California Pro Captures Third CSPC Hold 'em Title
"I've played every day, trying to get there because of the all-around player awards, so I'm happy to win this event," commented Hieu "Tony" Ma, who charged past 166 opponents to claim top honors in the $300 buy-in (with two optional rebuys) no-limit hold 'em competition. For taking first place in the seventh event of the 2000 California State Poker Championship, Ma received $35,632 in prize money and a custom-designed CSPC "World" trophy to commemorate his victory.
This is the third CSPC title for Ma, who hails from South El Monte, California. A 44-year-old professional competitor, Ma holds titles from several other major tournaments, including the World Series of Poker, and was named the Best All-Around Player in the 1998 L.A. Poker Classic. He was introduced to poker a decade ago, and after playing part-time for the first year, he quit his job in the seafood business and became a full-time pro.
Ma arrived for the final showdown in middle position, then won a big pot early on to take his place as a chip leader. Managing to stay out of trouble, he continued to build his stack, and when play was down to three-handed, he was almost dead-even in chips with runner-up Minh Ly and third-place finisher Freddie Legaspi. It wasn't long, however, before Ma seized an overwhelming lead when he raised before the flop with K-7 and Legaspi, who held K-3, called. The flop came K-J-5, Ma moved all in, and Legaspi called. But when the turn brought a deuce and a queen fell on the river, Ma outkicked Legaspi to claim the pot and leave his opponent almost down to the felt.
Legaspi was eliminated a few hands later when he called from the small blind with 10s-5s against Minh Ly, who held pocket fours. When the flop came 9c-8s-3s, Legaspi moved all in and Ly called. But a four fell on the turn, giving Ly trips, and when Legaspi failed to catch a spade on the river, he was washed up in third place for $8,667. A 33-year-old businessman from Los Angeles, Legaspi has cashed in several other Southern California tournaments.
When heads-up play began, Ma held a 3-to-2 lead over Ly and wasted no time in chipping away at his opponent's stack. Soon Ly was close to the green, and it was all over when he moved in before the flop with J-7 suited and Ma called with A-4. A final board of Q-5-3/10-5 brought Ly no help, and Ma secured the pot and the title with an ace-high. Ma has now cashed three times in this year's CSPC, and with 106 points he has charged ahead of the field in the race for the Best All-Around Player award.
"This tournament was really tough -- a bleeder," said Ly, who was awarded $18,297 for his runner-up finish. A 46-year-old poker pro and former welder from Temple City, California, Ly has cashed in numerous other major competitions in the seven years he has followed the tournament trail.
Low on chips and with the blinds bearing down, Dave Hoekstra of San Pedro, California, was in dire shape and hoping for a miracle when he moved all in under the gun with 9s-5s, only to run into Minh Ly, who called from the big blind with Ad-Kc. The flop brought Qd-6h-5d, giving Hoekstra a pair, but when running diamonds fell on the turn and river, he was aced out in fourth place for $5,778.
Loaded with chips and looking to win more, Phillip Luong of Hacienda Heights, California, moved all in before the flo with As-Js but was challenged by Freddie Legaspi, who had an even bigger stack and held pocket queens. The flop came K-J-3, but when the turn and river brought him no help, Luong was forced to exit in fifth place for $3,852.
Also dispatched by Legaspi was James Woodley of Soquel, California, who took his last shot when he moved all in before the flop with Ad-3d. Legaspi called from the big blind with Q-J, and when the final board showed J-7-7/8-6, Woodley bit the dust in sixth place for $3,371.
Short-stacked from the get-go, Paul Heinrich of Los Angeles and Chuck Humphrey of Palm Desert, California, were knocked out simultaneously when they went up against Phillip Luong, who was trying to steal the blinds and moved all in before the flop with Jc-2c. Heinrich called all in from the small blind with pocket sixes, and Humphrey called all in from the big blind with 7-4 offsuit. The flop came A-Q-10, and Luong paired his jack on the turn. When the river brought a blank, Heinrich had to settle for seventh place and $2,889, and Humphrey was sent home with eighth place money of $2,600.
A chip leader when he came to the final table, Zaia Kolia of Chatsworth, California, lost it all when he raised $8,000 before the flop with Kd-Jc and was reraised by Tony Ma, who moved all in for $23,400 with pocket aces. Kolia called all in and the flop came 7d-6d-2d. But when a fourth diamond failed to appear on board, he was gone in ninth place for $2,215.
THE FINAL TABLE:
| Seat/Player | Chip Count |
| Seat 1: Phillip Luong (Hacienda Heights, CA) | $31,400 |
| Seat 2: James Woodley (Soquel, CA) | $8,900 |
| Seat 3: Tony Ma (S. El Monte, CA) | $17,800 |
| Seat 4: Minh Ly (Temple City, CA) | $12,100 |
| Seat 5: Paul Heinrich (Los Angeles, CA) | $7,800 |
| Seat 6: Chuck Humphrey (Palm Desert, CA) | $5,100 |
| Seat 7: Freddie Legaspi (Los Angeles, CA) | $36,300 |
| Seat 8: Zaia Kolia (Chatsworth, CA) | $25,300 |
| Seat 9: Dave Hoekstra (San Pedro, CA) | $15,800 |
Best All-Around Players:
Top 9 Points Leaders
| 1. Hieu "Tony" Ma | 106 |
| 2. Mike Petracca | 82 |
| 3. John Juanda | 82 |
| 4. Dave Hoekstra | 80 |
| 5. Julio Anicete | 64 |
| 6. Spring Cheong | 64 |
| 7. James Woodley | 60 |
| 8. Carl Heller | 56 |
| 9. J.J. Volpe | 56 |
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