Galazan
Wins Shootout:
Isaac ‘the General’ Galazan
wins inaugural WSOP ‘Shootout’
championship, earns victory in first-ever
tournament of its kind
Poker
is a fascinating game for many reasons,
not the least of which are the seemingly
contradictory objectives and strategies
required to win. If asked, What is
the ultimate objective of every single
poker hand? – the expected answer
would be, To win the pot. Accordingly,
one is led to believe that the player
who wins the most pots at a poker table
would be the biggest winner. Furthermore,
one might assume that the player who wins
the most pots at a final table normally
wins the tournament.
To
the contrary, this is not the case. The
player who wins the most pots is not necessarily
the biggest winner. The player might even
be a loser. Winning many pots comes at
a price. At that price is -- more often
than not – losing more pots than
anyone else at the table.
Ultimately,
the objective is to win the pots that
really matter. And no pot matters more
than the final pot of the night. Isaac
‘the General’ Galazan won far fewer pots
than his heads-up rival, Harry Demetrion.
In fact, Demetrion won more than twice
as many pots as anyone else at the final
table. But it was Galazan who won the
pots that mattered most, resulting in
his first World Series of Poker gold bracelet,
and a first-place payout of $315,125.
This
was the first WSOP ‘Shootout’ in history.
Influenced by the public demand wanting
a competition that tests short-handed
play, tables in ‘Shootouts’ are six (not
nine) handed. This means that blinds orbit
around the table more quickly. Furthermore,
it is even more critical to know your
opponents in six-handed play. In short,
a ‘Shootout’ is quite a different game
than standard, full-table no-limit hold’em.
There
were 548 entries in this inaugural event
– each paying $2,500 to enter. The total
prize pool amounted $1,260,400 – the fourth
of six events that have exceeded $1 million.
The final table composition included one
former gold bracelet winner (Antonio ‘the
Magician’ Esfandiari), and one player
who made it to the final table of the
championship event two years ago (David
Singer). The chip leader was Harry Demetrion:
THE
FINAL TABLE:
Seat
1: David Barnes 148,000
Seat 2: David Singer 122,500
Seat 3: Tommy Grimes 278,000
Seat 4: Harry Demetrion 453,500
Seat 5: Isaac Galazan 285,000
Seat 6: Antonio Esfandiari 86,000
Players
were eliminated as follows:
6th
Place – David Barnes went out just
a few minutes after the final table started.
His A-J was topped by fellow-countryman
Demetrion’s pocket 10s. Barnes, who is
a security consultant from London, England,
has enjoyed phenomenal poker success in
Europe. He won a European poker championship
in 2003 and won a British championship
that same year. However the best he could
do was 6th place in this event, which
paid $50,415.
5th
Place – Demetrion’s dominance continued
as next, he knocked out Antonio Esfandiari.
‘The Magician’ couldn’t pull off any magical
finishes at this final table, and he disappeared
in 5th place, with $63,020 in prize money.
On his final hand, Esfandiari had K-J
against Demetrion’s pocket 8s, and failed
to hit one of his overcards.
4th
Place – Again, it was Demetrion
who put the finishing touches on one of
his opponents. David Singer, a Brooklyn-born
poker pro who specializes mostly in high-limit
seven-card stud, was dealt pocket 9s.
He lost when Demetrion had A-4 and flopped
an ace. Singer sang a sad song, ending
up with $75,625 for 4th place.
3rd
Place – Tommy Grimes has made it
to numerous final tables in his distinguished
poker career. But the Houston gambler
(mostly poker and sports betting) has
yet to win a WSOP gold bracelet. Grimes
got close in this tournament, but ended
up busting out third, good for $85,705.
2nd
Place – Heads-up play began with
Demetrion holding a marginal chip lead,
which he increased slowly. Then, Galazan
won a few key spots, and seized the chip
lead 10 minutes into the duel. A few minutes
later, the final hand of the tournament
came out of nowhere. Galazan was dealt
Q-9 and moved ‘all in’ hoping to steal.
Galazan had K-J and called, leaving the
result in the left hand of the dealer.
The final board showed all blanks, 8-5-4-5-2,
which meant Galazan’s king played as the
high card.
Runner
up Harry Demetrion was gravely disappointed
he failed to win. He could take solace
in knowing his total payout amounted to
$163,850. But by the look on Demetrion’s
face, you’d have thought he busted out
on the bubble. To some, winning is
everything.
1st
Place – Isaac Galazan is a 34-year-old
nightclub owner. He has two homes – one
in Miami and the other in Bangkok, Thailand.
His win in this event amounted to $315,125.
The
lesson here it that what you see is not
always what you get. Reality is all a
matter of perspective. Harry Demetrion
won far more pots than anyone else at
the final table, but it was a player nicknamed
‘the General’ who ended up putting on
a commanding performance.
Official Report
by Nolan Dalla – World Series of
Poker Media Director
World
Series of Poker Circuit Director of Operations
– Ken Lambert
World Series of Poker Tournament Director
– John Grooms
Rio Poker Room Manager – Michael
Matts
Rio Poker Tournament Director – Robert
Daily
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