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Persistence
Pays Off:
Joe Awata Wins First World Series of
Poker Bracelet in Seven-Card Stud Championship
--Lebanese-born
poker player collects $221,000 for victory
If
there is such a thing as �justice� in
the game of poker, it was rendered in
the $5,000 buy-in Seven-Card Stud event
at the 2004 World Series of Poker. Jaya
�Joe� Awata won his first gold bracelet
in what has officially become known as
the �Seven Card Stud World Championship.�
Awata topped a tough field of 144 players
� including his last seven rivals at the
final table.
The
real story of Awata�s hard-earned victory
dates back two weeks ago, to Event #9
in the $1,500 buy-in No-Limit Texas Hold�em
championship. Awata came within a single
card of winning the gold bracelet that
day, only to see his poker dream shattered
when his opponent caught two perfect �runner-runner�
cards to loot the biggest pot of tournament.
On that critical hand during heads up
play, Awata was dealt 5-5 against (eventual
winner) Scott Fischman�s A-K. The final
board showed 9-7-4-9-7, which meant Fischman�s
ace out-kicked Awata�s pair of fives �
since the board showed two pair, higher
than fives. As ESPN cameras converged
on Fischman�s moment of triumph, Awata
backed away from the final table quietly
and was lost amidst the excitement. He
showed remarkable composure for a man
who has essentially just lost $144,000
� the difference in prize money between
first and second place.
Despite
the heartbreaking defeat, Awata did not
appear angry or upset. His self-assured
manner seemed to suggest he knew the time
would eventually come when he�d get back
to the final table again, and be in a
position to win. Fourteen days later,
Awata was sitting at the final table of
the Seven-Card Stud championship, with
his sight set on victory. Justice would
be done.
When
play became heads-up, all that stood in
the way of Awata�s victory was a Amsterdam
(Holland) pro nicknamed �The Flying Dutchman.�
His name was Marcel Luske. The duel lasted
nearly three hours. Luske seized control
early and built up a 3 to 1 chip advantage.
For a while, it looked like Awata would
end up as a bridesmaid, once again. Then,
things turned as Awata changed his style
and became much more aggressive, push
along by a nice rush of cards.
The
final hand ended with Luske�s two queens
losing to Awata�s flush. When Luske moved
�all in� with his big pair on the river,
Awata stood up and shouted, �yes!� He
knew he was the winner � with a diamond
flush.
After
his win, Awata was interviewed by ESPN�s
Normal Chad (Note: ESPN will telecast
this event sometime during the Summer
of 2004):
Chad:
Is there anything that you learned from
that final table two weeks ago that helped
you today?
Awata:
You hope that Lady Luck is behind you
in every event that you play. But first,
you have to be lucky enough to make it
to the last table. I was fortunate enough
to do so. Lady Luck was on my side this
time.
Chad:
What if you would have (finished second
again)? It would have been a great accomplishment,
but there would have been some disappointment
with back-to-back seconds, right?
Awata:
I would have been satisfied with my play.
But you always want to achieve the most
you can achieve. This is a totally different
feeling, coming in first and winning the
championship � especially this particular
championship. It means a lot to me � getting
my hand on this bracelet.
Chad: When you got heads up (with Marcel
Luske), did you have any thoughts about
how you might change your game and style
of play?
Awata:
I really do believe you have to be flexible.
Based on your opponent, you have to adjust
your game. Matter of fact, I made a lot
of plays that I normally would never make.
It paid off for me, because the cards
started to come my way eventually. In
the beginning, I made some bad plays and
(Marcel) took away some of my chips. Then,
I got more aggressive�.and won it.
Chad:
Early on, heads up -- you were down about
3 to 1 in chips. Did you tell yourself
anything? Did you change the way you were
playing? What happened?
Awata: During the dinner break, I beat
myself up a bit, because I went off my
game. I settled down and went back to
basics. Then, when I got a little rush
with the cards, I made my move.
Chad:
You had some of your family with you here
at the table. After you won, your wife
called you � (is that right?)
Awata:
My beautiful wife called me. I had her
and the kids with me at the table. They
were my cheerleaders here at the final
table.
Chad:
How often do your kids talk about you
playing poker? Are they aware of all the
poker tht you have played?
Awata:
My wife thinks I�m nuts for playing poker.
My kids don�t really say much, either
way. But when they see their dad on ESPN,
they�ll probably enjoy it and feel proud
I hope � as proud as I am, at least. I
am very proud of what I�ve done.
Chad:
Will you ever forget the feeling on your
final �all in� -- where you know you have
your opponent beat (with the flush)?
Awata:
I realized I had him beat because he didn�t
have anything that could beat the flush.
And that was it.
Chad:
How many more tournaments are you going
to play (at this year�s WSOP)?
Awata:
Well, at least one more. I�m going to
play in the big one (the $10,000 buy-in
world championship).
Joe
Awata is married and has six children.
He was born in Lebanon and immigrated
to the United States, before eventually
settling down in Las Vegas. Now 45, he
started playing poker at age 12. When
asked about influences upon his game,
Awata said he is self-taught and became
proficient at poker through his own diligence.
It�s
been said, �adversity introduces a man
to himself.� At this year�s World Series,
Joe Awata endured a terrible beat that
cost him a championship. Then, he rebounded
with a exhilarating triumph. That must
have made the victory all the more poignant.
-- Official Report
by Nolan Dalla, Media Director -- 2004
World Series of Poker
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