David Fox Runs Off With Turbo Event
By Knocking Out Final Six Players
Atlantic City, NJ—Despite a back-and-forth heads-up match, David "Dr. Fox" Fox had a fairly easy time winning the first turbo tournament ever staged at Harrah's Resort Atlantic City by knocking out his final six opponents. Victory in this event, the 12th in the current WSOP Circuit tour here, was worth $24,096 and a diamond-and-gold trophy ring.
"This may not have been my most lucrative win, but it was certainly the most dominant," he said. Fox, 32, from Coram, New York, was in film/TV production as associate producer for such shows as "Law and Order" before deciding to play full time. He has numerous cashes, his biggest ones being $180,364 and $109,779 for respective wins at the World Poker Finals at Venetian Deep Stack events last year. That year he finished sixth in Card Player's "Player of the Year" rankings.
Fox said he adapted to the turbo structure of 20-miniute levels and 30-seconds-to-act time limit by being willing to take more chances and putting pressure on the shorter stacks. "Otherwise the blinds will eat you up," he explained. "At the same time I was careful not to play hands I wouldn't want to take to the showdown," he added. It also didn't hurt that he had back-to-back pocket aces when he was heads-up.
Eighty percent of Fox's poker time has been devoted to tournaments, but he plans to play more cash games because the money flow should be more consistent, and because there are so many good players in tournaments now. He hopes some day to use his winnings to start his own production company. Fox, who learned poker five years ago from his father, also enjoys watching movies and fine dining. "I'm just a good guy in life," he added.
This event, the first of two turbos in this tournament series, used accelerated play to ensure it could be completed in one day. Poker room manager and tournament director John Arthur said he decided to add them to the schedule after they were well received earlier this year at Caesars Atlantic City, the first time turbo had been tried in the four-year history of Circuit events.
On the first hand after the last 10 assembled at one table, Gary Urban moved in with A-K. He was called by Fox with Ks-10s. Two 10s hit the board, and the final nine were ready to go. Play started with blinds of 6,000-12,000 and 2,000 antes, Since it was the final table, levels doubled to 40 minutes. Fox was already well ahead with 249,000 chips, while Kevin Sanchez and Alan Greenberg were dubiously tied for last with 40,000 each.
Here were the starting chip counts:
Seat 1. Kevin Sanchez 40.000
Seat 2 Al Greenberg 40,000
Seat 3. Tom Masciopinto 178,000
Seat 4. Jue Wang 55,000
Seat 5. Steven Oxler 53,000
Seat 6. August Galioto 60,000
Seat 7. George Machesic 108,000
Seat 8. David Fox 209,000
Seat 9. Brad Young 81,000
In early action, Sanchez went all in with pocket kings. and got a call from Brad Young with Ac-Jc. Two clubs flopped, another turned, and Sanchez was turned loose in ninth place. It paid $744. Sanchez, 33, is a service manager from Zionsville, Pennsylvania who began playing in Friday night games four years ago. This is his best tournament finish.
Next out was Steven "Ox" Oxler. On a flop of 6-A-K, Tom Masciopinto moved in with Q-J, and Oxler called with A-7. Masciopinto hit his straight when a 10 turned, and Oxler cashed eighth for $1,116. Oxler, 61, is an ER physician from Moorestown, New Jersey who is retired from the U.S. Navy. He learned poker from his father two years ago and has multiple small tournament wins here and in Vegas.
Now Fox took over. Two short stacks, Jae "Three Kings" Wang and Alan "Biggie" Greenberg, were all in. Fox and Young called and checked the pot down as the board came 6s-9d-5s-3s-Js. The cards were turned up and Fox, with Qd-4s, was the only player with a spade. He knocked out two players with his flush as Wang, with more chips than Greenberg, finished sixth for $1,860 while Greenberg pocketed $1,485 for seventh.
Wang, age 50, is an interpreter from China now living in Atlantic City. She has been playing 16 years and has a few other final tables. An accomplished bridge player, Wang won the first U.S. Pair tournament.
Greenberg, also 50, is a business owner from Philadelphia who learned poker two years ago watching TV. His poker highlight was playing in a charity tournament and beating Adam Gerber, who won a U.S.P.C. main event in 2007. He also wrote that he was "on the ice" with the U.S. hockey team when they beat the Russians in the 1980 Olympics. Golf is his other hobby.
George Machesic, meanwhile, had moved up two spots while holding only one chip.
Fox quickly picked up that last chip. On the next hand he had A-J to Machesic's 9-8. Machesic took the lead when a 9 flopped, but Fox spiked a river ace to send him out in fifth place, which paid $2,236. Machesic is semi-retired as a hearing aid specialist. He is 53 and from Sunbury, Pennsylvania. He's been playing since his teens, but hold'em only when he began watching it on TV. He had a cash in an earlier event here. His other hobbies are hunting and fishing.
Young was the next player eliminated by Fox. After Vox opened for 66,000 with pocket 4s, Young, holding A-K, moved in. The pair beat big slick when the board came 8-10-10-6-9, and Young went out fourth. It paid $2,976.
Soon after, Fox was dealt another pair, 8s this time, and pushed in. August Galioto, holding 10c-8c, called. Nothing changed when the board came Q-A-K-5-9, and we were down to the final two. Third paid $3,720. Galioto, 82, is retired from the New York Fire Department. He is a newcomer to poker, having been playing for only 74 years.
Heads-up, Fox had close to a 2-1 lead against Tom "Fiero" Masciopinto, but after taking one pot with an all-in re-raise and then doubling up with pocket kings against Fox's pocket 7s, Masciopinto was well in front. Then the tide turned again after Fox won two consecutive times holding pocket aces, once against Masciopinto's pocket kings, the next time against his pocket 7s.
When the blinds went to 10,000-20,000 with 3,000 antes, Fox once again had about a 2-1 lead. The final match-up didn't last long after that. On the final hand, Fox moved in with pocket 10s and Masciopinto called all in with Kh-8h. The flop came Q-6-7 with two hearts, but Masciopinto, failing to catch a flush or a king when an offsuit ace and queen came, settled for second, which paid $6,324. Masciopinto, 51, is a computer programmer from Staten Island, New York who learned poker three years ago from TV. This final table was his poker highlight. He also likes auto racing and baseball and is a Little League manager.
Max Shapiro
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