| STUD NEWBIE STEVE JELINEK
BESTS TOUGH 7-STUD FIELD
What do you call a mild-mannered Kellogg's corn flakes employee who has a secret life as a deadly poker player?
Why, a cereal killer, of course.
Steve Jelinek, who is a night manager for Kellogg's in his native Manchester, England, is also a very fast learner. He only began playing poker last year, entered his first tournament this year and played his very first game of 7-card stud in the earlier event here six days ago. "They were laughing at me," Jelinek said. "I didn't even know the rules." Well, nobody's laughing now, because Jelinek bested some very tough final-table opponents to win the 10th buy-in event of the 2003 St. Maarten Open, $300 7-card stud.
It was the fourth final table for Jelinek, who was twice a bridesmaid by finishing second, and is now officially a bride. Jelinek, who's had several prior tournament cash-outs, has decided to avoid cash games for the time being because he doesn't think he yet has the tools to go against more experienced players, but feels that tournaments even things out.
The final table assembled after Jelinek made nines-full full to dispatch the ninth-place finisher, who departed without leaving his name, but who is believed to be a local resident. Limits started at $600-$1,200, with $100 antes and a $200 low card bring-in. Jelinek started in second chip position, slightly behind Marcel Luske. Luske's usual aggressive play didn't serve him well tonight as he dropped rapidly and finished seventh after just 10 hands.
Finland's Juha Helppi arrived lowest chipped with just $3,100 and lasted just four hands. In three-way action, he was all in on fourth street showing 8c-Jc, ended up with nothing and lost to jacks and 10s made by Farsad Hooshang of Amsterdam.
Limits moved up to $800-$1,600 with $100 antes and a $300 bring-in two hands later. On the first deal, Luske bet out showing J-6-7-Q and was promptly raised by Payoleth Jurgen of Germany who showed 10-2-3-A. Luske folded on the river, now down to about $5,600.
Two hands later he was left with a few hundred dollars when he held aces and again folded on seventh street, this time against Jelinek, who had made kings-up. The next hand was Luske's last. He went all in with pocket eights. His three opponents checked the pot down and then poker player Ian Dobson of the UK, making his fourth final table, took all the chips with an ace-high flush as Luske ended up with three pair.
All six players were still in action when limits moved up to $1,200-$2,400 with $200 antes and a $400 bring-in. That didn't last long. Jurgen bet his last $1,000 on sixth street holding buried aces and couldn't catch Jelinek, who had started with split kings and made kings and nines.
Marcus Neuhoffer of Germany picked up a bunch of chips against Dobson and Hooshang on the 33rd hand when he turned up Ac-5c-2c for a nut flush. The chips moved to Jelinek a hand later. Neuhoffer bet seventh street with two pair on board, representing a full house. "I don't like it," Jelinek said. But he had to call with his ace-high straight, which proved a winner.
Hooshang departed a few hands later. He started with pocket kings and bet his last $1,000 on sixth street without improving. Dobson began with (2-4)2 with one diamond, caught four consecutive diamonds, and his flush left Hooshang in fifth place.
Limits went to $1,500-$3,000 with $300 antes and a $500 bring-in on the next hand. Oleg Shamardin, making his third final table, dropped down to about $5,000 when he folded on the river against Dobson, who showed a pair and three hearts. But he got it back on the next hand when he was all in and beat Dobson with kings-up.
Midway through the round, the players took a short break. At that point, Jelinek led with $37,100, followed by Dobson with $23,800 and Neuhoffer with $21,600, while Shamardin brought up the rear with $8,900.
Shamardin, who comes all the way from St. Petersburg, Russia, hung on for 16 more hands. On the 62nd deal, limits were $2,000-$4,000, with $400 antes and a $700 low card. On sixth street, Shamardin showed 5-A-4-4 and bet all in for $2,600. With 2-3 in the hole, he had made a wheel in five cards. But it was no good because Neuhoffer, starting with (Ks-10s)8s, had made a flush, also on the first five cards.
The field was now down to three, and there were to be only three more hands before it all ended. On the final deal, Dobson had a door-card deuce with J-9 in the hole. Neuhoffer, with (K-5)4, completed the bet and Dobson, perhaps suspecting an attempted steal, re-raised. On fifth street, Neuhoffer paired his king, and that did the trick. Dobson was all in and the cards were dealt. "Seven-low," he said jokingly, as he ended up with a great low hand of A-2-3-4-7-9-J.
A chip count was taken. Jelinek had $49,000 to $42,000 for Neuhoffer and the two finalists agreed to an even-money chop that ended the tournament. --Max Shapiro
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