26th Annual
World Series of Poker

$1,500 Buy-in
Entries: 138
Total Prize Money: $207,000

1994 Winner: Mike Hart - $88,800

1995 Champion: MICKEY SISSKIND

• The Winners.
• The Showdown.
• The Final Table.
• The Final Hand.

1. Mickey Sisskind				 $82,800
West Bloomfield, Michigan
2. Leroy Baca					  41,400
Belen, New Mexico
3. Fred Walker					  20,700
Council Bluffs, Iowa
4. Sven Arntzen					  12,420
Annapolis, Maryland
5. Chris Ferguson				  10,350
Pacific Palisades, California
6. Mike Sexton					   8,280
Las Vegas, Nevada
7. Men Nguyen					   6,210
Bell Gardens, California
8. Mark Lowery					   4,140
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
9. Ron McMillan					   3,105
Las Vegas, Nevada
10. Ken Flaton					   3,105
Henderson, Nevada
11. Mark Mitchell				   3,105
Seattle, Washington
12. Chau Giang					   2,588
Las Vegas, Nevada
13. Brent Carter				   2,587
Oak Park, Illinois
14. Sam Grizzle					   2,070
Garden Grove, California
15. Artie Cobb					   2,070
Las Vegas, Nevada
16. Rafael Loson				   2,070
Buenos Aires, Argentina

. This is the first World Series title for Sisskind, who plays only Razz and has competed in this WSP event since 1987. "I'm very excited about winning," he said. "I've thought about a World Series Razz title for a long time." An attorney and commercial real-estate investor, Sisskind has cashed in two previous WSP tournaments, as well as in the Queens Poker Classic. He began playing poker in college.

. When heads-up play began, Sisskind had more than a 4-to-1 chip lead over runner-up Leroy Baca, who nevertheless survived five all-in confrontations before he was finally dispatched. The deciding hand came down when Baca bet all in on sixth street with a 10-8 and Sisskind called with a draw to a nine. On the river, it was all over for Baca, as Sisskind caught a six to win the pot and the title with a 9-7.

. Sisskind's victory over Baca was a repeat performance from the night before. "I was heads up against Mickey in a satellite last night," Baca said. "He beat me last night, and he beat me again today. He's a really tough player."

. Baca, a 55-year-old automobile dealer from Belen, New Mexico, pocketed $41,400 for his second-place finish. A poker player since age 15, he embarked on the tournament trail nine years ago and has cashed in several major poker competitions.

. Finishing third in the Razz event and winning $20,700 was Fred Walker of Council Bluffs, Iowa. The 58-year-old owner of a pool hall, Walker began playing poker in his early teens and has finished in the money in several major tournaments.

. After doubling through to stay alive, Walker was eliminated from the competition on the next hand when his 8-6-5 was bested by Leroy Baca's 8-6-4. "I'm happy to finish in third place," Walker said. "I played about even all the time. I was never really ahead but never behind either."

. In his third appearance at the final table -- three nights in a row, in fact -- Mike Sexton of Las Vegas finished sixth for $8,280. Sexton placed fourth in the Omaha competition on April 27, winning $14,820, and pocketed $15,900 for his fifth-place finish in the Stud High-Low Split tournament held April 28. Also cashing three times to date in this year's World Series are Chau Giang and Men "The Master" Nguyen.

The Final Hand

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