EVENT #34/24 to 4/25/97
WORLD SERIES OF POKER
OMAHA (Limit) $1,500
TOTAL PRIZE MONEY - $276,000 PRIZE MONEY TO DATE - $1,604,000
ENTRIES IN THIS EVENT - 184 TOTAL ENTRIES TO DATE - 888
Daily Report Final Table
1stClaude CohenParis, France$110,400
2ndFrankie HavardPascagoula, MS$55,200
3rdFred RollVinita, OK$27,600
4thDr. Bruce Van HornAda, OK$17,940
5thBill RandelsDallas, TX$13,800
6thMichael ZanghiLas Vegas, NV$9,660
7thLinda Ryke Drucker Las Vegas, NV$6,900
8thJimmy HollandFayetteville, NC$5,520
9th Gene FisherEl Paso, TX$4,140
10thRon QuinnWinterhaven FL$3,312
11thJim KarabinasChicago, IL$3,312
tieMoxie UngarLawrenceville, NJ$3,036
tieWilliam LucykRedding CA$3,036
14thAl BostonLas Vegas, NV$2,760
15thPaul KingMetarie, LA$2,760
16thGarland WaltersMumfordsville, KY$2,208
17thClaudie HollandFayetteville, NC$2,208
18thAhmad MubarakColumbus, OH$2,208

Daily Report
Las Vegas, April 25, 1997. A beautiful day in Las Vegas. A cloudless sky, and 80 degrees. The wind was light early in the day and had disappeared when I left Binion's after the Omaha Tournament. Much nicer than the past few days when we had to button down the hatches to keep from getting blown away.

Smokers Note: The final two survivors in today's limit Omaha tournament were both smokers, and I believe they were the only smokers at the final table. They continue to prohibit smoking by spectators at the final table.

There was a question in the rec.gambling.poker newsgroup recently concerning "rat holing" of chips during the WSOP, so I went to the horses mouth today to get a definitive answer. Jack McClelland informed me that they maintain very strict controls and counting procedures on all WSOP tournament chips and that there has never been an over or under problem. He also pointed out that it in his opinion, it would be pretty dumb to rat hole chips that might have kept you in a tournament.

FYI, when I left Binion's this evening around 7:30 PM PST, the following games were being spread in side action:
1 1/5 Stud1 75/150 Stud 8
2 20/40 Omaha 81 50/100 Stud 8
2 10/20 Omaha 81 PL Omaha 10/25
3 15/30 Holdem1 50/100 Razz
2 10/20 Holdem1 300/600 HOSE
1 1/4/8 Holdem1 75/250 Holdem
2 4/8 Holdem1 PL Omaha 5/10/10
1 10/20 Omaha1 400/800 Stud
i PL Holdem 10/101 100/200 Holdem
1 4/8 Omaha 81 PL Holdem 5/5/10
2 PL Omaha 50/1001 200/400 HORSE
2 50/100 Omaha 81 PL Omaha 5/5/10
1 100/200 Omaha 81 100/200 Stud 8
1 PL Holdem 25/251 30/60 Holdem
1 50/100 Stud1 50/100 Holdem
1 75/150 HOSE
Also, they have had 12 tables going in the satellite area everytime I have looked in that direction.

One of my fringe benefits for this reportorial assignment is food comps at the Horseshoe. Just show my Press pass, and I can eat free anywhere except the Steakhouse on the top floor (Bummer). Unfortunately, it isn't a line pass, and I haven' been able to take too much advantage of it, because most of my time is being spent taping and transcribing these reports. The transcribing process took thirteen hours last night for the Razz tournament. Much more difficult than doing a flop game. The camera man who is doing the live feeds for the internet said he was going to bring me a spare transcribing machine that he has, which sounds like it may make my life a little easier. Another reason I haven't done much freeloading on Binion's is that the comp lines at the buffet and coffee shop were pretty long every time I have checked them out.

They are selling a beautiful limited edition (2,000 I think) silver 1997 WSOP commemerative silver coin for $20 at Binion's. I understand that you cannot buy them over the phone, so if anyone would like me to get one for you, that you will pick up in person at a later date, let me know by Email (simst@nevada.edu) and I will do it, if they are still available. I don't want to get involved in mailing them however. Standard disclaimer: I have no financial interest in the marketing of these coins, and only make this offer as a friendly service to those that don't reside in Mecca, as I do. If I get too many requests, I may limit the # of $'s I'm willing to earmark for this project.

