Florida Player Makes Comeback to Capture Omaha Hi-Lo Title
"They were all nice fellows at the final table, but I'm sure glad I beat 'em," said Luiga Grilla, who made a brilliant comeback to top a field of 155 players and claim first place in the sixth event of the 2000 California State Poker Championship. His victory in the $300 buy-in Omaha high-low split (eight-or-better) competition brought Grilla $17,205 in prize money and a custom-designed CSPC "World" trophy.
Although Grilla has been in the money numerous times at Commerce Casino tournaments, this is his first CSPC title. A 42-year-old building contractor from North Miami, Florida, he also has to his credit titles from Foxwood's World Poker Open and the Orleans Open.
Grilla came to the final table as the chip leader and managed to maintain his position early on while several players were eliminated. The first to go was Ed Gordon of Las Vegas, who took A-10-9-3 up against David Mataya, who has raised before the flop with A-8-4-3. The flop came 4-3-3, giving Mataya a full house, and when running fives completed the board, Gordon was out in ninth place for $1,069.
Shortstacked from the outset, Ron Bruns, a realtor from Oak View, California, finished eighth for $1,254 when he raised all in before the flop with A-K-5-2 and was challenged by John Juanda, who called with Kc-7c-4d-2s. When the final board showed 9c-5c-3s/Kh-Qc, Bruns was toast as Juanda scooped the pot with a club flush.
After being shut out of a monster pot against Tony Ma and Luiga Grilla, Van Phan of Bell Gardens, California, had only one chip left. He managed to double through once, then took his last shot when he called all in before the flop with Q-10-8-5 against Jeff Hon, who held A-A-K-6. A final board of 9-9-3/3-6 brought no salvation to Phan, and he bit the dust in seventh place for $1,395.
Also low on chips after being scooped twice and three-quartered once was John Inashima of Pasadena, California, who saw his best chance for survival in K-K-8-3. He called all in before the flop against John Juanda, who raised with Q-10-5-3, and Grilla, who three-bet with A-9-6-4. On the turn, the board read J-6-5/7 and Inashima's kings were still good for the high. But an ace on the river proved deadly -- giving Grilla two pair and Juanda a seven low -- and Inashima was washed up in sixth place for $1,628.
It was John Juanda who next ran into trouble, forfeiting a big pot for a bet on the river against Tony Ma, then getting shut out a few hands later, Juanda made his final stand when he took K-10-9-3 up against Grilla, who was in the big blind with 8-4-4-3. The flop came 10-9-4 and when Grilla raised, Juanda reraised all in. But his two pair failed to improve and he exited in fifth place for $1,860. Juanda of Alhambra, California, won the H.O.R.S.E. event held June 11th, and with 82 points he is tied for first place in the Best All-Around Player race.
After getting shut out in one hand and three-quartered on the next, Tony Ma of South El Monte, California, had only five chips left and soon put them all in before the flop with K-7-3-2 against Grilla, who held K-6-5-2, and Dave Mataya, who raised with 9h-5c-3c-2d. The flop came J-9-6 with two clubs, and when the 6c fell on the turn, Mataya scooped the pot, crippling Grilla and forcing Ma to settle for fourth place and $2,790.
With three players left, Grilla lost another large pot to Mataya and now found himself precipitously close to the green. But he fought back aggressively, scooping three pots in a row against Mataya, then dispatching his nemesis when he raised before the flop with A-J-4-4 and Mataya called with A-Q-6-2. On fourth street, the board read A-J-7/K and Mataya called all in. But the river brought a nine to leave him high and dry in third place for $4,185.
A 46-year-old professional player from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Mataya has won some smaller tournaments in Arizona and at Ocean's Eleven. "That was a tough crew at the final table," he commented. "It was especially great to bang heads with Tony Ma."
When heads-up play began, Grilla held a 4-to-1 advantage over runner-up Jeff Hon, then took an almost insurmountable lead when he made trip kings on the river to snap off Hon's two pair and leave him with only six chips. It was all over on the next deal when Hon called all in before the flop with A-Q-8-4 against Grilla's A-K-4-3. When the final board showed K-J-3/4-9, Grilla scooped the pot and claimed the title with kings up.
Hon, a 39-year-old salesman and recreational player from Los Angeles, received $8,83 for his runner-up finish. "The tournament was fun," he succinctly commented.
THE FINAL TABLE:
| Seat/Player | Chip Count |
| Seat 1: Van Phan (Bell Gardens, CA) | $9,500 |
| Seat 2: Ron Bruns (Oak View, CA) | $1,500 |
| Seat 3: Tony Ma (S. El Monte, CA) | $5,000 |
| Seat 4: John Juanda (Alhambra, CA) | $7,000 |
| Seat 5: Luiga Grilla (North Miami, FL) | $15,500 |
| Seat 6: Jeff Hon (Los Angeles, CA) | $13,500 |
| Seat 7: Ed Gordon (Las Vegas, NV) | $6,000 |
| Seat 8: David Mataya (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) | $8,000 |
| Seat 9: John Inishima (Pasadena, CA) | $11,500 |
Best All-Around Players:
Top 10 Points Leaders
| 1. Mike Petracca | 82 |
| 2. John Juanda | 82 |
| 3. Julio Anicete | 64 |
| 4. Spring Cheong | 64 |
| 5. Carl Heller | 56 |
| 6. J.J. Volpe | 56 |
| 7. Hieu "Tony" Ma | 56 |
| 8. Pat Enos | 50 |
| 9. David Levi | 50 |
| 10. Luiga Grilla | 50 |
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