| A field of 73 players began play on Wednesday in pursuit of the title of the 2008 Foxwoods Poker Classic
$5000 No-Limit Championship and a prize pool totaling $339,888. The nine man Final Table got under way at noon on
Thursday and after more than 4 hours of play, Lornie Smith of Ellsworth, ME, emerged as the proud possessor of the
Championship Trophy, commemorative leather jacket and $85,513!!
The Final Table short stack, Justin Bonomo, was all-in soon after the game was underway with K6.
Amnon Filippi called with A2 and with no help from the board, Justin was in 9th position. The Sherman Oaks, CA,
resident took home $13,595. Joseph Brooks of Egg Harbor Township, NJ, had pocket 8's for his all-in. Lornie had
AJ and a 10 on the flop, a K on the turn and a river Q gave him a straight; Joe was the 8th place winner of $15,295.
Amnon Filippi was all-in with Jh10h after a QhJhA flop but Jared Okun with K10 had flopped a straight. With no
further help, Amnon, a resident of New York City, had $16,994 for 7th place. Christopher Bush of Mission, British
Columbia, Can, was all-in for 50K in the SB with pocket 10's; Lornie, in the BB, called immediately with pocket A's.
Chris could not improve and he was out in 6th position good for $18,694.
Of the 5 players remaining, Sam Bernstein of Englewood, NJ, was the short stack and called Jared Okun's
all-in with pocket 8's. But Jared, with AQ, turned a straight and Sam was left with $22,093 for his 5th place finish.
Bernard Lee had a roller coaster ride to his 4th place finish. Bernard left Bill Gazes with 120K and then was down to
100K when he refused to call Lornie's all-in. Ultimately, Bernard, down to his last 50K, was all-in with 102 after a 982
flop and was called by Bill with pocket 5's. A 7 on the turn gave Bernard hope but a 4 on the river gave the hand to
Bill. Bernard, a resident of Wayland, MA, was the 4th place winner of $27,191.
Now with 3 players remaining, Lornie Smith was the chip leader with Jared Okun and Bill Gazes in 2nd and
3rd respectively. After a discussion the players decided that Lornie would lock up $65,000 and Bill and Jared $60,000
each. The remaining money would be divided 50% for 1st, 30% for 2nd and 20% for 3rd. Almost immediately after
play resumed Lornie bet 40K after a 5QA flop; Bill raised to 80K and Lornie went all-in. Bill thought for some time
before calling with A8; but Lornie had A5 and Bill Gazes was the 3rd place winner of $68,205 to take home to Las
Vegas, NV.
Lornie now had almost a 2 to 1 chip advantage over Jared Okun. Jared bet 25K which Lornie raised to
50K; Jared went all-in with AJ and Lornie called immediately, once again with pocket A's. Jared, also a resident of Las
Vegas, NV, got no help from the board and he would have $72,308 for his 2nd place finish.
And Lornie Smith was the winner of the 2008 Foxwoods Poker Classic $5000 No-Limit Championship!!
Reported by Jeffrey A Toth for Foxwoods Resort Casino |
