Scotty Nguyen(credit: Scotty's Official Web Site)
A total of 96 pros played in the LA Poker Classic $10,000 buy-in HORSE championship. 16 of these returned for the second – and final – day of play. Only eight of these would make bank in the tournament.
Amnon Philippi finished in seventh during a round of Stud 8/b. Jeff Madsen, a multiple WSOP bracelet holder and still in his early 20s, finished third. He was KOd by Chino Rheem during a hand of Omaha 8/b. Rheem, for his part, made it to the final table of the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event.
Chino’s been on a role but he was no match for Vietnamese-born Scotty Nguyen. Known as the Prince of Poker, Nguyen is the reigning WSOP HORSE champion. He surged to the top around the middle of the final table and … never looked back.
He and Rheem agreed to a deal with Nguyen claiming the title and Rheem collecting some extra cash.
Scotty did his best not to repeat his behavior at the WSOP HORSE final table. Here, he apologizes for it: