Poker Tournament Results

Big Poker Oktober

Edward Vartanian

Tournament Report

Edvard Vartanian Earns No Limit Title Event #8 of Big Poker October was the second multi-rebuy event in the series. 348 players purchased 719 rebuys to drive the prize pool up to $51,750. With 3.2M chips in play and the blinds of 15K/30K (ante 5K), the 3am final table had most of the players feeling short stacked. Prior to play at the final table a chip count deal was calculated but the field could not arrive at a consensus and play started at 3:15am. The first hand of the final table resulted in the first elimination. Travis Case, the short stack at the table, also drew the big blind. With 1/3 of his chips already committed, he pushed the rest all in without concern for his holdings. The details were not available but his hand did not do the "short stack double-up" and Travis finished on hand #1 in 10th place for $645. Hand #2 was just as effective as the first for Jeremiah Plager who raised from the button with an A-Q and was called all-in by the big blind David Taylor with K-9. The flop hit both players with Q-9-7 but Jeremiah's top pair had David looking for more help. The turn 8 and river Jack did not change the lead and David Taylor, in his second final table of the series, was eliminated in 9th place and earned $775. Hand #3 looked like another knockout situation until the two players remaining in the pot each showed an offsuit A-K. The flop was three spades and neither player held a spade. The final board was Ks-Js-10s-J-2 and the pot was chopped. Each player who mucked preflop claimed to either have a spade or a Jack and talked about their fantasy that they were dragging the entire pot. The all-in rush subsided for about two more hands until hand #6. Edvard Vartanian was raised with pocket 5s and called by the big blind Ignacio Villegas who woke up to pocket Queens. Ignacio with the 4:1 advantage over the chip leader was essentially trying to dodge a 5 on the next five cards. The flop was not favorable to the favorite Ignacio with a 5-4-2. Edvard hits his set and Ignacio is drawing lean to a Queen or running straight cards for the chop. The turn 7 and river Jack spelled the end for Ignacio Villegas and he was eliminated in 8th place for $1,035. A chip count followed as the last 7 players were eager to call it a night. A little negotiation occurred yet it appeared very respectful and direct. The deal was accepted and the chip leader entering the final table, Edvard Vartanian, still held the lead and was declared the winner. -- Jay "Bugsy" Siegel BIOGRAPHY Edvard Vartanian is a Handyman specializing in construction. He has been playing poker for over 18 years and started playing Limit Hold'em cash games. He typically plays cash games ($20/40 Limit Hold'em, $500 No Limit Hold'em) but will play tournaments during the special series. Edvard has won previous tournaments at The Bike and attributes his success to playing by "feeling the game". When asked, Edvard said he did "a couple" of rebuys but was able to accumulate chips early enough not to have too much investment in this multi-rebuy event.