1. Brandon Cantu Vancouver $757,839 2. Phong Ly Los Angeles, CA $416,816 3. Dr. Drew Rubin Hollywood, FL $226,597 4. Lee Padilla Modesto, CA $176,579 5. Brent Roberts Staten Island, NY $151,570 6. Don A. Zewin Las Vegas, NV $126,940 7. Ronald E. Stanley Henderson, NV $107,614 8. Mark Swartz Phoenix, AZ $88,668 9. Juan Carlos Mortensen Las Vegas, NV $71,617 10. Tom Nguyen Reno, NV $56,081 11. Jennifer Harman Las Vegas, NV $51,155 12. Jack Rosenfeldt Hobrq, Denmark $46,987 13. Ali Eslami Van Nuys, CA $43,197 14. Chad Burum Novato, Canada $39,408 15. David Baker Katy, TX $35,619 16. Adam N. Smith Mansfield, TX $31,830 17. Steven Hohn Overland Park, KS $28,040 18. Stuart Krasney Tustin, CA $24,251 19. Jorge R. Walker Cerritos, CA $20,462 20. Paul Smith San Diego, CA $20,462 21. Young V. Phan Irvine, CA $20,462 22. Ronnie Jackson Henderson, NV $16,673 23. Kyle Burnside Somerset, MA $16,673 24. David "Devil Fish" Ulliott Hull, England $16,673 25. Michael LaBonte Richfield, WI $13,641 26. Michael Bertolini Las Vegas, NV $13,641 27. Kent Roman Wyandotte, MI $13,641 28. Christopher Larue Mantica, CA $11,368 29. Rick Burke Chicago, IL $11,368 30. Ali Zargari Las Vegas, NV $11,368 31. Tam Hang Seattle, WA $11,368 32. Paul Darden, Jr. Las Vegas, NV $11,368 33. Mark Schaech Baltimore, MD $11,368 34. Jeffery Peterson Corona, CA $11,368 35. Albert Krux Fayetteville, NY $11,368 36. Rohn Schutsky Freehold, NJ $11,368 37. Vaughan Machado Red Bank, NJ $9,094 38. Motoyuki Mabuchi Osaka, Japan $9,094 39. Ryan Even Henderson, NV $9,094 40. Bill Gazes Miami, FL $9,094 41. Tony "Pokerthug" Lay OK City, OK $9,094 42. Arsenio Javier Fullerton, CA $9,094 43. Don Leone Greendale, WI $9,094 44. Michael Miller Northridge, CA $9,094 45. Ty Takishita HI $9,094 46. Phil Gordan Las Vegas, NV $9,094 47. Paul Gratsch Cocoa, FL $9,094 48. Trent Schuler Springrfield, OH $9,094 49. Erik Seidel Las Vegas, NV $9,094 50. Emmett Burns Fort Worth, TX $9,094 51. Bernard "BeeNO" Ko Chino Hills, CA $9,094 52. Preston Ritchie New Orleans, LA $9,094 53. KenKoski Howell, MI $9,094 54. Greg Noren Phoenix, AZ $9,094 55. Scott Lychwick Gilbert, AZ $7,578 56. Michael Kim New York, NY $7,578 57. Danny Fuhs Las Vegas, NV $7,578 58. Shane Stephenson Pittsburg, PA $7,578 59. Reza Zand Henderson, NV $7,578 60. Chris Henchcliffe Olympia, WA $7,578 61. Bill Chen Lafayette Hill, PA $7,578 62. Danny Adelson Los Angeles, CA $7,578 63. Greg Raymer Raleigh, NC $7,578 64. Gorden Smith Tool, TX $7,578 65. Unknown $7,578 66. Christpoer Budak Cypress, TX $7,578 67. Phil Helmuth, Jr. Palo Alto, CA $7,578 68. Derek Neumman Bothell, WA $7,578 69. William Lin Denver, CO $7,578 70. Ben Boyd Los Angeles, CA $7,578 71. Tad Jurgens Phoenix, AZ $7,578 72. Paul Tran Houston, TX $7,578 73. Nick Guagenti Westerville, OH $7,578 74. Sam Chung Las Vegas, NV $7,578 75. Tuan Le Los Angeles, CA $7,578 76. Bill Maguire Robstown, TX $7,578 77. Charles Gambino Brooklyn, NY $7,578 78. Jim Bechtel Gilbert, AZ $7,578 79. Mike Ngo New Orleans, LA $7,578 80. Dan Nemec Menomonee Falls, WI $7,578 81. Dan Nguyen San Jose, CA $7,578 82. Cathleen Tran Irvine, CA $6,063 83. Tom Slater Danville, CA $6,063 84. Bob Rasmussen Seattle, WA $6,063 85. Carl Olson Seattle, WA $6,063 86. John Bonetti Houston, TX $6,063 87. Darryl Oauenhauer Laughin, NV $6,063 88. Victor Demolo Sarasota, FL $6,063 89. Richard Talerico Brookshire, TX $6,063 90. Nick Voyatzis Los Angeles, CA $6,063 91. Armen Kara Brea, CA $6,063 92. Dom Auzzi Bronx, NY $6,063 93. Brian Taylor Macon, GA $6,063 94. Bruce Yamron Naples, FL $6,063 