1. Paul Kobel Oakland, CA $316,144 2. Tyler Andrews Las Vegas, NV $164,947 3. Rafael Perry Las Vegas, NV $95,532 4. Shayam Stinivasan Toronto, Ontario $68,728 5. Eric Deregt Grenwich, CT $54,982 6. Chris Solomon Richmond, IL $48,109 7. Shreeniwas Kelkar Kirkland, WA $41,237 8. Jonathan Stamm Glenview, IL $34,364 9. James Henson Lake Jackson, TX $30,927 10. John Diella Cave Creek, AZ $27,491 11. Ernesto Tohme Caracas, Venezuela $25,426 12. Lonnie Heimowitz Monticello, NY $23,367 13. Michael Krantz Clarence Center, NY $21,306 14. Manish Patel Burlington, India $19,244 15. Patrick McCoy Oakville, MO $17,182 16. Bryce Randin Tamarac, FL $15,120 17. Erich Kollmann Austin $13,058 18. Skip Wilson Westchester, OH $10,996 19. Mel Judah England $8,935 20. Daniel Gutemplan Culver City, CA $8,935 21. Thomas Alenius Sweden $8,935 22. Maureen Feduniak Las Vegas, NV $8,935 23. Robert Cheung Vancouver, BC $8,935 24. Keri Minihan Las Vegas, NV $8,935 25. Dennis Vares Santa Fe, NM $8,935 26. Steven Dannenmann Severn, MD $8,935 27. Joseph Ferriano Barnegat, NJ $8,935 28. Shawn Hart Ventura, CA $6,873 29. Jarod Drennan Odessa, TX $6,873 30. Luis Carmona Seattle, WA $6,873 31. Kevin Wright New York, NY $6,873 32. Lars Soderlund Sweden $6,873 33. Justin Tran Sacramento, CA $6,873 34. Barry Johnston Bethany, Ok $6,873 35. Richard Tatalovich Scottsdale, AZ $6,873 36. Ronald Ware Tracy, CA $6,873 37. Gregory Alston Miami Beach, Fl $5,498 38. Seoh Johnson unknown $5,498 39. Benjamin Briney Atlantic, GA $5,498 40. John Hunt Franklin, KY $5,498 41. Edward Rappa Arlington, VA $5,498 42. Philip Schlanner Jupiter, FL $5,498 43. James Kowski Schomberg, ON $5,498 44. Phil Helmuth Palo Alto, CA $5,498 45. Tayfun Akbasli Alexandra, VA $5,498 46. Richard Harroch San Francisco, CA $4,124 47. Melvin Quizon Waiane, HI $4,124 48. David Kim Las Vegas, NV $4,124 49. Jerad Simmons El Cajon, CA $4,124 50. Edward Teems Trion, GA $4,124 51. Emanuel Roman Puerto Rico $4,124 52. Peter Tagliaferro New York, NY $4,124 53. Ian Woodley London, England $4,124 54. Andrew Dean Houston, TX $4,124 55. Steve Weisman New York, NY $3,436 56. Marc Goodwin UK $3,436 57. Brian Healy Buffalo, NY $3,436 58. Elias Abujarour unknown $3,436 59. Thomas Mccormick Fargo, ND $3,436 60. Neil Channing London, England $3,436 61. Gregg Merkow Plano, TX $3,436 62. Angela Brunson Las Vegas, NV $3,436 63. Philip Jenkins Augusta, GA $3,436 64. Sigfreid Stockinger Austria $2,749 65. Josef Shertzer Hollywood, FL $2,749 66. Joseph Conner Atlanta, GA $2,749 67. Moshe Guttman Encino, CA $2,749 68. Jared Rubin Irvine, CA $2,749 69. Anahit Galajian Glendale, CA $2,749 70. Jeff Roos New York, NY $2,749 71. Martinus Dogge Netherlands $2,749 72. Arthur Molloy La Jolla, CA $2,749 73. Ramesh Bavireddy Chicago, IL $2,749 74. Dale Marriott Vickerville, CA $2,749 75. Doug Booth Kentucky $2,749 76. Kobie West Philidelphia, PA $2,749 77. Anthony Centi Bridgewater, NJ $2,749 78. Jakey Winters Sarasota, FL $2,749 79. Sakvatire Gyarbera Las Vegas, NV $2,749 80. Mike Nye East Bridgewater, MA $2,749 81. Vincent Burgio Westhills, CA $2,749 82. Thor Hansen El Segunvo, CA $2,062 83. Miranda Katko Santa Fe, NM $2,062 84. Gursel Gulfer England $2,062 85. Sang Pham Los Angeles, CA $2,062 86. John Gruszczynski St. Louis, MO $2,062 87. Jeff lawrence Edmonton, Canada $2,062 88. Gareth Derbyshire London, UK $2,062 89. William Nutkins Avon, CO $2,062 90. Robert Puryear Winston- Salem $2,062 91. David Rosenblum Los Angeles, CA $2,062 92. Rick Rogers Scottsdale, AZ $2,062 93. Marvin Borlaza Canada $2,062 94. Rahul Miatra Rochester, NY $2,062 95. Mike Matasow Las Vegas, NV $1,289 96. Ofer Stern Israel $1,289 97. Anthony Cosineau Daytons Beach, FL $1,289 98. Ajay Shah Belgium $1,289 99. John Crockett Merritt Island, FL $1,289 100. Robert Perry Syracuse, NY $1,289 101. Stephen Stockton Roseburg, OR $1,289 102. Serge Gagnon Jacksonville, FL $1,288

“It’s the Karma, Man!”

