STEVE SCHLESINGER
IS VICTORIOUS!
The 2006 Seniors Championship event had another record breaking number of
participants as 508 players competed for a prize pool of $263,103. Steve Schlesinger began the
final table as the chip leader with Chris Bjorin in second place and that was the order of finish at the
top of the standings. Steve, who won the Limit Hold’em event at the 2005 NEPC, will return to his home in
Syosset, NY with the First Place Prize of $83,009!
The first to leave the final table was Tom Cope of Westport, Ct. Tom and Paul D’Ambrosia tangled early
on; both were all-in, Tom with 6’s and Paul with AK. Paul caught a K on the river to leave Tom with $2500. Tom
came back to win a few hands but finally lost to Bruce O’Bert. Tom collected $4,078 for 10th. Cranston, RI,
resident, John Palumbo, was all-in for $30K with A10. Chris called with K7; a 10 on the turn gave hope to John
but a K on the river left John in 9th place with $5,262. The 8th place finisher was Len Greer of Rye, NY, who
never came to the table as he had an engagement that could be avoided. He was chipped off and will collect
$6,577. John McGowan chose to go all-in with pocket K’s and his chances looked good when Steve turned over
97. A flop of A99 gave Steve a set and John, a resident of Madison, CT, was in 7th place good for $7,893.
One remarkable story of the final table was the resilience of Everett Carlson. Everett, who finished in
13th place in this event in 2005, early on lost a large pot that left him with less than $10K. He built his stack back
to over $100K over the next hour. Bruce O’Bert went all-in with pocket 4’s, Everett called with AK, and Steve
called with pocket K’s. A board of 2677Q helped only Steve and Everett of St Paul, MN, with more chips than
Bruce finished 5th for $11,840. Bruce, down from Norridgewock, ME, would return home with $9,209 for 6th.
With four players remaining the chip count favored Steve and Chris with Hamdy Abdalla and Paul
D’Ambrosia of East Haven, CT, as the short stacks. Paul, with A10, lost a large pot to Hamdy who had KJ; an AJ7
gave the advantage to Paul but a J on the river left Paul on the ropes. He went all-in with A7 but Chris turned over
pocket A’s to leave Paul in 4th with $15,786. Local player Hamdy Abdalla of Waterbury, CT, won several all-ins
as he struggled to stay at the table; after being down to under $25K he built his position up to over $200K only to
see it erode as the blinds rose. He went all-in with J10 but got no help from the board and Steve's A9 was the
winner; Hamdy finished 3rd for $23,679.
International player Chris Bjorin, who now lives in London, England, improved on his 37th place finish
in last year’s Seniors event with his 2nd place finish. Steve had built an insurmountable chip advantage and when
Chris went all-in with J10, Steve turned over pocket A’s for the victory. Chris took home $42,097.
Steve Schlesinger returns to tournament play to claim the first place crystal trophy, commemorative
leather jacket and $83,009!
Reported by Jeffrey
A. Toth for Foxwoods Resort Casino |
