| The $2000 Limit Hold’em championship has clearly become a popular
event at this year’s World Poker Finals. In the first year it was held (2002)
the event attracted 41 players and, last year, 52 entrants competed for the prize.
This year there were 120 competitors and a total prize pool of $250,000 both of
which were more than in the previous two years combined.
The competition
was stiff and in the early hours of Sunday, David Weisberger of Far Hills, NJ,
was able to finally claim the champion’s crown. In addition to the title, he garnered
first place prize money totaling $89,125, a commemorative leather jacket
and a crystal trophy. Congratulations!
The first player to leave the final table was Sanford Blecker, Whitestone,
NY, who had the misfortune to lose with KK to Cliff Spiro’s K2 when Cliff (Nyskayuna, NY)
caught a flush on the river. Thomas Schreiber, Danielson, CT, had a Q10 to go all in; he got a Q on the
turn but Robert Mackie, Staten Island, NY, with AQ left Thomas in the ninth spot.
Chris Tsiprailidis,
Liverpool, NY, survived three all ins and was feeling confident with his AK against Weisberger’s AQ
until a Q appeared on the turn. Chris locked up eighth place money. John Dagostino, Seymour, CT,
went out in three way action to Spiro’s AQ. Robert Kovar, Toronto, Ontario, was unable to pair his A
and gave way to Weisberger’s Q’s. In fifth place was Robert Mackie of Staten Island, NY; as the short
stack on the final table, he improved his opening position with his final placement. He made his final
stand with K10 but Spiro had pocket A’s and Robert could not top them.
The four players left at the table were cut in half in one hand. Kathleen Liebert, Las Vegas,
NV, and Kieu Duong, Mays Landing, NJ, were both all in; Kathleen had pocket 3’s and Kieu had A3.
Their opponent was Cliff Spiro who had 109. When the board came 10510A8, Cliff had eliminated
both players. With the limits now at 10000/20000, the action moved quickly.
David Weisberger had
been slowly accumulating a chip advantage and now put it to use. Cliff Spiro went all in four times
and prevailed in each situation; trip K’s, Q’s, J’s and two pair with an A kicker gave him small victories.
The war, however, was lost when he went all in with pocket 3’s and David produced pocket 9’s; a
J84A10 board was no help and Cliff took home the second place prize of $52,500.
David Weisberger
was the last person standing; 18 1/2 hours after he began his journey, he was the 2004 $2000 Limit
Hold’em Champion!
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