while John Sygiel of Niantic, Connecticut played with him with pocket eights, which he turned into eights full of sevens.Connecticut. The flop brought the only help for each man, a pair of fours, leaving Berio’s Ace to play.
Berio was then eliminated by the infamous Pacheco. With Pacheco on the small blind holding pocket Kings, Berio on the button went all-in with Ace, Queen. With a Queen high board, the deed was done.
Fourth place was claimed by Sygiel playing Ace, Six against an Ace, ten played by Berezovsky who held on to have the ten play.
Weiner who was now playing as the short stack bet all-in with six, five after he flopped a straight draw. Berezovsky called a with his pair of Kings which stood up for the win.
Berezovsky, who earlier on the final table had just three chips, was now the chip leader. After picking away at Pacheco’s remaining stake, the final hand came after twelve hours of play at just before 11:00 last evening. With Pacheco all-in on the big blind playing King, seven, Berezovsky called with six, Trey off and watched the board make a straight for the championship.
|
