| ‘Rocky II’ is Points Winner!
A young small-limit side-game player who declined to be identified, photographed or interviewed to any meaningful degree came out on top in the best all-around points play-off that ended Winnin’ o’ the Green 2004. He asked to be identified only as “Rocky.” However, since third-place finisher Rocky Encino had prior rights to the name, let’s call the winner “Rocky II.”
First place was a trip to Paris and entry into the Grand Prix de Paris/WPT championship event at the Aviation Club in July, but Rocky II elected to take the discounted cash value. Patrick Schulze, who earned a 2004 Hyandai Elantra for finishing second, said he “probably” would take the car. Enciso, who won a Harley-Davidson for third, took the cash.
Any player with at least 10 points was entitled to enter the $100 buy-in event. All players were given 300 in chips along with 10 times their points. Rocky II, who arrived at the final table as chip leader, started out being by far the most aggressive player, raising repeatedly, almost wildly. The strategy paid off because he soon built up a massive chip lead which he never relinquished.
This was a H.O.S.E. event (hold’em, Omaha, stud and stud/8) which became no-limit hold’em at the final table. Action started with blinds of $300-$600 and $100 antes. On the first hand, process server Eric Hamilton raised all in for $1,300 with A-9. Enciso raised another $1,500 with pocket 7s, and Tim Fu called. Enciso moved in on a flop of K-J-2 and made a set on the turn to leave Hamilton in 10th place. Three hands later, an all-in Alex Limjoco, holding 7-5, had the lead when the board showed K-9-5-8. Enciso had J-10, hit a river 10, and Limjoco was gone. Then, on the next hand, Fu raised to 20k with Js-10s, and pro player Eric Chhor put him in with A-K. “Bye, bye, I’m going to Paris,” Chhor chirped when the flop came K-10-6. Rocky II now turned up the heat, raising at every opportunity. As blinds went to $500-$1,000 with $200 antes, he didn’t let up, and was soon past the 40k mark in chips. On hand 12 he busted real estate broker Jack Gevshenian, who called all in with pocket 8s after Rocky II raised with A-Q. The board came 6-6-5-A-6 to give Rocky II had a bigger full house.
Then Chhor tried a bluff, moving in for 12k with only 7-2 on a board of K-8-6. He managed to pair a deuce on the turn, but it was too little too late because Rocky II had called the flop with K-8, and kings beat deuces. Only 14 hands and half the table was gone. Jamshed Bokhari finished fifth. He was a big favorite with A-Q against the A-J held by retired doctor Tony Morcos, until a jack flopped. After blinds went to $800-$1,600 with $300 antes, Doc Morcos, who had already gone all in three times, finally went broke. He raised all in for $1,500 and got calls from Schulz and Enciso. The board of A-3-2-A-10 was checked down, and Enciso pulled in the pot with A-8.
A long negotiating session now ensued, complicated because none of the three players left wanted to go to Paris. “Are you kidding?” exclaimed the German-surnamed Schulze. “The last time one of my family members went there, we lost the war.” No deal was reached and play resumed with Rocky II leading with 42,300 while Enciso had 29,200 and Schulze, 20,700. Twenty hands later, a short-chipped Enciso raised all in with K-J. Rocky II had only 9h-7h, but flopped two pair. The heads-up match lasted only one hand. Seemingly wanting to get it over with, Schulze raised for his last 12k with J-4. Once again Rocky II had 9-7, and once again he won with two pair. Rocky II won’t be going to Paris, but he can go anywhere he wants with his cash-out. - Max Shapiro
BIOGRAPHY:Rocky II didn’t have much to say other than to describe himself as a “rocket scientist” (shouldn’t that be rocky scientist?), that he’s only been playhing poker a few years, that he doesn’t play many tournaments, and that his poker playing revolves mainly around small, blue chip side games.
“I will say this, though,” he volunteered. “I’ve played much better in other tournaments without getting anywhere. Tonight I had cards.”. |
