| Half and Half, But All Men
A little behind schedule, Men “The Master” Nguyen won his first Legends 2003 event, ½ 7-card stud hi-lo and ½ Omaha hi-lo. At this stage last year, he had already won three events, two in limit hold’em and one in 7-card stud, while tonight he was only making his second final table. Still, it was a triumphant, wire-to wire win for the Master, who started with a considerable chip lead at the final table and easily held it all the way through.
Early on, he had offered to take 6k off the top and settle for $20,000, but it wasn’t until it got three-handed that his two outgunned opponents, Phillip Luong and Luis Velador, agreed to the deal ending the tournament.
The first game at the final table was Omaha, with $500-$1,000 blinds, 1-2k limits and 34:38 remaining. Joel Fischbein, shortest-chipped, was shortest-lived. On hand 5 he had $100 left after raising pre-flop. When the board came K-A-8-4-8, Velador, with three aces in his hand, won high with aces full while Men edged Fischbein for low, 2-5 to 3-5.
Two hands later, Daryl Nishimoto raised all in pre-flop. Nguyen and David Sprenkle checked down the board of Q-6-6-10-5. Sprenkle, who won the Shooting Star tournament at Bay 101 this year, scooped with K-K-J-J in his hand as Nishimoto, who didn’t show his hand, finished seventh.
A few hands later, Sprenkle went up against Nguyen. Holding 9-9-K-5, Sprenkle made a set when the flop came J-9-3. Nguyen, with A-2-4-J, had only a pair of jacks and a back-door low draw. A five on fourth street gave him a wraparound wheel draw, which he hit when an ace came on the river. Men bet to put Sprenkle all in and break him.
With five players left, a request for a chop deal was put before the house. “I never chop with five players left,” Men said. “If I did, the Internet would say Men chopped five ways.” Instead, he offered to accept 20k. “Keep on dreaming,” Velador replied.
The game now reverted to stud hi-lo, with $300 antes, a $500 low card bring-in, and limits of $1,500-$3,000. When a hand between Nguyen and Can Hua was checked down, Men mucked when Hua showed two sevens. Veladador then asked to see Nguyen’s hand. This did not sit well with The Master,” who showed a bust, and he began ragging Velador. “Look around,” he said mockingly. Three Vietnamese and a Filipino, 4-1 against one Mexican. What chance do you have?”
On hand 25, Gamboa and Hua were both nearly all in. Gamboa, missing his flush, was lucky to take high with two nines, while Hua took low with a six. A few hands later they went up against each other again. Gamboa started with a strong (9d-4d)8d-2d and put Hua, who started with split queens, all in. Gamboa completed his flush and made an eight low while Hua, ending with queens-up, cashed out in fifth place.
The game was now Omaha hi-lo, with 2-4k limits. Nguyen, who started with 43k, at this point had increased his lead to $53,500 while his opponents were closely grouped in the $20,000 range. In the strangest hand of the night, Luong started with A-4-4-J and made a full house when the board came 2-2-4-A-5. “Come on,” he said, when Velador, who played K-Q-8-2, made a junk low with his live eight.
Gamboa then dipped down to $5,500 when he missed a low draw. Soon after, it was hand 50, the last one of the evening. In the big blind, Gamboa raised all in pre-flop with J-J-8-2. Luong had A-5-Q-K and made a wheel when the flop came 4-3-2. Luong and Velador finally accepted Men’s offer, and the Master locked up his first Legends 2003 win. – Max Shapiro
BIOGRAPHY: Men “The Master” Nguyen has won more than 75 major tournaments over 17 years, including five World Series bracelets and four titles at the Hall of Fame and Four Queens. He’s also won three best all-around cars at the Bike and was Card Player magazine’s “Player of the Year” in 2001. He was even the subject of a fascinating cover story in the May 16-22 issue of L.A. Weekly. Titled “Dealing with the Master: Men the Master and his Vietnamese Poker Cartel,” the lengthy article describes how he trains and finances “a posse of Vietnamese poker pros who hit the tables and operate with the single-minded precision of trained assassins.”
“Tonight was no problem, he said. “I led all the way. I was lucky, but I was also super-good. I love stud hi-lo. I am the best player.” The only problem, Men added, was that with all his staking, he is still stuck $20,000 in this year’s Legends.
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