1 Joel E Frank, Belle Mead, NJ $200,553 2 Kevin J Saul, Forest Park, IL $100,721 3 Kathleen H Liebert, Las Vegas, NV $56,285 4 Richard T Rossi, Rochester, NY $35,548 5 Joshua H Weizer, Philadelphia, PA $26,662 6 Richard S Murnick, Montclair, NJ $20,736 7 Farhad Sinaei, New Britain, CT $17,775 8 John A Cernuto, Las Vegas, NV $14,812 9 Andrew K Feldman, Worcester, MA $11,849 10 Aaron T Loew, Salem, NH $9,184 11 Jim L Boyd, Martinsburg, WV $8,590 12 Christopher M Cellery, Chula Vista, CA $7,999 13 Robert P Mizrachi, Hollywood, FL $7,406 14 Frank R Selldorff, Boston, MA $6,813 15 Douglas F Rosen, Tappan, NY $6,221 16 Alfonso Cammarota, Fairfield, CT $5,629 17 Nicholas R Raio, Poughkeepsie, NY $5,036 18 John Q Hoang, Fountain Valley, CA $4,444 19 Cliff D Josephy, Syosset, NY $3,851 20 Sean Bagley, Lynn, MA $3,851 21 Christopher R Jenkins, Pawcatuck, CT $3,851 22 Stephen P Vickrey, Fort Myers Beach, FL $3,851 23 Kiarin P McLaughlin, Garden City, NY $3,851 24 Matthew J DiPaoli, Leominster, MA $3,851 25 Michael M Borchetta, LaGrangeville, NY $3,851 26 John V Pito, Middletown, CT $3,851 27 Aleksandr Bolotin, Brooklyn, NY $3,851 28 Cory E Ward, Titusville, FL $3,851 29 Randolph W Spain, Brewer, ME $3,851 30 Joseph J Haddad, Portland, OR $3,851

JOEL FRANK TAKES TOP
PRIZE OF $200,553!

There were 328 entrants in the 2006 WPF $2000 No-Limit Championship chasing a prize pool of $592,476. Fifteen returned at 4 pm to vie for the top prize and when the contest was over, Joel Frank of Belle Mead, NJ, was the winner of $200,553. Joel showed great determination and uncanny ability to play his cards and stack in order to overcome his opponents at the final table.

With four players remaining and with the blinds at $12K/$24K, Joel, with fewer than $200K in chips, was all-in several times with no callers and able to build his position. A turning point was when Joel hit a flush with AcQc in four way action to take down a pot of over $600K. He then had pocket Q’s to Richard Rossi’s pocket J’s to leave Richard with $221K. Richard, a resident of Rochester, NY, was soon all-in with A3. Kevin Saul called with 5d3d; two diamonds on the flop and a Kd on the river left Richard in 4th position for $35,548. With her mother cheering her on, Kathy Liebert went all-in with K8 and Joel called with Q7; the board came 584J6 to give Joel a straight. Kathy will return home to Las Vegas with $56,285 from this event.

Today’s 5th place finisher was Joshua Weizer of Philadelphia, PA. Joshua had earlier survived an all-in with KQ against Richard Rossi’s AK when he hit a straight. He could not do it again with A8 versus Richard’s AQ. Joshua took home $26,662. Richard Murnick, a resident of Montclair, NJ, pushed in his last $37K with A6; Joel called from the big blind with 83. When an 8 came on the river, Richard was in 6th place with $20,736. Local player Farhad Sinaei had $125K left and was all-in with AQ. Joshua called with pocket 3’s; a 10 on the flop and a J on the turn gave Farhad hope but the river was not kind and Farhad will take $17,775 back to New Britain, CT.

Miami John Cernuto, Las Vegas, NV, was our 8th place winner. Miami John had been left short-stacked after he called Joel’s all-in with AK. Joel, with pocket 10’s, hit quads on the flop and Miami John was soon all-in himself. With AJ, his last $135K was taken by Kathy with K7 when a 7 came on the turn. Miami John collected $14,812. Andrew Feldman of Worcester, MA, the final table short stack, took 9th place when his KQ could not top Kevin’s K10 when a 10 was turned. Andrew took home $11,849 for his efforts. Aaron Loew had AQ and was all-in but Richard Rossi turned over K’s and Aaron was in 10th for $9,184.

Kevin Saul of Forest Park, IL, had been the chip leader for most the day but entering heads up action with Joel he was behind by over two to one. He lost a large portion of his stack with A high to Joel’s pocket 6’s; he then caught a J on the river with J10 to stay in the game. Finally all-in with pocket Q’s, Kevin was unable to stave off the inevitable as Joel’s A paired on the flop to leave Kevin in 2nd place with winnings of $100,721.

Joel Frank was now the winner of the $2000 No-Limit Championship and claimed the Championship crystal trophy, commemorative leather jacket and $200,553!

Reported by Jeffrey A. Toth for Foxwoods Resort Casino

2006 World Poker Finals