When the final table convened, the blinds were at $1,000–$2,000, everyone was anteing $300 and George Muradyan had a substantial chip lead. But this was no limit and chips could move quickly.
On the very first hand, poker dealer Sophorn Long found himself all in with a Q–J versus Michael Lo’s K-Q but dodged the bullet when a third club hit on the river.
Lo became the first casualty, going all in with a Q-10 against poker pro David Levi’s A–J when the board came 2–K–J-K–K. So Lo said “bye” in ninth place.
Southgate business owner Mike Marquez made it $5,000 to go before the flop with A–7 offsuit. Reza Payvar, an agent from Los Angeles, called with 5–7 of spades. The flop came 5–7–2 rainbow and Reza bet $3,000. Marquez jumped on the bait and raised all in, which Reza called in a flash. Neither the turn (10) or the river (K) helped Mike and he was out in eighth place.
Arizona Montoya was the next victim,going all in with A–3 against Reza’s K–10. A 10 hit on the turn and Montoya went back to Arizona.
With six players left, the antes went to $500 and the blinds were raised to $2,000–$4,000. Ki Uhm bet $8,000 on his pocket eights only to have George Muradyan call with nines. With a board of K–10–5–2–4, neither was very excited about their hands and they checked down to the river.
On the next hand, Muradyan raised $8,000 with A–5. Sophorn Long put all his chips ($8,500) in with pocket 8s. When the board failed to produce an ace, Long prevailed.
Tournament ace David Levi was the next to fall (sixth place) when his K–J failed to catch up with Reza’s pocket nines.
Sophorn Long raised to $8,500 pre-flop with K–10 which Ki Uhm called with K-9! Neither improved and Long’s stack got a little longer.
On the next hand, Chanveacha Hong, a superintendant, raised $6,500 all in with K–3 and was called in two spots. He flopped a king and no one could beat him.
On the next hand, George Muradyan raised $6,000 with a 7–6 and was called by Chanveacha with K–Q. George bet the 3–7–10 flop and Kong, unfortunately chose to raise all in. George called and the ace, five that followed didn’t help Kong and he was gone in fifth place.
Reza was the next out when, in a three-way pot with Muradyan and Long, his A–Q ran into George’s pocket 9s and Sophorn’s pocket rockets.
On the very next hand, George caught a little lightning in a jar when his J–7 crippled Mike Marquez’s J–10 when the magic 8 hit on the river, giving George the dreaded inside straight. Marquez was out with a nice third place paycheck.
With the antes now at $1,000 and the blinds at $3,000–$6,000, the two remaining players struck a deal and George Muradyan was declared the winner.—Marc Gilutin
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