WORLD SERIES OF POKER 2000
EVENT #20 TEXAS HOLD'EM (no limit)
$3,000 BUY-IN
$3,000 in chips
BJORIN AGAIN
By Mike Paulle
Over the last few years, the popularity of No Limit Hold'em has increased
markedly. After they got over being intimidated by a giant all-in bet,
players realized that No Limit is the best game for protecting a player's
quality hands. Today's amazing, record-smashing prize pool is an indication
that No Limit Hold'em fields will continue to increase in the future.
There were 301 entrants in the $3,000 No Limit Hold'em for a total prize pool
of $903,000. 3 tables were paid, a total of 27 players.
There are risks inherent in playing No Limit, also, of course. The primary
one being, if someone catches with the worst hand you are history. That's
what happened to John Aglialoro in 10th place. John had A Q, Alfredo Moreno
had a clearly dominated K Q. But all-in John couldn't protect his hand. The
board came 9 10 and a gutshot Jack on the river. After over 15 hours of
incredible tension, play was over for Thursday night.
Coming back Friday afternoon, and unusually high five of the nine players at
the Final Table had never cashed at the World Series before. The other four
were wily veterans. Could experience prevail over chip count?
THE FINAL TABLE
38 mins left of 80. The ante is $1k. The blinds are
$2,000/$4,000
| Player/ Hometown | Chip Count |
| Seat 1: Carlos Mortonson (Madrid, Spain) | $55,500 |
| Seat 2: John Clements (Brandon, MS) | $40,500 |
| Seat 3: David Pham (Bell Gardens, CA) | $81,000 |
| Seat 4: Alfredo Moreno (Las Vegas, NV) | $56,000 |
| Seat 5: John Cernuto (Las Vegas, NV) | $21,000 |
| Seat 6: Chris Bjorin (London, UK) | $121,500 |
| Seat 7: Matt Lefkowitz (Brookline, MA) | $126,500 |
| Seat 8: Paul Evans (Fremont, CA) | $236,000 |
| Seat 9: Marciano Elie (Boulogne, France) | $165,000 |
Being fearless, as Alfredo Moreno is, can sometimes be costly. Moreno tangled
with a big stack belonging to Marciano Elie and came away greatly depleted.
Forced to raise all-in to get some chips back, Moreno was the first to leave
in 9th as his Q J of Hearts met the A 8 of chip leader Paul Evans. "Why me?"
Evans said as he called Moreno's all-in. Evans didn't need the straight he
made on the river; the Ace was good.
"This never happens to me," a confused David Pham lamented. Two miracle cards
for his opponents cost Pham a chance at the title. David took Aces against
John Clements' Jacks only to have a Jack flop. To make Pham feel even worse,
John Cernuto said it was the case Jack because he threw one away. Then Pham
tried A K all-in against Chris Bjorin's A Q BAM! Comes the Queen on the flop.
It may be the year of the dragon, but today David 'The Dragon' Pham had to
return to his lair in 8th.
Whoever drew the one seat the last few days has been having trouble getting
any cards. Carlos Mortonson was watching a good poker game in the one seat
today. Finally, he made a move and it was his last one. Carlos went all-in
with pocket 3's. The 'Why Me' chip leader, Paul Evans was the designated
Inquisitor with pocket 9's. Mortonson was burned at the stake in 7th.
For a little while the vast experience of John Cernuto over many of the
players at this table looked like it was going to pay off. John did move up
three spots, but the chips against him were just overwhelming. Cernuto tried
to take the antes and blinds by going all-in for his last $45k from middle
position with A J. Chris Bjorin, right behind Cernuto, would hear none of it
with pocket Jacks. 'Miami' John's flight plan had him jetting out in 6th.
The two-day format for these events can be tough on some players. You are so
hot the night before, and so cold when you come back the next afternoon.
Repeatedly , Marciano Elie had to muck his hand when someone came over the
top on him. Five-handed Elie tried to pick up the spare change in the middle
by going all-in with the A 7 of Hearts and $63k. John 'Chicken Man' Clements
woke up with pocket Aces in the small blind and the French representative of
this International Final Table bid all 'adieu' in 5th.
Players always have the right to negotiate in private. The last quartet
exercised that right. After hammering out a deal, play resumed. As is often
the case, momentum shifted rapidly after the agreement. John Clements had
surged from 8th in chips at the beginning to 2nd when the money came down.
Good timing, Chicken Man. John went out 4th when on two hands to Paul Evans.
John fell for Paul's check on the river and bet $100k. Evans had trip 8's and
took John's bet. Later, Evans bet $70k from the small blind, Clements came
over the top all-in. Paul had so many chips, it wasn't a hard call even with
A 9. Clements turned over pocket Kings, the Ace fell on the flop and Clements
plucked a 4th.
When you are the shortest stack, you are just looking for a hand you can
double up on. Matt Lefkowitz found the hand. He bet $12k from the small
blind. Paul Evans reraised him all-in from the big blind. Matt had Paul just
where he wanted him. Matt had pocket Jacks, Paul had the A 4 of Spades.
Matt's problem was that you can't beat a hot player. Evans had been having a
naked Ace fall for him for two days. It happened again. Paul had Matt right
where he wanted him, on the rail in 3rd.
With a 7-2 chip lead, this was supposed to be a cakewalk for Paul Evans to
his first WSOP cash, a gold bracelet. To Paul's misfortune, he was up against
one of the most experienced tournament players in the world in Chris Bjorin.
Chris is especially experienced at finishing 2nd, however, in the World
Series and only had one bracelet himself after years of trying. The pivotal
hand for both players came when Chris bet $50k. This seemed like a steal
amount to Paul. He went all-in with A J. Bjorin beat Evans into the pot with
all his chips and pocket Aces. The momentum had now turned completely around.
When Evans went all-it with two pair on the flop, Bjorin called with an
open-ended straight draw. With a 3 on the turn, Chris had a seven high
straight to Paul's 7's and 6's. After nearly 20 years of trying, Chris was
Bjorin again as a winner of his second gold bracelet.
Official Money Winners
| 1. Chris Bjorin | $334,110 |
| 2. Paul Evans | $171,570 |
| 3. Matt Lefkowitz | $85,785 |
| 4. John Clements | $54,180 |
| 5. Marciano Elie | $40,635 |
| 6. John Cernuto | $31,605 |
| 7. Carlos Mortonson | $22,575 |
| 8. David Pham | $18,060 |
| 9. Alfredo Moreno | $14,445 |
10th-12th received $10,835
John Aglialoro, Johnny Chan and Paul Ladanyi
13th-15th received $9,030
Artie Cobb, Bill Gazes and Vasili Lazarou
16th-18th received $7,220
Dimitrios Magdalinos, Richard St Peter and Barney Boatman
19th-27th received $5,420
Men Nguyen, Ian Dobson, Marc-Jean Baptiste, John Hom, David Cai,
Randal Reeb, Alex Gurevich, Don Barton and David Ulliott |
