Behzad Teranie Wins Mariani/Buss Charity Tournament
The 2008 Legends of Poker continued with Event #24, a $1,070 buy-in Frank Mariani/Jerry Buss No Limit Hold'em charity tournament. A field of 116 players made 41 rebuys and generated $15,700 to go to the Lakers Youth Foundation leaving $136,590 in the prize pool.
Final table play began with 27:46 left at level 12 with blinds at 1,500/3,000 with a 500 ante. Ian Kim arrived to the final table as the chip leader with 195,500 of 942,000 chips in play.
There were 22 hands dealt before the first elimination. On hand #23 Alex Tran was all-in with A-J against Behzad Teranie's A-K. The flop of K-10-3 gave Teranie top pair of Kings but Tran picked up an extra out with an inside straight draw. The turn 5 and river 10 did not improve Tran's hand as he was eliminated in 10th place for $2,390.
Just a few hands later Scott Montgomery was all-in with J-9 on the flop of J-3d-10d. Teranie held 8d-7d for straight and flush draws. The turn came a 4d giving Teranie the flush and after the river came Jd, Montgomery, who is one of the 'November Nine' at the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event, out in 9th place for $2,730.
On the very next hand Steve Borgo was all-in with K-5 against Stan Zoanowich's A-8. After the board came 4-8-J-3-4 Zoanowich's pair of 8's was good enough to send Borgo out in 8th place for $3,075.
Hand #44 proved to be dramatic as Ahmad Hooshmand raised pre-flop with pocket Aces. Behzad Teranie pushed all-in from the small blind with Ac-Kc and Hooshmand called instantly. The flop came 10c-5-4c as Hooshmand's Aces were in the lead but Teranie now had a flush draw. The turn came a 3 and with Teranie's calling for one more club the 9c fell on the river giving Teranie's an Ace high flush and a huge pot sending Hooshmand out in 7th place for $3,415.
Couple hands later Arnold Spee was all-in with pocket Queens against Fred Rhyme's A-J. Spee was in a good spot to double up but after the flop came 2-A-4 he found himself needing one of two Queens remaining in the deck. The turn came 5 and now a river 3 would put a wheel on the board for a split pot. However, another Ace fell on the river sending Spee, a former World Poker Tour champion, out in 6th place for $4,780.
Hand #56 saw Lawrence Whyte all-in with K-9 against Ian Kim's 8-4 on a flop of Q-8-8. After blanks hit the turn and river Whyte was out in 5th place for $6,145.
Stan Zoanowich arrived to the final table as one of the short stacks but was able to hang around until hand #64 when he put his last chips in with 6-2 against Teranie's K-2. After the board came K-K-J-Q-4, Teranie's trip Kings sent Zoanowich out in 4th place for $8,195.
On hand #81 Ian Kim raised from the button with Fred Rhyme calling from the small blind. Rhyme checked a flop of 5-Q-2. Kim pushed all-in with K-9 and Rhyme called with his Ace high. The turn came a Jack keeping Rhyme in the lead. The river came a 9 giving Kim a pair of 9's and the pot sending Rhyme out in 3rd place for $12,975.
Heads up play only lasted 3 hands. Both players got their money in pre-flop with Teranie holding A-9 against Kim's A-Q. Kim was in a great spot to double up and take a commanding chip lead however the window card was a 9 as the flop came 3-K-9. The turn 9 sealed it for Teranie. The river came a Jack to officially finish it as Kim is out in 2nd place for $25,270. Behzad Teranie's trip 9's gave him all of the chips as he became the winner of event #24.
O.J. Alcaraz
BIOGRAPHY
Behzad Teranie is in the jewelry business. When he came to the final table he felt he had a great chance to take this tournament down as he was 2nd in chips. He says whenever he has chips at a final table he is confident in his ability to close a tournament.
Teranie is mostly a tournament player with occasional cash game sessions at 5-10 no-limit hold'em. He plans on playing the main event at Legends of Poker as the Bike has been good to him this year including a win at a $300 NLH with rebuys at Winnin O' The Green.
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