Binion's is one of my favorite places, and it is especially wonderful during the hustle and bustle of the WSOP. I'm in Hog Heaven.

The Final Table
Card by Card and Bet by Bet
WSOP Event #3: $1,500 Limit Omaha
184 Entries, $276,000 Total Prize Pool and chips in play

Final Table chip position:
PlaceName, CityChip CountSeat
1.[F] Frankie Havard - Pascagoula, MS$64,0001
2.[R] Fred Roll - Vinita, OK50,0007
3.[C] Claude Cohen - Paris, France36,5006
4.[H] Jimmy Holland - Fayetteville, NC32,5008
5.[V] Dr. Bruce Van Horn - Ada, OK29,5004
6.[B] Bill Randells - Dallas, TX21,0003
7.[L] Linda Ryke Drucker - Las Vegas19,5009
8.[M] Michael Zanghi - Las Vegas15,0005
9.[G] Gene Fisher - El Paso, TX13,5002

Standard Abbreviations:
Bet [b]Big Blind [bb]
Bring in [bi]Call [c]
Check [ck]Fifth Street [5:]
First In [fi]Flop [fl]
Fold [f]Fourth Street [4:]
River [rv]Seventh Street [7:]
Sixth Street [6:]Small Blind [sb]
Show Down [sd]Third Street [3:]
Turn [t]Winner [w]
    Standard Flop Game Notations

    [K] Kevin Song Seat #1
    [Y] Yvan Lanvin Seat #2

    96. sb K - c K - ck Y - fl 9s 5h 7h - ck Y - b K - f Y - w K

    Interpretation: On hand #96 in heads-up play, Kevin Song had the small blind on the button, Kevin called and Yvan checked. The flop was the 9s 5h 7h. Yvan checked, Kevin bet and Yvan folded. Kevin won the hand.

    Standard Stud Notations

    [B] Peter Brownstein Seat #1
    [L] Linda Johnson Seat #2

    170. 3: 4h 9s - bi L 9s - c B 4h - 4: Ad Kc - b B - f L - w B

    Interpretation: On hand #170 in heads-up Razz play, the doorcards on third street in seat order were the 4h for Peter and the 9s for Linda. Linda's 9s made the bring-in bet and Peter called. On 4th street Peter got the Ad and Linda got the Kc. Peter Bet. Linda folded. Peter won the hand.

    Cards were in the air at 4:08 PM with Jack McClelland and Jim Albrecht presiding. The limits are 2000/4000 with 1000/2000 blinds.

  1. sb M - bb C - fi c R - c B - c M - ck C - fl 4h 8c 5h - b C - All Fold - w C
  2. sb C - bb R - fi c C - ck R - fl 5d 6c 5h - Both check - t 2d - Both check - rv Ah - Both check - C [3s 7s Kd 6h] - R [ 3c 3d Jd 2s] - w C
  3. sb R - bb H - fi r F - All fold - w F
  4. sb H - bb L - fi r G - w G
  5. sb L - bb F - fi c L - ck F - fl Jc 8d Td - ck L - b F - f L - w F
  6. sb F - bb G - All fold to bb - w G
  7. sb G - bb B - fi r M - c G - c B - fl Qs Ts Th - ck G - b B - r M - f G - f B - w M
  8. sb B - bb V - fi r M - All fold - w M
  9. sb V - bb M - fi r C - All fold - w C
  10. sb M - bb C - fi r V - c M - r C - c V - c M - fl 9d Js 9c - ck M - b C - f V - c M - t 9s - ck M - b C - f M - w C
  11. sb C - bb R - fi r H - c F - f C - f R - fl 7d 3c Tc - ck H - b F - c H - t 7h - ck H - b F - c H - rv 6h - ck H - b F - c H - F [6s 7s 8c Td] - H mucks hand - w F
  12. sb R bb H - fi r F - c G - f R - c H - fl 6d Th Td - ck H - ck F - b G - f H - c F - t Kh - ck F - ck G - rv 6h - b F - c G - F [Ts Tc Qh 8c] - G mucks his hand - w F
  13. sb H - bb L - fi r G all in - c H - f L - G [Ac 2c 2d 5s] - H [Td Th 7d Qs] - fl Ts 2h 8h - t 9c - rv 6c - w H

