| Greek Stages Dramatic Come From Behind Victory
The next to last event at each Jack Binion World Poker Open is the $300 No-Limit Texas Holdem event (with re-buys). This has become a tradition at the tournament, as players from virtually every economic background and level of experience flow in Tunica, MS for the last weekend before the main event -- which starts tomorrow.
After nearly ten hours of play, the nine finalists took their seats at the final table that was sure to go late into the night.
Richard Moore was the first player to be eliminated. The Florida retiree collected $3,073 for ninth place.
Minh Nguyen, who plays frequently on the tournament circuit was the next player to exit. Nguyen, from the Lake Elsinore, CA area received $3,726 for eight place. Nguyen also has a number of tournament victories, including a win at the World Series of Poker. He finished 11th in the main event last year, as well.
Norm Ketchum's name comes up often on payout lists at the JBWPO. He has made the money several times in the past and earned $4,657 in this event for his seventh-place finish.
Daniel S. Deusecsery, a business owner from Farmington, AR finished in sixth place and received $6,520.
Ron Faltinsky, from Montebello, CA finished fifth. Faltinsky, who distributes vitamins, was the winner of an event at the LA Poker Classic, last year. He added $8,383 to his poker bankroll.
Tom Pack came in fourth. The Tulsa, OK poker player collected $11,177.
Gary Wahl, from Riverside, CA was the third-place finisher. He received $17,697.
The heads up finale was an all-Mediterranean affair. Avner "Pappa" Levy, a former tennis pro originally from Israel faced off against Vassilios Maniotis, from North Carolina by way of Greece. Levy began play with a 4 to 1 chip lead, which evaporated quickly over the next 20 minutes as Maniotis won a number of key pots.
Incredibly, Maniotis won just about every major pot when play became two-handed and gradually took the chip lead. Levy lost a number of hands, calling with Ace-high and non-paired hole cards, and was dismayed several times to see Maniotis holding a pair. About 45 minutes into heads up play, the Greek had a commanding 6 to 1 chip lead. The key hand took place when Levy had pocket 10s and was rivered by Maniotis when he caught a Jack on the river – good for the higher pair. That was the turning point of the tournament.
The final hand of the tournament came at 1:25 am:
Maniotis -- J-10
Levy -- 6-2
Down 6 to 1 and playing at limits of $10K-20K, Levy (with about $50K left) raised on the come after the flop came 7-5-4. Levy needed to catch a 3 or an 8 for the straight. Maniotis called and caught a Jack on the turn, which left Levy down to a single card. A blank Ace fell on the river, locking up a victory for Maniotis.
Avner "Pappa" Levy, who won the No-Limit event at last year's JBWPO, was denied his chance to win a second gold and diamond bracelet. He received $35,394 as the runner up.
Vassilios Maniotis is a restaurant owner originally from Greece. He received $69,925 as the winner of Event #19. | 
