Northern California Woman Claims First CSPC Title
Like a West Texas tornado, Spring Cheong of San Ramon, California, swept through a formidable field of players, single-handedly demolishing almost every obstacle in her path to seize first place in the second event of the 8th annual California State Poker Championship. For taking top honors in the $300 buy-in seven-card stud competition, the lady took home $14,760 in prize money and a beautiful CSPC "World" trophy to commemorate her victory.
This is the first CSPC title for Cheong, who was tired from walking a golf course all day and decided only at the last minute to enter the event. A 42-year-old host of the Outpost Casino in San Ramon, she has garnered titles from several other major tournaments and most recently won the Omaha high-low event at Bay 101's Shooting Star competition. She began playing poker just five years ago.
Cheong came to the final table as a chip leader and immediately went on the attack, relentlessly pounding her opponents and building her stacks ever higher. One or only two players to escape her onslaught was Zuli Veres of Los Angeles, who met his untimely fate by challenging another aggressive female player, runner-up Betty Applegate. Holding 9-8/7, Applegate raised on third street and Veres called with J-J/4. He made two pair on the river and called all in only to lose the pot to Applegate's 10-high straight. A retired businessman and the grandfather of six, Veres received $738 for his eighth-place finish.
After forfeiting a monster pot to Applegate for a bet on the river, Frank Di Elsi survived one all-in battle before taking his last shot when he bet it all on fourth street with A-Q/4-4 against Cheong, who held A-3/A-Q. Di Elsi made 10s up on sixth street, but his hand proved no good against Cheong's aces up and the actor from East Norrington, Pennsylvania, was sent home with seventh place and $1,109.
Knocked out in sixth place for $1,476 was Julio Anicete of Torrance, California, who was eliminated in a three-way confrontation that included Cheong and Hua Yen Wu. Close to the felt, Wu brought it in for an all-in raise with A-J/3, Anicete called all in with K-Q/J, and Cheong called holding 8s-Qs/7s. On fifth street, Anicete made a king-high straight and Cheong made a 10-high flush. Wu had only a pair of fours, but he caught running aces on sixth and seventh streets to fill up and put Anicete down for the count.
Making miracle escapes time after time to stay alive, Jonathan Sabag of Van Nuys, California, referred to himself as James Bond. But he didn't take into account super terminator Cheong when he called a raise on third street with 7-6/7 against her Q-J/10. All in on fifth street, Sabag made two pair on the river but Cheong caught a king to complete an ace-high straight. "Bye Bye, James Bond," Cheong teased as Sabag was toasted in fifth place for $1,845.
Though he got a brief reprieve after winning the earlier three-way pot, Hua Yen Wi was still short stacked and knew his time was night when he was forced all in for the low card with 6-2/8 and was called by Cheong, who held J-7/A. Wu managed to make only a pair of fives and had to settle for fourth place and $2,214 when Cheong showed down trip sevens to claim the pot.
With three payers left, Timothy Shamroy of Sherman Oaks, California, was a huge underdog to the two ladies, Cheong and Applegate, who had about 95 percent of the chips between them. But unfortunately, early on in the three-way match, Applegate's cards went on the floor and she was assessed a 20-minute penalty. A few hands later, Shamroy was dispatched when he brought it in for an all-in raise with K-J/2 and Cheong called with 7-3/A. On the river Shamroy made a pair of aces, but his hand proved no good against Cheong's kings up.
For his third-place finish in the stud competition, Shamroy received $3,690. A 50-year-old retired financial officer and cooking aficionado, Shamroy has cashed in several other major tournaments in the four years he has been playing poker. "I really enjoyed playing with the women," he commented. "They were pleasant and very polite."
For the next 10 minutes, Applegate's chips were anted and low-carded off as Cheong more or less played alone. Moments after Applegate returned to the table, the final hand came down when Cheong raised on third street with K-8/J and Applegate called all in with A-5/3. Cheong made a pair of kings on sixth street, but Applegate failed to catch and was awarded $7,380 for her runner-up finish.
Incidentally, this marks the first time at a major Commerce Casino tournament that two women have finished first and second in an open event.
THE FINAL TABLE:
| Seat/Player | Chip Count |
| Seat 1: Timothy Shamroy (Sherman Oaks, CA) | $4,800 |
| Seat 2: Frank Di Elsi (East Norrington, PA) | $5,300 |
| Seat 3: Betty Applegate (Rosamond, CA) | $8,600 |
| Seat 4: Spring Cheong (San Ramon, CA) | $11,600 |
| Seat 5: Hua Yen Wu (Alhambra, CA) | $3,400 |
| Seat 6: Jonathan Sabag (Van Nuys, CA) | $7,900 |
| Seat 7: Julio Anicete (Torrance, CA) | $11,600 |
| Seat 8: Zoli Veres (Los Angeles, CA) | $8,300 |
Best All-Around Players:
Top 10 Points Leaders
| 1. Mike Petracca | 50 |
| 2. Spring Cheong | 50 |
| 3. Benjamin Tang | 44 |
| 4. Betty Applegate | 44 |
| 5. Carl Heller | 40 |
| 6. Timothy Shamroy | 40 |
| 7. Bob Kirkeby | 36 |
| 8. Hua Yen Wu | 36 |
| 9. Laura Chao | 32 |
| 10. Jonathan Sabag | 32 |
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