    *** Gene Fisher finishes 9th at 4:30 PM

  14. sb L - bb F - All fold to bb - w F
  15. sb F - bb B - fi r R - All fold - w R
  16. sb B - bb V - fi r H - r B - f V - c H - fl Qc 5d Th - b B - c H - t 3d - b B all in - c H - B [Ac Jc Tc Td] - H [As Js 5c 7d] - fl 4s Kc Th - t 3d - rv Jd - w B
  17. sb V - bb M - fi r R - c V - f M - fl 5s Js 6h - ck V - b R - f V - w R
  18. sb M - bb C - fi r H - c F - f M - c C - fl Td 7d 5d - b H - c F - f C - b H all in blind - t 8s - c F - H [Tc Ts 6s 3h] - F [8h 8d 9c Jc] - rv 5s - w H
  19. sb C - bb R - fi r B - r V - f C - f R - c B - fl Kd 4h Ac - ck B - b V - f B - w V
  20. sb R - bb H - fi r V - All fold - w V
  21. sb H - bb L - fi r F - f H - c L - fl 9c Qc 7c - ck L - b F - r L - f F shows [Ah Ad 8h 9h] - w L
  22. sb L - bb F - fi r M - f L - c F - fl 7s Ad 8h - ck F - b M - c F - t 9c - Both check - rv 7d - Both check - M [Kh Kd Jh 2d] - F mucks hand - w M
  23. sb F - bb B - fi r F - c B - fl Kh 6d 5c - b F - r B - f F - w B
  24. sb B - bb V - fi r C - c H - f B - c V - fl Th 6c 3c - ck V - b C - c H - f V - t 8h - b C - c H - rv Jc - b C - c H - C [5c Kc Qs Ts] - H [J J X X] - w C
  25. sb V - bb M - fi r F - f V - c M - fl 8d Ac 6s - ck M - b F - f M - w F
  26. sb M - bb C - fi c H all in - c M - ck C - fl 3c 2h Kc - b M - f C - H [Kh 9h Qc 6c] - M [As Ks 7d 9c] - t Qs - rv Qd - w H

    *** Levels raised to 3000/6000 with 1500/3000 blinds at 4:54 PM.

  27. sb C - bb R - fi r V - All fold - w V shows [Q Q]
  28. sb R - bb H - fi r C - f R - c H all in - C [5h Jh 5c Jc] - H [9d Qd 7c Kc] - fl 7h 2h 4d - t Js - rv 4h - w C

    *** Jimmy Holland finishes 8th at 4:57 PM

  29. bb L - fi r F - c C - f L - fl 7c 6s Qc - ck F - b C - f F - w C
  30. sb L - bb F - fi r L - c F - fl 8c Jc 7c - b L - c F - 4c - ck L - b F - f L - w F
  31. sb F - bb B - Folded to bb - w B
  32. sb B - bb V - fi r L - f B - r V - c L all in - V [Ks 9d 3s Th] - L [Ah 2h Kc 9c] - fl Tc Ac 7h - t Td - rv 6s - w V

    *** Linda Ryke Drucker finishes 7th at 5:03 PM.

  33. sb V - bb M - fi r R - f V - c M - fl Ts 8c 9s - ck M - b R - r M - r R - c M all in - M [Qc Jc 9d 2d] - R [Kc Ks 8s 5c] - t Js - rv 5d - w R

    *** Michaek Zanghi finishes in 6th place at 5:06 PM.

  34. bb C - fi r F - All fold - w F
  35. sb C - bb R - fi r V - All fold - w V
  36. sb R - bb F - fi c C - r R - c F - c C - fl Th 6s Td - ck R - b F - f C - c R - t 6c - Both check - rv 7c - b R - f F - w R
  37. sb F - bb B - fi r R - All fold - w R
  38. sb B - bb V - fi r C - c R - f B - c V - fl 9d 6h 7c - ck V - b C - c R - f V - t 7h - b C - f R - w C
  39. sb V - bb C - All fold to bb - w C
  40. sb C - bb R - fi r C - f R - w C

