| What a Deal! Derei, Huang and Zhu agree to Split Prize Money
“Derei, Huang and Zhu” has a nice ring to it. Sounds like an international legal firm or perhaps the senior partners in an import-export business. On this day, the three poker elites decided to make a deal at the final table and cut up what was left of an initial $50,000 prize pool. Because Derei had the most chips when it became three-handed, he was declared the ersatz “winner,” which meant Event #3 at the “Showdown at the Sands” came to quick if uneventful conclusion. And so, play was suspended slightly more than 12 hours after play started with 88 entries.
Antes at the final table started at $300. Limits were $2,000-$4,000.
The first bust-out occurred exactly one hour into play. Kimberly H. Bye, from Arizona, made a flush (no low), which was topped by Asher Derei's full house. Bye waved "bye" to the crowd and received $1,250 for eighth-place.
Following a short break, the limits increased to $3,000-$6,000. Two short-stacked players quickly hit the rail. Living poker legend, Men "The Master" Nguyen survived four all-ins before his good fortune finally ran out. Men the Master was forced to put his final chip into the pot and missed his draw, busting out in seventh place. Men The Master, who may very well be the most successful tournament player in the world over the past 15 years, added $1,750 to his tournament winnings.
Farzad N. Rouhani had a very disappointing experience at the final table. Rouhani repeatedly started off with strong cards, often showing A-3, 2-4, and other assorted low cards, which define "playable" hands in stud high-low. Then after a series of bets, Rouhani frequently caught bricks on subsequent rounds, effectively destroying each of his strong starting hands. Rouhani's stack was hammered down to only a few thousand, when he was finally eliminated 85 minutes into the final table. Rouhani, who has won major events at the World Poker Open previously, collected $2,250 for sixth place.
"Jo Jo" Cutri arrived low on chips, but was able to move a few spots up the prize money ladder. His remaining chips went into the pot on two pair, which fell to Asher Derei's flush. Cutri, a salesman from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, received $2,750 for fifth place.
By this time, Derei had rocketed up into the chip lead. He increased his advantage when he knocked out Carlo DiCristofaro a short time later. DiCristofaro made two pairs (tens up), which was cracked by Derei's higher two-pair (jacks-up). DiCristofaro, a basketball coach, collected $3,500 and was bounced out in fourth place.
Down to the final three players, Derei held the chip lead with $99.5K versus David Zhu's $55K and Weigang Huang's $65K. At this point, the three remaining players decided to cut a deal. The $33,500 that remained in the prize pool was divided according to chip counts. Derei took "first place," and Huang and Zhu finished second and third respectively.
David Zhu, the third-place finisher, is from Toronto. Weigang Huang, local a professional poker player who lives in Atlantic City, took second. Exact terms of the financial agreement were no disclosed – although there was $33,500 at stake.
While dealmaking remains a controversial practice -- and is certainly contrary to the competitive spirit -- as long as players continue to pay their own buy-ins exclusively, dealmaking will remain a frequent occurrence in tournament poker. The Sands Casino did not endorse nor sanction the deal, but merely allowed the players to discontinue playing once all players were satisfied with the financial arrangement.
The winner, Asher Derei is no stranger to the winner’s circle. Derei won a gold and diamond bracelet at the World Poker Open earlier this year and has won many other major tournaments in his impressive poker career. The Israeli native, who now lives in Southern California congratulated the “runners-up,” and departed the room with a smile. |
