| 2002 Jack Binion World Poker Open
Event #1
Women’s Limit Hold’em $200
1/5/02
Entries: 110
Total Prize Money: $21,340
Parm Mehmi won her first major tournament before an enthusiastic gallery of cheering spectators at the 2001 Jack Binion World Poker Open. Born in India, Mehmi learned to play poker about three years ago after she immigrated to Vancouver, BC (Canada). She eventually settled down in Nashville and has played in several daily tournaments since then, although this was her very first entry into a major event. Mehmi sat calm and poker-faced much the day, but tears of joy finally overcame her at the conclusion of a well-deserved victory -- as she collected $8,536 in winnings, a gold bracelet, and a large bouquet of flowers presented by Tournament Director Jack McClelland.
Mehmi came to the final table second in chips and never seriously faced elimination. She became increasingly more aggressive as play became short-handed and relentlessly pursued pots when she sensed opponents’ weakness. Interestingly, the final table featured two players from the tiny NE Louisiana town of Transylvania (population 200). Finalists, Shirley Fairchild and Jan Holt are not only neighbors, but sat side-by-side at the final table. Unfortunately for Fairchild, the block party was short-lived. On the third hand, Fairchild moved all-in with her last $400 on a pair of jacks. Judy Ingram’s pocket kings crushed the underpair and the life was sucked out of Fairchild who went out 9th with $341.
Also perilously close to the felt, Nikki Ivey survived four early all-in hands. The fifth time would prove fateful as Sherrie Aiken’s pair of 5s hammered Ivey’s ace-high -- and Ivey (no relation to Phil) went out 8th with $427.
At the $1000-2000 limit, Jan Holt -- the other Transylvanian -- posted her last $500 in the big blind. Sadly, her 3-5 offsuit ran into Naconda Nelson’s A-Q. A queen on the flop all but wiped-out Holt’s chances and she was out in 7th place with $534.
Angela Tscheiner was the next to fall. In what must have been a disappointing way to end a day of exceptional play, the early chip leader took a series of devastating beats. The final omen came when Tscheiner raised pre-flop with A-Q and was called by Parm Mehmi in the big blind with 10-8 of diamonds. The flop came Q-6-4 with two diamonds, and both players tangled until Tscheiner was all-in. Mehmi spiked a diamond on the river, taking down a large pot and knocking Tscheiner out in sixth place with $748.
With Mehmi and Ingram the co-chip leaders, Sherrie Aiken figured it was time to take a stand. Aiken, the aggressive blond in a red silk shirt, took her chance on pocket deuces, but ran into Ingram’s pocket 9s -- which held up. Aiken was out in 5th with $960.
Next to hit the rail was Marianne Barnes, who found herself short-stacked and went all-in with A-2 of diamonds. Ingram, who could well afford to call with 10-8 suited was delighted to see an 8 come out on the flop. Two blanks meant Barnes was out 4th with a nice payoff of $1,280.
With Nelson at $12K and Ingram and Mehmi both with about $20K each, a key hand occurred when Mehmi, with 9-10 suited, saw the flop of Q-J-2. Ingram (with A-Q), flopped top pair and saw a seemingly harmless 8 come on the turn. After a blank fell on the river and another bet by Nelson, Mehmi raised and took down a huge pot with her nut straight. Mehmi now had the chip lead, which she never relinquished. Ingram was finally forced to go all-in with her J-9 and ran into Nelson’s A-5. The flop of 5-5-6 broke Ingram -- who plays poker five days a week and was the Washington State Ladies Poker Champion in 1996.
After a brief rally by Nelson, who is mostly a $4-8 hold’em player in her first major tournament, Mehmi took a commanding 4 to 1 chip lead as the final hand was dealt. Nelson with K-K was delighted to go all-in versus Mehmi’s J-8 after a J-10-4 flop. Mehmi picked-up a straight draw on the turn with a 9 -- to go along with her pair of Jacks. The river, an 8, gave Mehmi two-pair (jacks and eights) and the coveted honor as the 2002 World Poker Open Ladies Champion.
-- by Nolan Dalla | 
