Poker Tournament Results

World Poker Finals / WPT Event Season 3

Richard Freire

Tournament Report

RICHARD FREIRE IS VICTORIOUS! Ekes Out Victory Over Levi Rothman The second Multi-Play event of the World Poker Finals 2004, this one of the $200 variety, began on Monday, November 8, with 849 entrants competing at single tables for the right to play in the finals on Tuesday. There were 87 players who began Tuesday and the one who took home the first place trophy and $37,195 was Richard Freire of Miami Lakes, FL. Even though Richard started the final table as the chip leader, his victory was not without a struggle. Levi Rothman, Westford, MA, gave him a battle to the end. First to leave the final table was Anthony Mazza, Croton on Hudson, NY, who lost a head’s up confrontation with Rothman. The short stack on the table, Christopher McIntyre, New London, CT, was forced all-in with 9d10d but Freire had pocket 4’s and filled on the river to leave McIntyre in 9th position. Alban Gjata, Mechanicsville, NY, called Anthony Camillery’s all-in pocket 8’s with KQ. Camillery of Walden, NY, finished in 8th place when the board showed 9310J2 and gave the straight to Gjata. Barry Didinsky, South Fallsburg, NY, acquitted himself well by hanging in as long as he did. In the end, his AK was no match for the Longview, TX, native, Mark Compton, who had A8 and paired the 8 on the flop. An 8 on the turn was more than enough to put Didinsky into 7th. Peter Cosgrove, Rochester, NH, had QJ which were helpless against Rothman’s pocket 8’s. Cosgrove took 6th. Alban Gjata, Mark Compton and Billie Strickland, Houston, TX, were all-in on several occasions and the first to succumb to the pressure was Gjata who had A2 but could not pair the A and lost to Freire’s 8’s. Strickland had AQ to Compton’s pocket 3’s as both players were all-in. Strickland caught A’s on the flop trips and Compton had to settle for 4th place money. Strickland made a big move with A6 which was called by Freire with pocket 9’s; they held up, relegating Strickland to 3rd. Freire and Rothman entered head’s up action with Freire holding the chip advantage. Rothman was able to whittle into Freire’s stack and was slightly ahead when the crucial hand occurred. There was minimal action pre-flop and Rothman, with pocket J’s made a small bet with a 473 flop. Freire went all-in with 58 and was immediately called by Rothman. When the turn revealed a 6, Rothman was left with minimal chips and, after his A4 lost to pocket K’s, he had the $25,770 for 2nd place. Richard Freire had the trophy, leather jacket and $37,195!!