    *** Approx chip count: F 74K B 15K V 30K C 100K R 60K

  41. sb R - bb F - fi r B - f R - c F - fl Qh 9c 5c - ck F - b B - r F - r B - They raised each other until B was all in - F [9s 9h 8h 4c] - B [Kd Jd 5d Ks] - t Kh - rv Ad - w B
  42. sb F - bb B - fi r R - c F - f B - fl Js 4s 8c - b F - c R - t 7d - b F - c R - rv 6s - Both check - F [Qs 5s 8d 6h] - R [Ac Ah Kh Qc] - w F
  43. sb B - bb V - Folded to bb - w V
  44. sb V - bb C - fi r R - f V - c C - fl 2d 4s 3c - ck C - b R - f C - w R
  45. sb C - bb R - fi r F - f C - c R - fl Qd 2c Js - ck R - b F - c R - t Jd - b R - c F - rv 8c - ck R - b F - c R - F [Jh As 4d 3s] - R mucks - w F
  46. sb R - bb F - fi r B - f R - c F - fl 8c 6d 2h - b F - r B - c F - t 7h - b F - r B - c F - rv 5c - ck F - b B all in - c F - F [3h 4c Ah 2c] - B [Ad As Qd Qs] - w F

    *** Bill Randells finishes 5th at 5:24 PM.

  47. sb F - bb V - fi r F - c V - fl Js Qc Td - b F - f V - w F shows[A K]
  48. sb V - bb C - fi c V - r C - c V - fl 3s Tc 5d - b V - c C - t 4s - b V - c C - rv 5h - ck V - b C - c V - V [Qh Th 6h Ac] - C [5s As 6s Ks] - w C
  49. sb C - bb R - fi r F - f C - c R - fl As 7d Td - ck R - b F - f R - w F

    *** Approx chip count: V 2.5K R 20K C 115K F 135K

  50. sb R - bb F - fi c C - f R - ck F - fl 9d As 3h - b F - r C - c F - t 7d - ck F - b C - c F - rv Qc - Both check - F [Ah Kh 2h 6d] - C [Ac 9h Kd 8c] - w C
  51. sb F - bb V all in - fi r R (some surprised looks from other players) - f F - V [Qs Qd 5h 6c] - R [Ad 5d 7s 3c] - Board 3d 9h 9s 4h Tc - w V
  52. sb V - bb C - fi r R (more looks) - c V all in - f C - V [Ah Qh 5h 6s] - R [9s 9d 8d 3s] - w R

    *** Dr. Bruce Van Horn finishes 4th at 5:35 PM.

  53. sb C - bb R - fi r F - All fold - w F
  54. sb R - bb F - All fold to bb - w F
  55. sb F - bb C - fi r F - c C - fl 3h 3s Jh - b F - f C - w F
  56. sb C - bb R - fi r F - f C - r R - c F - fl As Ac 2c - Both check - t Ah - b R - c F - rv 4h - b R - c F - R [Kd Kc Ts 4d] - F mucks - w R
  57. sb R - bb F - fi r R - cF - fl 4s 5d Kh - ck R - b F - c R - t 5s - ck R - b F - f R - w F
  58. sb F - bb C - fi r F - c C - fl 8h 5d 9s - b F - r C - c F - t 6h - ck F - b C - c F - rv 3d - ck F - b C - f F - w C
  59. sb C - bb R - fi r F - f C - c R - fl 8d 8c 5c - b R - c F - t Qh - b R - c F - rv 2d - b R - f F - w R

    *** Approx chip count: F 90K C 130K R 56K

  60. sb R - bb F - fi c R - r F - c R - fl Jd 8s 4d - Both checked - t 4c - b R - r F - f R - w F
  61. sb F - bb C - fi c F - ck C - fl Jh 2s 8d - ck F - b C - f F - w C
  62. sb C - bb R - fi c C - r R - c C - fl Jd Ah 8h - ck C - b R - f C - w R
  63. sb R - bb F - Folded to bb - w F
  64. sb F - bb C - fi r R - All fold - w R
  65. sb C - bb R - fi r C - c R - fl 2c 3s 4s - b C - r R - c C - t Qs - ck C - b R - c C - rv 8s - ck C - b R - c C - R [Ks 6d Ad Qh] - C [Js Ts 9s Qd] - w C
  66. sb R - bb F - All fold to bb - w F
  67. sb F - bb C - All fold to bb - w C
  68. sb C - bb R - fi c C - ck R - fl 2d Td 5c - ck C - b R - f C - w R

    *** 10 minute break at 6:53 PM. Approx chip count: F 102K C 142K R 33K New Levels are 4000/8000 with 2000/4000 Blinds. I don't think any deal was discussed during the break. Cards are in the air at 6:12 PM.