Paul “Tashi” Kobel wins his first WSOP gold bracelet

Holistic Practitioner expresses tearful gratitude after winning it all

Las Vegas, NV.- It’s a story that would make most poker theorists cringe. For everyone else however, the tale of Paul Kobel’s quest to win a bracelet at event #41 of the World Series of Poker presented by Milwaukee’s Best Light is something that is hard not to smile about.

For Kobel, the $225 that won him 1st place at an Oaks Card Club poker tournament in his hometown of Oakland, California was a strain on his tight budget. This was not so because of poor money management or any other derelictions, but due to his passion for helping people. As director of a “bed and therapy,” an establishment that helps treat anyone from weary travelers to persons suffering from ailments such as cerebral palsy, Kobel does not rake in the big bucks. “I pay into my business,” he explained. “It’s not at all profitable, but I get to help people who seriously need it.” Kobel claims that his “Watsu” (Water Shiatsu) therapy has helped people with cerebral palsy move limbs that they have not been able to utilize in years. “We try not to turn anyone away,” he said.

The 36-year old’s win at Oaks was validation enough for his wife to allow him to bring his winnings to the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and compete in the World Series of Poker, which was already one month into its progression.

Wearing long scruffy hair and even scruffier facial hair, Korbel’s poker play was as unorthodox as his appearance. “I’ve never read a book about poker man,” he said. “It’s about playing from your heart. Ever since I got here, people criticized almost every hand I played. We live by our karmas, and sometimes you have to take chances as long as you make the right considerations.”

Call it karma, call it good play or call it just a fluke. Korbel beat out 999 competitors including poker greats Phil Helmuth, Steve Dannenman and Mike Matasow, (who Korbel himself knocked-out earlier in the tournament) to make it to the final table:

Name Hometown Seat

Tyler Andrews Las Vegas, NV 1
Paul Kobel Oakland, CA 2
Rafael Perry Las Vegas, NV 3
James Henson Lake Jackson, TX 4
Christopher Solomon Richmond, IL 5
Eric Deregt Greenwich,CT 6
Shreeniwas Kelkar Kirkland, WA 7
Shyam Srinivasan Toronto, Canada 8
Jonathan Stamm Glenview, IL 9

James Henson was the first to be eliminated. Short-stacked, the 48-year old orthodontist found himself all-in in the midst of four-way action. After numerous checks, top pair was shown, but it didn’t belong to him. Henson walked away with $30,927 and a ninth place finish.

Next out was Jonathan Stamm. Shreeniwas Kelkar raised pre-flop to 18k. Stamm called while Tyler Andrews re-raised to 50k. After a fold by Kelkar, Stamm moved all-in while Andrews called. Andrews turned over Ah, Kd, and Stamm showed Ad, Qd. After an uneventful flop of 2d-3c-3s, the turn and river failed to improve either player’s hand giving Andrews the king-high kicker. Stamm hit the rails in eighth place.

After a flop of 5d-9s-Qd, Srinivasan moved all-in. After long consideration, Tyler called. Srinivasan turned over 6c,6h, but Tyler had pocket jacks. The deuce and eight of diamonds on the turn and river sealed the deal and busted-out Srinivasan in seventh.

Sixth place belonged to Christopher Solomon. After Perry’s raise to 24k, Solomon went all-in with 5s, Ks which was little match for Perry’s As, Jc. A benign flop, turn and river gave Perry the ace-high, eliminating Solomon.

Eric Deregt was next to hit the rails. After Kobel raised to 55k, Deregt went all-in for 225k. Kobel called to Dereget’s dismay. After Kobel showed Jc,Ks , Dereget exclaimed, “You called with that?!” and turned over Ac,Qc. Dismay turned into utter disgust for Deregt as Kobel flopped a set when the board showed Kc,2d,Kh. A Qh turn and 10s river sent the 21-year college student from Stanford out in fifth.

Srinivasan went out in fourth after moving all-in low stacked. Hoping to catch Kobel at an opportune time, the 24-year old turned over 6d, Qs. However, Kobel called showing another Kd, Js, a hand that the spectators began to jokingly coin the “nut pocket.” Kobel flopped a pair of kings while a harmless turn and river sent Srinivasan to the rails.

In third place was poker pro Rafael Perry. The 2002 WSOP main event third place finisher and 2006 WSOP event #26 bracelet winner raised to 30k while Andrews re-raised to 100k. Perry re-raised again all-in while Tyler called. Tyler’s pocket 6’s held-up against Perry’s A,Q off-suit with Tyler catching a set on the river.

Heads-up action was between Tyler and Kobel. Tyler limped-in while Kobel raised to 20k. Tyler moved all-in showing another pair of 6’s. Kobel turned over Ad,9c. It appeared that Kobel’s luck ran out when a flop of Js-Qc-Qd hit the board, but incredibly, the turn showed Jd, giving Kobel the two pair ace-high kicker and the victory.

“I can’t believe it man!” Kobel screamed while throwing his hands up, before breaking down into tears. A number of spectators and dealers shared in his profound joy as they hugged Kobel and shook his hand. “I can pay the mortgage off on my house!” he exclaimed minutes later, tears still streaming down his face.

That night, Kobel shrugged off every misfortune he ever encountered in his life, every hardship. “This is a wonderful life!” he exclaimed. For some reason, his words did not seem to be simply a result of his victory. The expressions on the faces of many of the spectators appeared to second that sentiment.

By Alan Fowler

2006 World Series of Poker