What a Comeback!

Rohan Long Wins WSOP Circuit Event and First Gold Ring at Caesars Atlantic City

Jamaican-Born Recreational Player Survives Eight All-Ins and Overcomes 20 to 1 Chip Disadvantage in Thrilling Victory

Generous Tournament Structure at WSOP Circuit Continues to Gain Positive Feedback

Atlantic City, NJ – There’s a classic rock song made famous by Janis Joplin where the lyrics go, “Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose.” What the lyric means is, there’s a certain sense of emotional contentment that comes with being on a free roll, whether the situation is life or poker. Once you’ve committed yourself to the notion you can’t lose, in fact – you have won.

Rohan Long, a real estate broker from Windsor, CT knows the feeling all too well. He pretty much resigned himself to a middle of the pack finish at what was his first World Series of Poker Circuit final table recently. Long managed to survive far longer than either the cards or odds normally would have dictated. With each near miracle dealt from the deck, he gained the confidence and aggression necessary to overcome massive odds and ultimately pulled off a stunning upset victory.

Long survived at least eight all in situations when play was at three handed, and later heads up. Each time, he doubled his stack size up to the point where he ended up achieving the greatest comeback of the year of any player in a WSOP Circuit tournament. Once play became heads up versus a tough-minded online poker pro named Alex Pawlyk, Long pretty much summed up his feelings by announcing, “I’m on a complete free roll now. Nothing can stop me.”

In a sense, having Long in a complete care free zone made him the worst possible adversary for a skilled professional. Rather than the usual tense atmosphere that characterizes the later stages of many major poker tournaments, Long’s presence and attitude ended up creating a great comeback drama, which was unquestionably the most exiting final table of this year’s series at Caesars Atlantic City.

Long, who was born in Jamaica and now lives in Connecticut, won the $560 buy in No-Limit Hold’em tournament and collected the top cash prize totaling $32,592. He was also presented with his first gold ring, which is the ultimate token of achievement given out to all tournament champions who win WSOP Circuit events held around the country.

This marked the sixth of 12 WSOP Circuit events on this year’s Caesars schedule. The two-day tournament attracted 210 entrants. Most of the field was eliminated on day one, which clocked in at 14 hours. Four tables of survivors returned for day two which played another 10 hours. The top 27 finishers divided up prize money from a $101,850 prize pool.

Final table play began on a Tuesday night and was held inside the Palladium Arena at Caesars. There was only one previous WSOP Circuit winner among the final nine. Local poker player Howard Wolper arrived with the goal to win his second gold ring. But Wolper went out early, thus guaranteeing a first time champion. Meanwhile, Juan J. Lopez arrived as chip leader and was in a comfortable position throughout the competition until he crashed and burned in third place.

The low blinds (5,000-10,000) and average chip stack of nearly 250,000 at the start gave all the competitors plenty of time be patient. In fact, the tournament structures for all the tournaments played at Caesars this year have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from many players and online poker forums. Tournament players have been given plenty of starting chips and blind increases have been incremental, allowing for skillful play to overcome the short-term luck factor which is a part of all tournaments.
Players were eliminated in the following order:

Ninth Place: Artist Gets No Respect
Howard Evan Wolper, an artist and semi-pro poker player from Atlantic City, was the first player eliminated. He was low on chips and managed to catch A K. But Rohan Long was dealt pocket 10’s, which ended up scooping the pot after Wolper failed to improve. Wolper has earned many awards for his work in the performance arts. He has also done well in poker, with four major tournament wins within a 13 month span, including back to back wins a few years ago. He won a WSOP Circuit gold ring in 2007 at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe. Wolper pocketed $2,037 in prize money.

Eighth Place: Groom Gets Divorced
Willie A. Groom, a scenic artist from Brooklyn, NY became the second creative personality within five minutes to make an exit. He was dealt A 9 and moved all in on what became his final hand. Unfortunately, Alex Pawlyk picked up pocket 9’s and made an obligatory call with a large chip advantage. Groom failed to hit an ace or improve and thus went out with a payout totaling $3,056. Groom would be the first of three consecutive players who were eliminated by Pawlyk.

Seventh Place: Las Vegas Player Gets Ripped
Mitchell Martin, a real estate investor from Las Vegas, NV took a tough beat on his final hand of the tournament. He was dealt A 10 and moved all in after the flop came with a ten high. But Alex Pawlyk woke up in the big blind with 4 3 and managed to flop two small pair. It was the perfect trap set up, which snapped shut on Martin’s chance for victory. Martin ended up going out in seventh place, which paid $4,074. Martin previously won a major tournament called the Ultimate Poker Challenge, held in Las Vegas.

Sixth Place: Online Poker Pro Busts
Carlos Alarcon, an online poker pro from Clifton, NJ made no attempt to hide his disgusted when his pocket 7’s were cracked on the turn by the chip Pawlyk’s K 9. When the fateful K fell, Alarcon ran away from the table with his hands over his face while his friends hurled off a slew of profanities. That pretty much ended Alarcon’s night. Nevertheless, Alarcon did collect $5,093 in prize money which now puts him in excess of $400,000 in tournament winnings.