  69. sb R - bb F - All fold to bb - w F
  70. sb F - bb C - fi r F - c C - fl Js 8c 4d - b F - c C - t 4h - b F - c C - rv 3c - b F - f C - w F shows [Ah Ac Jh Jd]
  71. sb C - bb R - fi r F - All fold - w F
  72. sb R - bb F - fi r C - r R - f F - c C - fl Ac Ad Qd - b R - c C - t 2s - b R - c F - rv 5d - b R all in - c C - R [Ah 2d Jh Td] - C mucks - w R
  73. sb F - bb C - fi r R - c F - c C - fl Qd 6h 6c - b F - f C - c R - t 9d - b F - c R - rv 9c - Both check - F [Kh Kc 4h Td] - R [Ks 2c Qc Ac] - w F
  74. sb C - bb R - fi c C - ck R - fl Ts 8d 7c - b C - c R - t Qs - Both check - rv 6s - Both check - C [8h Tc 2h 2c] - R [Qd 9h 4c 4h] - w C
  75. sb R - bb F - fi r R - r F - c R - fl 8c 2s 4c - ck R - b F - c R - t Jd - ck R - b F - c R - rv 6d - Both check - F [Qs Qd 3h 3s] - R mucks - w F
  76. sb F - bb C - fi r R all in - c F - c C - fl 4c 3c 2c - Both check - t Th - Both check - rv 9c - Both check - F [5h 7h 2h Kd] - C mucks - R [Ks Qs Td 5d] - w R
  77. sb C - bb R - fi c F - f C - ck R - fl 4d 6h 7d - b R - c F - t 8h - b R - r F - c R all in - F [Ac 9c 6d Td] - R[Kc 4s 5s 6s] - rv 7c - w F

    *** Fred Roll finishes 3rd at 6:19 PM. Took a 10 minute break, probably for deal discussion purposes. Official chip count: F 192k C 84K

