Former Soccer Pro Scores Winning Goal in Pot Limit Match
"I am very patient and don't get nervous, and I always believe I can win," said David Levi, whose level-headed perseverance enabled him to come from behind and capture first place in the fifth event of the 2000 California State Poker Championship. For vanquishing 155 opponents in the $300 buy-in (with one optional rebuy) pot-limit hold 'em competition, Levi was awarded $26, 751 in prize money and a custom-designed CSPC "World" trophy to commemorate his victory.
This marks the first CSPC title for Levi, a 37-year-old poker pro and part-time liquidator from Marina Del Rey, California. A former professional soccer player in Tel Aviv, Israel, Levi has cashed in several other major competitions and holds titles from Commerce Casino's Holiday Bonus Tournament and the Bike's Winning o' the Green.
Levi arrived for the final showdown as the chip underdog, but he hung in there and managed to survive several all-in battles before winning a decent pot to get back in the game for good when his A-K outkicked Mel Wiener's A-J. Pumped up and raring to go, Levi proceeded to aggressively attack his remaining opponents, but when heads-up play began, he was still at a slight disadvantage to runner up David Hoekstra. Nevertheless, Levi continued to put the heat on, seized the lead a few hands later, and systematically chipped away at Hoekstra's stack. The decisive hand came down when Hoekstra put his remaining few chips all in with 5-4 against Levi's Q-J and the board brought A-A-10/J-10, securing the pot and the title for Levi.
"I never had many chips until the very end," Levi commented, "But I try to play well -- to make the right move at the right time -- and once in a while it pays off." As his friends happily noted, "He played g-o-o-o-o-d."
For his runner-up finish, David Hoekstra of San Pedro, California, received $13,737. A 44-year-old professional competitor and a poker player for three decades, Hoekstra has cashed in a number of other major tournaments.
Placing third in the pot limit hold 'em event and pocketing $6,507 was Restie Bagaygay, a poker pro from Diamond Bar, California. Formerly employed as a registered nurse, he holds a title from the Masters of Poker tournament and has cashed in several other major competitions. Shortstacked after forfeiting a big pot to Levi the hand before, Bagaygay saw his last chance for survival in 10-8 offsuit and called all in before the flop against his nemesis, who'd raised with pocket kings. The flop came J-10-4, but when Bagaygay got no help on the turn or river, he was done.
Dispatched in fourth place for $4,338 was Chris Ferguson, the reigning World Champion of Poker. He took his last shot when he raised before the flop with 6c-5c and was reraised by David Hoekstra, who held K-9. Ferguson called all in, but when the final board showed K-Q-2/10-Q, he was shown the exit.
Also meeting his demise at the hands of Hoekstra was James Woodley, a poker dealer at Garden City Casino in San Jose, California. He raised all in before the flop with Q-J only to see Hoekstra call with Kd-Qd. The flop came 10d-8d-6d, and when a fourth diamond fell on the turn, Woodley was drawing dead and bit the dust in fifth place for $2,892.
Mel Wiener of Los Angeles came to the final table as the chip leader but couldn't seem to win a hand and soon found himself with only five chips left. He put them all in before the flop with A-9 suited against Restie Bagaygay, who had raised with pocket treys. But when the flop came 7-3-3, Wiener had no outs and was forced to settle for sixth place and $2,531.
Knocked out in seventh place for $2,160 was Ramzi Daniel of Houston, Texas, who threw his last punch when he raised all in before the flop with Jh-10h and was challenged by Chris Ferguson, who held A-4. When the final board showed Q-8-4/8-Q, Ferguson claimed the pot with his ace, putting Daniel down for the count.
After losing two hands in a row, O'Neil Longson of Las Vegas was close to the felt and had to make a move. He raised before the flop with K-J, hoping to steal the blinds, but was reraised by Ramzi Daniel, who was in the big blind with A-J. Longson called all in but the final board of A-Q-8/K-2 did him in, and he was sent home with eight place and $1,808.
Finishing ninth for $1,592 was Barbara Samuelson of Las Vegas, who made her final stand when she reraised all in before the flop with pocket sixes against Chris Ferguson, who held A-7. The flop came A-J-5, and when she failed to catch on the turn and river, Samuelson was gone. Incidentally, she also cashed ninth in the inaugural limit hold 'em event held June 9th.
THE FINAL TABLE:
| Seat/Player | Chip Count |
| Seat 1: Restie Bagagay (Diamond Bar, CA) | $11,600 |
| Seat 2: Mel Wiener (Los Angeles, CA) | $33,300 |
| Seat 3: Ramzi Daniel (Houston, TX) | $9,900 |
| Seat 4: Chris Ferguson (Pacific Palisades, CA) | $26,100 |
| Seat 5: James Woodley (Soquel, CA) | $7,400 |
| Seat 6: David Hoekstra (San Pedro, CA) | $7,400 |
| Seat 7: Barbara Samuelsen (Las Vegas, NV) | $7,800 |
| Seat 8: O'Neil Longson (Las Vegas, NV) | $11,300 |
| Seat 9: David Levi (Marina Del Rey, CA) | $5,700 |
Best All-Around Players:
Top 8 Points Leaders
| 1. Mike Petracca | 82 |
| 2. Julio Anicete | 64 |
| 3. Spring Cheong | 64 |
| 4. Carl Heller | 56 |
| 5. J.J. Volpe | 56 |
| 6. John Juanda | 50 |
| 7. Pat Enos | 50 |
| 8. David Levi | 50 |
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