95. Jordan Rich Portland, OR $6,063 96. Matt Holtzclaw Elk Grove, CA $6,063 97. Keith Seradzki Blontown, NJ $6,063 98. Eric Froelich Washington DC $6,063 99. Brett Cuccarelli Modesto, CA $6,063 100. Blair Rodman Las Vegas, NV $6,063 101. Rigo Vangarelli Acworth, GA $6,063 102. Adam Green Reston, VA $6,063 103. Robert Sweedler Portland, OR $6,063 104. Sagar Patel Morton Grove, IL $6,063 105. Frank Senipoli Hollywood, FL $6,063 106. Fred Yazber Semi Valley, CA $6,063 107. Casey Kastle Chicago, IL $6,063 108. Jim Gentry Vancouver, WA $6,063 109. James Weston Stanhope, NJ $4,547 110. Tom Pniak Las Vegas, NV $4,547 111. William Shanks College Park, MD $4,547 112. Gregory Whiting Jr. Philadelphia, PA $4,547 113. Michael Copener Phoenix, AZ $4,547 114. Bruce Leyser Los Angeles, CA $4,547 115. Eric Mellott Woodland Park, Co $4,547 116. Arms Yongyuth Carlsland, CA $4,547 117. Derrick Ho San Jose, CA $4,547 118. Darrell Stoner Orlando, FL $4,547 119. Dave Chaput Brookeville, MD $4,547 120. Dave Fisher Buffalo, NY $4,547 121. Tom Noble San Diego, CA $4,547 122. Richie Wong Las Vegas, NV $4,547 123. Zachary Fritz Las Vegas, NV $4,547 124. Adam Friedman Gananna, OH $4,547 125. Chris Campochiard Granada Hills, CA $4,547 126. Nevio Nicolich New York, NY $4,547 127. Tanhdah Tran El Monte, CA $4,547 128. Chad Wiedenhoeft Whitewater, WI $4,547 129. Chaechon Yim Kent, WA $4,547 130. David Byer Las Vegas, NV $4,547 131. Larry Rossland Mandan, ND $4,547 132. David Mann Long Beach, CA $4,547 133. Greg Higginsbotham Janesville, WI $4,547 134. Todd Reynolds Holtsville, NY $4,547 135. Kenneth Johns Pitchford Sutton-In, Ashfield, England $4,547 136. Michael Hill Wiesbaden Germany $4,547 137. Bradley W. Anderson Fresno, CA $4,547 138. Patrick Poels Mesa, AZ $4,547 139. Michael Ruth Schenectady, NY $4,547 140. Thomas Sanduski Las Vegas, NV $4,547 141. John Yahnig Louisville, KY $4,547 142. Andy Miller Abilene, TX $4,547 143. Kenneth Brosnahan Marietta, GA $4,547 144. Michael Rohland Downey, CA $4,547 145. Jason Akay Honolulu, HI $4,547 146. Ryan Buckholtz San Diego, CA $4,547 147. Chris Odle Middletown, De $4,547 148. Rodney Johnson Mechanicsville, VA $4,547 149. Abraham Iannous Henderson, NV $4,547 150. Ryan Harrington Portland, OR $4,547 151. Burelle Almaello Honolulu, HI $4,547 152. Hung Na Manhatten Beach, CA $4,547 153. James Kilaryian Moneta, VA $4,547 154. Neal Matthews Colorado Springs, CO $3,410 155. Walter J. Davis Las Vegas, NV $3,410 156. Brandon Leeds Phoenix, AZ $3,410 157. Jason Strasser New York, NY $3,410 158. Unknown $3,410 159. David Siegel Calabasas, CA $3,410 160. Roger Houston West Minister, CA $3,410 161. David Wekks Toledo, OH $3,410 162. Angie Tran Houston, TX $3,410 163. Peter F. Horn Jr. Acworth, GA $3,410 164. Thomas Carrion Jr. Fairfield, CA $3,410 165. Jose Rosenkrantz Miami, FL $3,410 166. Unknown $3,410 167. Benjamin Lin Rockville, MD $3,410 168. Raed Abdulfihat Kyle, TX $3,410 169. Dustin Goff Las Vegas, NV $3,410 170. Jason Howard Gutherie Parrish, FL $3,410 171. Johathan Little Pensacola, FL $3,410 172. Stephen Grockett Costa Mesa, CA $3,410 173. CJ Hammett Katonah, NY $3,410 174. Alex Baldwin $3,410 175. Alexander Porter Tucson, AZ $3,410 176. Michael Davis Norcross, GA $3,410 177. Ehren Ezzel Austin, TX $3,410 178. Joseph Shukys Las Vegas, NV $3,410 179. Joseph Cordi Indian Wells, CA $3,410 180. Benedicto Cruz Freemont, CA $3,410 181. Douglas Gladstone San Francisco, CA $3,410 182. Zvi Groysman Thornhill, Ontario $3,410 183. Pierre Bergeron Quebec, Canada $3,410 184. Dawna Wilson Teton