Fifth Place: Sage Takes the Fifth
Francis Sage, a 21 year old college student from Morton, PA took a terrible beat and went out in fifth place. The University of Pittsburgh senior was dealt pocket A’s and moved all in. Rohan Long called the raise with pocket Q’s and pumped his fist in jubilation when the flop came Q88, good for a full house. Sage shook his head in disbelief and failed to hit one of the two remaining A’s in the deck. That meant Sage has to settle for $6,111 on his spring break vacation.

Fourth Place: Cramer Creamed
Joe Cramer, a restaurant owner from Carlisle, PA became short stacked and moved all in on his final hand with A J. Juan J. Lopez, who held the chip lead, made the call and tabled pocket 4’s. When a 4 flopped, Lopez suddenly had a set and Cramer was left drawing dead. That meant Cramer, playing at his first WSOP Circuit final table, ended up settling for $7,130.

Third Place: Juan J. Lopez Takes Third
Juan J. Lopez, the manager of a bail bonds business from Wilmington, DE appeared to be close to winning his first major tournament. But the Cuban born part time poker player suffered a late rush of misfortune, which ultimately resulted in a third place finish. Lopez exited when he was dealt A K and moved all in after an ace flopped. But Alex Pawlyk had A 2 on the critical hand, which best Lopez when the final board showed AQ287. The two pair scooped the largest pot of the tournament, knocking Lopez to the rail. Lopez, who made it into the money in a WSOP Circuit event held at Harrah’s Atlantic City last December, received a payout totaling $9,167.

Second Place: Online Pro Alex Pawlyk Gets Disconnected
Alex Pawlyk, from New Brunswick, NJ was the runner up. He played extremely well from start to finish, but was helpless to stop his final opponent’s onslaught. Pawlyk began heads up play with nearly a 15 to 1 chip advantage, but was slowly grinded away one hand at a time until he finally was at a slight disadvantage to Long. He ended up settling for an official payout amounting to $17,926.
First Place: Rohan Long Wins
Rohan Long, a Jamaican born real estate broker who now lives in Windsor, CT enjoyed the greatest roller coaster ride of any player at the final table. He was all in several times, and managed to avoid elimination via some skillful play and catching an occasional miracle card which prolonged his stay in the finale. In fact, he survived no less than eight all in situations when play was three handed and heads up, each time connecting with the cards he needed to survive. When play was heads up, Long agreed to a deal with his final adversary and ended up winning the tournament with a pair of aces.
The WSOP Circuit at Caesars Atlantic City continues through March 14. This year’s schedule includes 12 gold ring events, along with multiple second-chance tournaments, single table and mega satellites, in addition to cash games going around the clock inside the Caesars Poker Room. This marks the fifth straight year that Caesars Atlantic City has been a part of the WSOP Circuit. This is the seventh WSOP Circuit stop of the 2009-2010 season following previous tournaments held in Chicago, Southern Indiana, Lake Tahoe, Harrah’s Atlantic City, Tunica, and Council Bluffs.

A total of 945 players from 48 countries entered the €5,300 Main Event creating a total prize pool of €3,686,400.

MacPhee has a phenomenal track record of winning seats to EPT events but has never before had a big cash. He’s been following the EPT circuit since the beginning of Season 5 and has competed in 15 events, winning seats to 14 of them. He was one of 243 players who won their seats to EPT Berlin on PokerStars.

MacPhee is a well-known online player who broke the PokerStars record for most Tournament Leader Board points in April 2008, accruing more than $100,000 profit in a month. EPT Berlin was the second time he had found himself heads-up against Tahkokallio. The first was last October in a £1,000 side event at EPT London – which Tahkokallio won.

MacPhee said: “Winning an EPT was a real goal of mine. I have worked very hard for this. It feels awesome. Ilari is an extremely good player and I’ve got a lot of respect for him.”

EPT Berlin, which was held by Casino SPIELBANK Berlin, was interrupted on Saturday – Day 4 of the event – when an armed robbery took place. The gunmen targeted the registration desk outside the tournament area at the Grand Hyatt Hotel but no one was seriously injured and the suspects fled after a security guard intervened. The tournament resumed after a few hours and a police investigation is now under way.

At the time of the raid, Tahkokallio was involved in a huge pot with Italian Luca Cainelli. Cainelli was ahead with AQ v Tahkokallio’s AT. When the event resumed, tournament director Thomas Kremser said the players could consider the hand dead and take their chips back. However, despite the fact that he was losing the hand, Tahkokallio said the river card should be dealt – a sporting gesture greeted by applause. Tahkokallio, a professional poker player for two years, said: “I like to be fair and play in good spirit. It wasn’t even really a choice for me.” He later busted Cainelli and his second place finish netted him €600,000

Among those who made a deep run in the EPT Berlin Main Event were Russian EPTLive commentator Ilya Gorodetskiy, who came 16th for €25,000 and Team PokerStars Pro Jude Ainsworth who went out in 19th place for €23,500. Other Team PokerStars Pros to make the money were Johannes Strassman, Ben Kang and George Danzer from Germany, Vlad Zguba from Ukraine, Vadim Markushevski from Belarus, Briton Julian Thew, the “Flying Dutchman” Marcel Luske and William Thorson from Sweden.

