1 Neal R Friets, Keene, NH $22,152 2 Ronnie Kevin, Richland, NJ $21,000 3 Paul J Houlihan, Lynn, MA $14,000 4 William J Munley, Jermyn, PA $6,909 5 Michael "Hooks" Lanzetta, Williamstown, NJ $4,936 6 Sang Bong Lee, Jewett City, CT $3,948 7 Peter W Phillips, Atlantic City, NJ $3,455 8 James Parsells, Uncasville, CT $2,961 9 Bruce Barry, Bronx, NY $2,471 10 Michael P Baranowski, Waterbury, CT $1,974 11 Paul V Mangine, Huntington Station, NY $1,974 12 Peter Sereni, Burlington, MA $1,974 13 Joseph P Lawler, Portland, CT $1,875 14 Michael V Santoro, Egg Harbor $1,875 Township, NJ $1,875 15 James E Gibbons, Stoughton, MA $1,875 16 Michael Frejka New York, NY $1,776 17 James E Wilsey, Brockton, MA $1,776 18 Stephen L Rivers, North Baldwin, NY $1,776

NEAL FRIETS TAKES THE TOP PRIZE!

The final table of the $600 7-Card Stud got underway shortly after Noon and Neal Friets of Keene, NH, was able to carry his position as one of the chip leaders to victory! It was not a totally smooth ride but Neal persevered and claimed First Place, a commemorative leather jacket and the Championship Trophy!

A total of 192 players began the tournament on Tuesday competing for a prize pool of $98,707. The final eight began play with the game limits at 4000/8000 and it took only two hands for 8th place to be decided. Jim Parsells, a resident of Uncasville, CT, had pocket J's and caught another pair but Neal had trip 10's and a 10 on the river sealed Jim's fate. Jim collected $2,961 for his efforts. Shortly thereafter, Peter Phillips had pocket 5's for his all-in. He picked up another pair but Paul Houlihan had trip J's. Paul caught a straight on the river which was superfluous and Peter had 7th place and $3,455 to take home to Atlantic City, NJ. The next hand Sang Lee of Jewett City, CT, pushed in the last of his chips with a pair of 9's. Sang had earlier survived an all-in against Bill Munley when he caught a second pair on the river. This time, however, there was no other pair as Ronnie Kevin paired an A on the turn. Sang was the defending champion in this event but this year he had to settle for 6th place money of $3,948. Michael "Hooks" Lanzetta started the final table as the short stack and was able to claw his way to 5th position. Down to his last 4K he ran into Bill who had pocket Q's; Michael was not able to catch a winner and he would return to Williamstown, NJ, with $4,936.

The final 4 played through the 5K/10K level with Ronnie, Paul and Bill adding to their stacks at the expense of Neal who saw his chips dwindling. As the 6K/12K level began, Neal needed a big hand or he would soon be gone. His fortunes were reversed at the expense of Bill Munley who finished 19th in this event at the 2007 WPF. Bill, with trip 10's, was ahead until the river; but Neal, with K's up, filled on the river to leave Bill with 20K. The next hand Bill had a pair of K's and was ahead again to the river when Neal caught trips. Bill was the 4th place winner of $6,909.

In the space of two hands, Neal had gone from the short stack to chip leader. After a short discussion, a deal was made for the remaining prize pool. Paul Houlihan, a resident of Lynn, MA, took third place and $14,000. Ronnie Kevin of Richland, NJ, was the 2nd place winner of $21,000.

Neal Friets took $22,152 and the 2008 Foxwoods Poker Classic $600 7-Card Stud Championship!

Reported by Jeffrey A. Toth for Foxwoods Resort Casino

2008 Foxwoods Poker Classic