The Master Claims Top Spot at World Poker Open
The World Poker Open Main Event began on Sunday January 20, 2008. The $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Championship, a jewel in the World Poker Tour crown, will finish up on January 24, 2008. Until then, we'll whet your appetite for all things WPO with the results from Events 14 – 17 at the Gold Strike Hotel Casino in Robinsonville, MS.
Event #14 was a $500 buy-in NLHE tournament. 362 entrants drove the prize pool up to an impressive $181,000 with more than ¼ of that going to the top finisher, Men Nguyen. Men “The Master” Nguyen, who grew up in Vietnam and escaped to Malaysia before receiving political asylum in the United States, is a poker legend. The Cardplayer Player of the Year for 1997, 2001, 2003 and 2005 has already won over 75 tournaments world-wide and amassed millions of dollars in earnings including six World Series of Poker bracelets.
Here are the results:
1) Men Nguyen - $51,330 2) Pawel Boruta - $26,491 3) Walter Milgroom - $13,246 4) Steven Rash - $11,590 5) Jeremy Kottler - $9,934 6) Michael Matsui - $8,279 7) Dennis Otto - $6,623 8) Allen Demaree - $4,967 9) Donald Sayban - $3,311
John Phan, another talented poker professional hailing from Vietnam, narrowly missed the final table in Event #15 at the World Poker Open. His tenth place finish netted the resident of Long Beach, California $2,807. That's mere pocket change for the man who has amassed over $3.2 million in tournament earnings thus far including multiple cashes at both the WSOP and WPT.
John Racener also finished strong in this event. His sixth place finish netted him an additional $10,025. The championship, however, belonged to Jay Koeller of Melbourne, Florida. Along with the NLHE title, he received $66,160 for his efforts.
These are the final standings:
1) Jay Koeller - $66,160 2) Hunter Robinette - $36,489 3) Gary Lundgren - $20,049 4) Vincenzo Abate - $16,039 5) Scott Dorin - $12,029 6) John Racener - $10,025 7) Jim Shaw - $8,020 8) Daniel Nicholazzi - $6,015 9) Hee To - $4,010
27 players cashed in Event #16 at the 2008 WPO including Men “The Master” Nguyen, winner of event #14. 263 people plunked their $1,000 to play in the NLHE tournament including the eventual champ, Arthur Evans. This resident of Davie, FL earned his biggest cash to date as well as his first title.
Here are the results:
1) Arthur Evans - $78,433 2) James Henson - $43,139 3) Jason James - $22,060 4) Donald Godsey - $17,158 5) Matt Culberson - $14,707 6) Patrick Fraizer - $12,256 7) Men Nguyen - $9,804 8) Tommy White - $7,353 9) Ronald Sewell - $4,902
Finally, the Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) Championship with the $5,000 buy-in brought some of the biggest names the WPO has ever seen to the felt. 48 entrants played in the event including Robert Williamson III and David “Devilfish” Ulliott. Both of these men know a little something about PLO having made final tables in the event at the World Series of Poker. The top prize, however, belonged to Glenn Chorny of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
These are the final standings:
1) Glenn Chorny - $80,208 2) Lester Naquin - $42,332 3) David Halpern - $26,736 4) David Ulliott - $17,824 5) Robert Williamson III - $15,596 6) Mickey Mills - $13,368 7) Jason Gladden - $11,140 8) Lamar Johnston - $8,912 9) Jason Newburger - $6,684