GEORGE ATHANASIOU WINS THE OMAHA 8 WITH STYLE
By Debbie Burkhead
The $120 Omaha High-Low 8 or Better event began with 107 players and 102 made a rebuy which created a prize pool of $20,900.
The final table began at 7:40 with 10 players. There were 15 minutes left at the $1,000-$2,000 limit with blinds at $500-$1,000.
Sheri Standiford was the chip leader with $37,000, George Athanasiou was in second with $26,000, Dennis Derge was in third with $23,000, Michael Davis was in fourth with $19,000, Jack Huffner was in fifth with $15,500, John Womack was in sixth with $9,500, Ed Link was in seventh with $9,000, Eric Washburn was in eighth with $7,500, Gloria Tschetschot and Matt Savage were tied for ninth with $4,500 each.
On the seventh hand of play at the final table Matt went all-in against Cheri and was eliminated when she flopped a set of jacks. Matt finished in 10th place and collected $487.
At 8:00 the limit increased to $1,500-$3,000 with $500-$1,500 blinds.
On the first hand at the new limit John was all-in before the flop with A-Q-6-4. The board came 5-6-8-3-10, Michael made a nut flush and the nut low and sent John home in 9th place with $571.
At 8:25 Eric was the next to be eliminated. Ed called all-in for $1,000, George called, Gloria called, Eric called and Jack checked. The flop came 2-10-6 and it was checked around. The turn card was a trey, it was checked to Eric and he bet all-in and Ed called. Two players were all-in. The river card came another trey and Ed won high with a set of treys, Jack won low with A-4 and Eric was sent to the rail in 8th place with $698.
Two hands later Ed was on the small blind and after posting was left with only $1,500. Gloria called, Michael raised, Ed called all-in and Gloria called the raise. The flop came 8c-4s-3c, and it was checked. The turn card came a queen of spades and it was checked again. The river card was a jack of spades, Michael bet and Gloria folded. Michael made a the nut flush and the nut low with the ace and deuce of spades. Ed finished in 7th place and collected $878.
At 8:30 the limit rose to $2,000-$4,000 with $1,000-$2,000 blinds.
On the second hand at the new limit Gloria was all-in on her big blind and George called. Gloria had A-2-4-4 and George had 8-6-6-7. The board came 10-K-5-2-9 and George’s pair of sixes scooped the pot. Gloria had to settle for 6th place and $1,129.
At 9:00 the players took a short break and at 9:15 play resumed at the $3,000-$6,000 limit with blinds at the $$1,500-$3,000.
Three hands after the break Dennis was all-in on the river against Jack. Dennis had J-10-9-6 and Jack had A-7-5-2. The board came 9c-8s-4c-Jc-3d, Jack made an ace-high flush on the turn and Dennis had to settle for a 5th place finish and $1,484.
At 9:45 the limit increased to $4,000-$8,000 with $2,000-$4,000 blinds.
Ten minutes later George raised and Cheri called. The flop came K-2-A, Cheri checked, George bet and Cheri called all-in for her remaining $2,000. George had A-2-5-J and Cheri had Q-Q-10-8. The turn card came another deuce and the river card was a nine. George made deuces full on the turn for the win. Cheri took home $1,986 for her 4th place finish.
It was three-handed with George in the lead with $61,000, Jack in a close second with $57,500 and Michael trailing with $37,500. The remaining three made a deal and the tournament was over at 10:00.
Michael took 3rd place and $2,696 and Jack received $3,867 for his 2nd place finish.
George was declared the winner and received $7,106.
Congratulations, George.
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