Village, WY $3,410 185. Rob Goetschins Westlake, CA $3,410 186. Michael Kennedy Surprise, AZ $3,410 187. Noah Kelley Eugene, OR $3,410 188. Jason Farkas Oak Creek, WI $3,410 189. David Unketer Arlington, TX $3,410 190. Todd Bourgault Fair Haven, MA $3,410 191. Robert Tyburski Henderson, NV $3,410 192. Russell Giorgianni Las Vegas, NV $3,410 193. Michael Epstein Las Vegas, NV $3,410 194. David Skinner Las Vegas, NV $3,410 195. Evan Paushter $3,410 196. Kenneth Meier Pittsburgh, PA $3,410 197. Stephen Gin $3,410 198. Jethro Horowitz Double Bay, South Wales $3,410 198 Aaron Price Barsto, CA $2,274 200. Troy Kidwell Austin, TX $2,274 201 Jeremy Lux Shelbyville, IN $2,274 202 Gerald Johonnot Las Vegas, NV $2,274 203 Andrew Wade Adrian, MI $2,274 204 Sammy Lewis N. Las Vegas, NV $2,274 205 Daniel John Stanton Northfield, IN $2,274 206 Adam Zinn Henderson, NV $2,274 207 Richard Wilcox Danville, CA $2,274 208 Ahavle Lehr Bossier, LA $2,274 209 Randy Campbell Villa Park, CA $2,274 210 Steven Wegel Wedowle, AL $2,274 211 Jason Hodges Las Vegas, NV $2,274 212 Richard Paulsen Weburn, MA $2,274 213 Duane Capes Rochelle, IL $2,274 214 Edward Piper Mogador, OH $2,274 215 Joseph Sorren Flagstaff, AZ $2,274 216 David Doyen West Hills, CA $2,274 217 Unknown $2,274 218 Amis Naderi Santa Monica, CA $2,274 219 Brendan Taylor Henderson, NV $2,274 220 Isabelle Mercier Victoriaville, QC $2,274 221 Jason Gonong Dallas, TX $2,274 222 Howard Elkins Hendersonville, NC $2,274 223 Robert Dacleb Vallejo, CA $2,274 224 William Mietz Littleton, CO $2,274 225 John Roveto Snellview, GA $2,274 226 Michael Rutherford $2,274 227 Scott Moore Arroyo Grande, CA $2,274 228 Peter Bell Marina Del Ray, CA $2,274 229 Wendeen Eolis New York, NY $2,274 230 Neil Channing London, UK $2,274 231 Joseph Cutri Southhampton, PA $2,274 232 Kirk Heflin Kansas City, MO $2,274 233 Jeffery King Colochester, CT $2,274 234 James Mercurio Los Angeles, CA $2,274 235 Michael Brittan Englewood, NJ $2,274 236 Unknown $2,274 237 John Winslow Dallas, TX $2,274 238 Hyon Chun Los Angeles, CA $2,274 239 Matthew Shell Farmington, MN $2,274 240 John Fagerile Orting, WA $2,274 241 Elio Reyes Las Vegas, NV $2,274 242 Hassaw Assaheuri Las Vegas, NV $2,274 243 Clonie Gowen Sache, TX $2,274 244 Kristy Gazes N. Hollywood, CA $2,274 245 Joseph Zewin Las Vegas, NV $2,274 246 Daniel Hill State College Park, PA $2,274 247 David Hatfield Federal Way, WA $2,274 248 Daniel Bakker Branson, MO $2,274 249 Bret Tannenbaum Delray Beach, FL $2,274 250 Hamberto Brenos Miami, FL $2,274 251 Richard Aquino Kearney, NJ $2,274 252 Jon K. Weekly Denver, CO $2,274 253 David Sands Bozman, MT $2,274 254 Robert Neyorayan Sherman Oaks, CA $2,274 255 Joe Pharo Scottsdale, AZ $2,274 256 John Gill II San Bernaraino, CA $2,274 257 Jean Gluck Alhambra, CA $2,274 258 Brian Tracy St. Louis, MO $2,274 259 Richard Abbamonto Lakewood, CA $2,274 260 James Burns Murfressberd, TN $2,274 261 Unknown $2,274 262 Bryan Griggs New Cast $2,274 263 Danny Jensen Arvada, CO $2,274 264 Paul E. Kroh Jr. Battle Mountain, NV $1,299 265 Charles E. Swell Oklahoma City, OK $1,299 266 Joshua Nordmark Sciota, PA $1,299 267 Isaac E. Khalil Las Vegas, NV $1,299 268 John Burk Nugent Spokane, WA $1,299 269 Rodney Clements $1,299 270 Kathy Koon Chicago, IL $1,299 271 Juan Carlin Laredo, TX $1,299 272 Anthony Girouard Las Vegas, NV $1,299 273 Claudie Holland Fayetteville, NC $1,299 274 Richard Grisalva Las Vegas, NV $1,299 275 Cody Way Amarillo, TX $1,299 276 Brian Swinford Rantoul, IL $1,299 277 Stefeno Cancellwil Bowmanville, OWT $1,299