  78. sb and button C - c C -ck F - fl 2d Td 7d - Both chech - t 4h - b F - f C - w F
  79. sb F - r F - c C - fl Kd 6d 7c - ck C - b F - c C - t 7s - ck C - b F - f C - w F shows [7h Kc Ad X]
  80. sb C - r C - f F - w C
  81. sb F - r F - c C - fl 4d 9d 6s - ck C - b F - c C - t 7h - ck C - ck F - rv 7c - Both check - F [Kd Ks Ah 3c] - C mucks - w F
  82. sb C - r C - c F - fl Kc 9c Jd - ck F - b C - f F - w C
  83. sb F - r F - c C - fl 6d 5h 3d - Both check - t Kh - ck C - b F - c C - rv 4d - Both check - C [3s 4c 9d 9h] - F [9s Ts Td X] - w C
  84. sb C - r C - c F - fl Kd 6d Qh - b F - r C - f F - w C
  85. sb F - f F - w C
  86. sb C - c C - r F - c C - fl 7d 9d 4s - b F - c C - t 7s - b F - c C - rv Ac - b F - f C - w F
  87. sb F - r F - c C - fl 7c 7d 4d - Both check - t 6d - ck C - b F - f C w F
  88. sb C - r C - f F shows [2 2 2 A] - w C
  89. sb F - r F - c C - fl Ks Jc 4s - ck C - b F - c C - t Tc - ck C - b F - r C - c F - rv Th - b C - f F - w C
  90. sb C - r C - c F - fl 2c 6d 8d - ck F - b C - c F - t Tc - ck F - b C - c F - rv Ks - ck F - b C - f F - w C
  91. sb F - c F - ck C - fl Jc 8h 3s - b C - c F - t Qc - ck C - b F - c C - rv 6h - Both check - F [Ah 2d 6c 8d] - C mucks - w F
  92. sb C - c C - ck F - fl 8h 9h Qd - Both check - t 7c - ck F - b C - f F - w C
  93. sb F - r F - c C - fl 2h 4s 2d - ck C - b F - c C - t 7d - ck C - b F - r C - f F - w C
  94. sb C - f C - w F
  95. sb F - c F - r C - c F - fl Td 4c Tc - b C - f F - w C
  96. sb C - c C - ck F - fl 2s As 7s - b F - f C - w F
  97. sb F - r F - c C - fl 3c 8s Ks - ck C - b F - c C - t 7s - ck C - b F - r C - r F - r C - f F - w C
  98. sb C - c C - r F - c C - fl Td 2d 3h - b F - c C - t 6s - b F - f C - w F
  99. sb F - r F - c C - fl 5c 4d 7d - b C - c F - t Th - b C - c F - rv 5d - Both check - C [8d 8c 7s Jc] - F mucks - w C
  100. sb C - c C - ck F - Jc Qd 7c - Both check - t As - b F - f C - w F
  101. sb F - r F - c C - fl Th 6c 8d - ck C - b F - c C - t Tc - ck C - b F - c C - rv Kc - ck C - b F - c C - C [Qc 8c Jd 5d] - F mucks - w C
  102. sb C r C - c F - fl - Ad Qs 6h - ck F - b C - c F - t 4c - Both check - rv Kd - b F - c C - F [Td Jd 8d 2c] - C mucks - w F
  103. sb F - r F - c C - fl 9s 4d 7c - ck C - b F - c C - t Jh - ck C - b F - c C - rv Jc - ck C - b F - f C - w F
  104. sb C - r C - f F - w C
  105. sb F - r F - c C - fl 7h 5s 5h - ck C - b F - c C - t Th - b C - c F rv Ac - Both check - C [9h Jd 5c 7c] - F [Ts Jh 5c 6s] - w C
  106. sb C - c C - ck F - fl Qd 2s 3s - Both check - t 7s - b F - f C - w F
  107. sb F - r F - f C - w F
  108. sb C - r C - c F - fl 7h 3d As - ck F - b C - r F - c C - t 2c - b F - c C - rv Qc - b F - c C - F [Qd 8d 7d Ac] - C mucks - w F
  109. sb F - f F - w C
  110. sb C - c C - ck F - fl 8h Qh Js - b F - f C - w F
  111. sb F - c F - ck C - fl 5c Qc 2c - b C - f F - w C
  112. sb C - c C - r F - c C- fl 8h 6s 8s - b F - c C - t 7h - b F - c C - rv Kd - b F - r C - c F - C [6c 6d Qh 2d] - F mucks - w C
  113. sb F - r F - c C - fl 7d 9s 6d - ck C - b F - c C - t Td - ck C - b F - c C - rv Qh - ck C - b F - F [As 2c Jh 8d] - C mucks - w F
  114. sb C - f C - w F
  115. sb F - r F - c C - fl 2c 4c 9h - Both check - t 6s - b C - c F - rv 4d - ck C - b F - c C - F [8h Kd 3d 7c] - C [5h 5c 7d 8d] - w C
  116. sb C - f C - w F
  117. sb F - r F - c C - fl 8d 2d 6s - ck C - b F - c C - t Qc - ck C - b F - f C - w F

    *** Limits increased to 6000/12000 with 3000/6000 blinds at 7:15 PM

  118. sb C - r C - c F - fl 2h Th 2d - ck F - b C - f F - w C
  119. sb F - r F - f C - w F
  120. sb C - c C - r F - c C - fl 6s 4s 4h - b F - r C - c F - t 3s - ck F - b C - r F - c C - rv Ad - b F - r C - c F - C [3h 4d 7c Tc] - F [Qs 7s 6c Qc] - w C
  121. sb F - c F - ck C - fl 4d 6c 2d - b C - c F - t 6d - ck C - b F - c C - rv Ac - ck C - b F all in - c C - F [Ad 6s 3h 5c] - C mucks - w F
  122. sb C - c C - r F - c C - fl Jc 8s Jd - Both check - t 7d - b F - c C - rv Jh - b F - c C - F [6c 6s 8d 7c] - C [Th Tc 5h 7c] - w C
  123. sb F - r F - c C - fl Ad 3s 8d - ck C - b F - f C - w F
  124. sb C - r C - c F - fl 5s 3h Qd - Both check - Qs - Both check - rv Kh - Both check - F [Ah Td 6d 7d] - C [7h Th Ad Jd] - w C
  125. sb F - c F - r C - c F - fl 6d Ks Ah - b C - f H - w C
  126. sb C - c C - ck F - fl 6c 6s 2h - ck F - b C - c F - t 9d - Both check - rv 8s - b F all in - f C - w F
  127. sb F - c F - ck C - fl 7h Ah 3c - b C - f H - w C
  128. sb C - c C - r F - c C - fl 8d 9h 5h - b F - c C - t 4d - b f all in - c C - F [8s 9s 5c 7c] - C [4s 4c 2h 6h] - w C