In EPT Berlin side events, Team PokerStars Pro Noah Boeken came fifth in the €1,000 PLO tournament and Team Poker SportStar Fatima de Melo made the final of the €330 Ladies Event.

In fourth place is Jude Ainsworth. Ainsworth, from Ireland, only joined Team PokerStars Pro late last year but has gone deep in every EPT he’s played so far. The other Team Pros still in the running for the €1 million first prize are Vlad Zguba from Ukraine, William Thorson from Sweden, Julian Thew from the UK, the “Flying Dutchman” Marcel Luske and German Benjamin Kang.

A total of 945 players from 48 countries competed in the EPT Berlin Main Event – a fiercely-contested, record-breaking €5,300 tournament. Twenty players have already snagged their share of the €4,725,000 prize pool including Team PokerStars Pros George Danzer and Vadim Markushevski.

The tournament – being run in partnership with Casino Spielbank Berlin – is the first EPT to take place in the German capital and the biggest poker tournament ever held in this country.

The chip leader is still Israeli player Kfir Yumin on 213,000, with Tu Tuan To from Germany close behind on 212,600. However five members of Team PokerStars Pro are all sitting on 100,000+ chip stacks and are strong contenders for the €1 million first prize.They – and many of their fellow team-mates – are among 484 players who will be returning to the Grand Ballroom for Day 2 of the sell-out event.

Irish Team PokerStars Pro Jude Ainsworth currently has 138,100 while Florian Langmann, William Thorson, George Danzer and Johannes Strassmann are all close behind.

The EPT’s first ever visit to Berlin has created the biggest poker tournament ever held in Germany. A total of 945 players entered the €5,300 five-day Main Event, being held in conjunction with Casino Spielbank Berlin, creating a total prize pool of €4,725,000. A total of 144 players will cash.

EPT Berlin is also the second biggest EPT event in Europe since the tour began back in 2004. Some 48 countries were represented here including players from as far away as Australia, Mongolia, India and Venezuela. So many players turned up for Day 1b that extra tables had to be set up in a nearby meeting room to accommodate the extra numbers.

Team PokerStars SportStar Fatima de Melo had a highly successful nine hours at the table, bagging up 95,900 by the end of the day. Charlotte Roche, the PokerStars-sponsored TV presenter and best-selling author also survived but has just 17,700. Defending EPT Germany champion Team PokerStars Pro Sandra Naujoks was eliminated just after the dinner break on Day 1b.

Other Team PokerStars Pros who made it through Day 1b include Vadim Markushevski (93,800), Julian Thew (71,600), Marcel Luske (75,400), Noah Boeken (54,100), Thierry Van Den Berg (36,200) and Chad Brown (45,400).

American PokerStars qualfier David Paredes, who came fifth in the NAPT Venetian Main Event last week for $184,816, is also through.

The €5,300 five-day event – the first EPT to take place in the German capital – is being held in the luxurious Grand Hyatt Hotel on Marlene Dietrich Platz in partnership with Casino Spielbank Berlin. More than 450 players are expected for Day 1b, including tennis legend Boris Becker and field hockey pro Fatima de Melo – both members of PokerStars SportStar – as well as actress Charlotte Roche who is being sponsored by PokerStars.

A slew of pros from Team PokerStars Pro will also be competing on Day 1b including Jude Ainsworth, William Thorson, Juan Maceiras, Thierry Van Den Berg, Lex Veldhuis, Johnny Lodden, Noah Boeken, Julian Thew, Luca Pagano, Marcel Luske and Vadim Markushevski.

After three highly successful seasons in Dortmund, the EPT is re-locating 425 km northeast to the country’s capital, Berlin. Berlin is one of Europe’s most amazing cities and record numbers are expected for the event which is being held in conjunction with Spielbank Berlin at the luxurious Grand Hyatt hotel in Berlin’s famous Potdamer Platz.

Another highlight is that, for the first time at a German EPT, PokerStars is guaranteeing a massive €1 million prize to the winner.

The €5,300 EPT Berlin Main Event will take place March 2-7, 2010 in the Grand Hyatt Hotel which is located the heart of the city. Berlin is the third new location for the EPT this season following successful debuts in both Kyiv and Vilamoura, Portugal.

The EPT has proved hugely popular in Germany since it started in Season 3, attracting massive fields from all over Europe and beyond. Last year’s EPT was the third biggest event of the season – as well as the biggest poker tournament ever held in Germany.

A total of 667 players competed with German Team PokerStars Pro Sandra Naujoks, who lives in Berlin, taking it down for a jaw-dropping €917,000. Naujoks was only the second ever female EPT champion and only the fifth player to win an EPT in their native country.