Cantu Can Do!

Brandon Cantu Wins Second-Largest
Live Poker Tournament in History!

25-year-old Las Vegan wins a whopping $757,839 in prize money

Las Vegas, NV – Each and every poker player needs a little luck. Just ask Brandon Cantu. Sure, poker is a game of skill. But luck can also carry a good player a very long way.

On June 28, 2006 Cantu, a 25-year-old semi-professional player from Las Vegas, was competing in his biggest poker tournament ever. With 64 players still contending in the tournament on the second day, Cantu found himself nearly all-in with most of his chips in the pot and drawing slim against none other than Greg “Fossilman” Raymer, the 2004 World Series of Poker Champion. With Cantu’s tournament life hanging in the balance, Raymer had the best hand, by far. But luck sometimes appears when least expected. The angels of mercy resuscitated Cantu with two near-miracle diamonds to complete a flush, which eliminated the poker superstar and stunned those who witnessed the decisive moment. That pot ignited a flame in Cantu that would never extinguish. In fact, as it turned out, that crucial hand made Cantu three-quarters of a million dollars in extra prize money.

In Event 2, Cantu burned through a record-field of 2,776 players – an astonishing number in size and scale. Consider that the $1,500 buy-in no-limit hold’em event was the second-largest poker tournament ever in history. Already on pace to shatter every previous poker mark ever recorded, the first open event of the 2006 World Series of Poker was a complete sell-out. Only the 2005 WSOP main event attracted more participants (with 5,619). The total prize pool amounted to $3,789,240. There were 277 players who collected prize money.

After two long days of play, the final table was set. ESPN was on hand to film the finale for later broadcast. When the first hand was dealt out in front of a standing-room only crowd packed inside the Rio Convention Center, the seating positions and chips counts were as follows:

Name - Chip Count - Seat

Lee Padilla $753,000 1
Phong “Mark” Ly $516,000 2
Mark Swartz $359,000 3
Brent Roberts $260,000 4
Juan Carlos Mortensen $337,000 5
Brandon Cantu $773,000 6
Ron Stanley $283,000 7
Drew Rubin $573,000 8
Don Zewin $337,000 9

The first player to be eliminated was a bit of a surprise. In fact, the final stages of the tournament were an absolute nightmare for Carlos Mortensen, the 2001 world poker champion. Towards the end of play on Day Two, the superstar Spaniard (who was actually born in Ecuador – a little-known fact) was sitting comfortably, with an impressive chip lead. Given Mortensen’s aggressive style, he was clearly a favorite to go far. Many poker observers began speculating that Mortensen might be on his way to a third WSOP gold bracelet. Then, everything began to unravel. Mortensen lost about half of his chips late on the previous night, and then proceeded to lose the other half within an hour at the final table. The final dagger came quickly. On his last hand, Mortensen was getting perilously low on chips and moved all-in with pocket fours. Phong “Mark” Ly was in the blind and called. Ly caught a queen on the turn to make a higher pair, which dashed Mortensen’s dreams of victory. Mortensen, a.k.a. “The Matador” got to play the ill-fated role of the bull in this event, and was dragged out of the ring in ninth place good for $71,617 in prize money.