    *** Frankie Havard finishes 2nd and Claude Cohen wins the $1500 Limit Omaha WSOP Championship at 7:07 PM.

Final Table Chip Standings - Seat Positions

Missing Picture Claude Cohen, a French newcomer to American poker, trounced a record field of 184 entries to win the $l,500 Limit Omaha title and with it $110,400 and a 14-karat gold World Series bracelet. He was the second Frenchman ever to finish first at the WSOP and he did it just two days after another French player, Yvan Lanvin, was runner-up in the tournament's opening event.

"I'm just so happy, I can't realize I've won," said Cohen, a 41 year-old former businessman well known on the French Riviera. "Maybe it will sink in later tonight or tomorrow. This is much my biggest tournament win. I've only been playing American poker for one and a half years. I love poker and particularly the tension and pressure in freezeout tournaments." Cohen said he is such a poker enthusiast that he plays as much as ten hours almost every day in Paris.

To gain victory, Cohen fought a classic Omaha heads-up battle for exactly one hour against Frankie Havard, 42, a bail bondsman and fisherman who is making his first trip to the World Series a great success. After winning $7,616 for 18th place in the initial Limit Hold'em event, Havard collected $55,200 as Omaha runner-up.

As the chip lead changed several times, Cohen twice flopped full houses and slow-played while Havard bet out aggressively. Those hands turned the tide. In the final hand Cohen turned a set which was enough to defeat Havard who flopped three pair.

"It was great," Havard said. "I love the way this tournament was run. My opponent is an excellent player. I don't have enough tournament experience, but I'll get some more and I'll be back."

Third place money of $27,600 went to Fred Roll, 54, the chief financial officer for an Okalahoma gaming company who said he has "played poker for 35 years and I'm still an amateur and still learning." He survived two all-in bets but was eventually eliminated with a straight by Havard's flopped higher straight. "I feel fortunate -- my goal was to finish in the top five. This was my highest-ever tournament win," Roll said.

Dr. Bruce Van Horn, runner-up to Huck Seed in last year's World Series championship, collected $17,940 for his fourth place finish. That brought his total WSOP earnings to more than $625,000. Van Horn, 58, a practicing pathologist and another Oklahoman, said "I felt I played real well to get to the final table."

Fifth place went to Bill Randels, a 36 year-old real estate consultant and "social poker player" who was entering his first World Series event. He went all in with A-Q double-suited which lost when Havard caught a straight on the river.

Michael Zanghi, another first-time WSOP entrant, took sixth place, eliminated when his flopped top straight was chopped off when Roll made a flush.

Linda Ryke Drucker, the 1987 Women's World Series champion, finished seventh, never able to increase her short stack at the final table.

Eighth place and $5,520 went to Jimmy Holland, his first finish in the money at the WSOP. Jimmy's brother Claudie also placed in the money, finishing 17th-- a most unusual family act.

When tournament veteran Gene Fisher was eliminated in ninth place, applause rang out from spectators in appreciation of his remarkable World Series record. This was his 22nd time in the money and the 14th final table since he first came to the Horseshoe's annual tournament 21 years ago. Fisher has won two gold bracelets and more than $570,000.


WSOP On the Internet

For the first time in World Series history a detailed transcript of action at each final table is being recorded for Internet surfers. Including every bet, all face up cards and hole cards that are shown, this tournament coverage is being provided by Tom Sims, a regular in the Horseshoe poker room and an Internet devotee.

Internet Coverage of the 1997 World Series of Poker is brought to you by Binion's Horseshoe and ConJelCo
©1997, Binion's Horseshoe. Some portions ©1997, ConJelCo. All Rights Reserved.
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