By Max Shapiro
An enormous crowd of 485 players kicked off the first event in Winnin' O the Green 2000, $50 Limit Hold'em.
More than eight hours later the last man standing was Dung Tran, a 40 year old full time player.
The final table was set after Debra Lugo, a Bicycle Casino Poker Dealer, was beaten by Mao Vo, Debra was all in with A-7 of Diamonds and Mao had two Jacks. A Jack flopped, Debra withdrew and the nine finalists reassembled.
Anthony Tran, a familiar face at final tables, had by far the most chips, but could do little with them. The best he could manage, before finishing fourth, was win one small pot, split another and take the blinds once.
There was nearly a quarter-million dollars in chips on the table, but with limits starting at a hefty $5,000 - $10,000, the final table lasted just over an hour. The first player out, David Dobrosfsky, was nailed on the second hand. First to act, he raised with J-9 of Clubs to $10,000. Dung re-raised all in for $3,600 more with pocket tens and Van Pham came over the top with A-K. Pham then bet the flop of A-10-7 with two Clubs and Dobrofsky called all in. Dung's set of tens held up and he took the side pot lion's share while Pham took the main pot and Dobrofsky took a bus. Six hands later, Annabelle Nojera departed, She went all in with A-K against Vo's J-J.
Nobody helped when the board came 8-9-8-5-7, but Vo didn't need help, and seven were left.
Soon after, Charles Miller, a full time player, won a $60,000 pot after Vo button-raised, Pham called and Miller re-raised to $15,000. Miller bet the 9-J-5 flop and then the turn when a three fell. His opponents folded and he showed pocket Aces. The next hand, Anthony Tran raised with Aces, and complained when nobody called him. Joel Kalish, who has a horse ranch in Ojai, then went all in against Anthony, but split with the same hand, A-J. On the next hand, Mike Ohashi put all his chips in with Aces against Vo, and made a Diamond Flush. A hand later Dung, with A-3, put Vo all in on a flop og A-Q-2. she had just J-3, made nothing and checked out.
When the limits go up to $10,000 and $20,000, so does the attrition rate. Horse rancher Kalish had his last round-up when he raised with 8-8 and Pham put him in for his last $1,700 with Q-Q. A few hands later, Pham raised to $20,000, Ohashi made it $30,000 and then went all in when Miller three-bet it. Ohashi had 7-7 to Millers K-K but escaped when a thrid seven flopped. Pham is next left with only $3,400 after Dung flops two pair against him. It goes in on his big blind the next hand. He has only 10-5 and Dung finishes him with an Ace-high. On the next hand, Anthony Tran finally surrendered. Dung raises with J-8, Anthony calls all in with A-9, and Dung Flops Jacks and Eights.
Three-handed, Dung Tran has $128,000. Ohashi has $63,000 and Miller $52,400. The blinds jump to $20,000 and $40,000, and in two hands it's over. On the button, Ohashi raises to $40,000 with A-Q, Miller goes all in for his last $12,400 with 10-7. Tran then check-raises and puts Ohashi all in when two more nines flop, and claims victory at 3:45am.
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