After Mark Swartz was eliminated in eighth place (good for $88,668) two more long-time poker veterans were eliminated. Ron Stanley, perhaps best-known for his close encounter with poker legend Stu Ungar at the 1997 WSOP final table, moved all-in with A-9 suited after Lee Padilla opened for a raise. Don Zewin, who has been playing in WSOP events for 25 years, re-raised all-in with 8-8. Padilla was pot-committed and made a tough call with A-J of spades. Remarkably, Padilla caught three spades – good for a flush. Within mere seconds, Padilla had knocked out two consummate professionals and the tournament was suddenly down to just five players. Ron Stanley, a.k.a. “The Carolina Express” (1991 WSOP gold bracelet winner), was derailed at the seventh-place finisher, good for $107,614. Don Zewin -- who finished third in the 1989 main event (losing only to Phil Hellmuth and Johnny Chan) -- collected $126,940 for sixth.

That big hand put Padilla up over 1,000,000 in chips for the first time -- only 15,000 behind Cantu in the chip-count. That would be as close as he would get.

Brent Roberts, a college student from Staten Island, NY, arrived at the final table as a player primed to make history. Roberts, who turned 21 only three weeks ago (Note: The legal age to enter the WSOP is 21), would have been the youngest World Series winner in history, eclipsing Eric Froehlich’s mark set last year. But it was not to be. Roberts took 7-7 up against Lee Padilla’s A-Q and lost when a queen fell. One must now wonder where Roberts will go from here. Winning $151,570 in his first WSOP tournament ever is quite a benchmark of accomplishment. (Note: It is believed that Roberts is the youngest player in WSOP history ever to make it to a final table)

Lee Padilla’s last hour was a complete disaster. He went from a million in chips down to the felt in what can only be described as a disappointing series of bad hands and unfortunate breaks. Padilla, an almond farmer from Modesto, CA, went out fourth when his A-3 was cracked by Mark Ly’s A-10. Fourth place paid a very respectable $176,579.

Mark Ly was the only player to knock Cantu from his chip perch at any point. Ly hit the 2,000,000 chip-mark when he won a monster pot with A-Q versus Cantu’s 6-6. But Cantu wasn’t fazed. Soon thereafter, Dr. Drew Rubin was eliminated when his A-6 lost to Cantu’s 8-8. Rubin, a clinical psychologist from Hollywood, FL, was diagnosed as the third-place finisher and billed the prize pool for $226,597 – which came to about $7,500 an hour for his time.

Down to heads-up play, Brandon Cantu enjoyed a 3 to 2 chip lead over Mark Ly, about 2,400,000 to 1,760,000. The final outcome did not take long. Ly lost most of his chips when he overplayed his hand holding J-4, after the turn showed A-J-6-7. Ly re-raised all-in holding second pair. Big mistake. Cantu called instantly with A-K – good for top pair, top kicker. The river failed to rescue Ly, who went out just two hands later.

Phong “Mark” Ly a Vietnamese-born 27-year-old professional poker player, was the runner up. Ly, who is married with two children, now resides in Los Angeles. He received $416,816.

In his first major final table appearance, Brandon Cantu won an astounding amount of money -- $757,839 for first place. He also received the coveted gold bracelet, traditionally presented to each and every WSOP winner.

“I have no skills in life other than poker,” Cantu joked afterward when asked why he decided to turn pro. “That’s it for me, maybe I’ll retire.”

But Cantu also admitted to having at least one goal, which he has not yet achieved. “I still have not won our home poker game tournament,” he said. “It has a $20 buy-in. They all keep making fun of me that I never win. When I win that one, my life will be complete.”

By Nolan Dalla

Overall Tournament Statistics (through end of Event #2):

Total Entries to Date: 4,008

Total Prize Money Distributed: $ 4,343,640

2006 World Series of Poker