Curt Kohlberg
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Kohlberg Champion!
By Steven E. Way
As the sun reached high noon here in Mashantucket, Connecticut, the final nine players of this years World Poker Finals tournament were all in position ready to play, all hoping for the coveted title.
With a crowd standing three deep along the rails, everyone watched as the Director of Poker Operations Kathy Raymond awarded the "Best Overall Player" award, a Rolex Watch, to Miami John Cernuto.
Then it was Foxwoods Resort Casino's very own Jimmy Christina on the microphone introducing the contestants, followed by Tournament Director Mike Ward who gave his familiar pre-event talk to the players, and issued the order to get things under way - "Shuffle up."
It would not take long before someone attacked the short stack of Carlos Mortensen of Madrid, Spain. After a flop with all clubs, Mortensen pushed all-in. When the turn brought another club, Carlo Sciannameo of Worchester, Massachusetts made his move all-in, with both men now facing Gregory Raymer of nearby Stonington, Connecticut for the right to stay in the game. Raymer showed down after a rag on the river with trip Kings, while Sciannameo showed a pair of Queens and Mortensen mucked Ace-7. The first two players were thus eliminated from the final table on the same hand, and would split the ninth and eighth place prizes.
After taking some time for the remaining seven players to adjust, they then went into gamble mode again. Seventh place would be Michael May's of New York, New York when he played Ace-9 off suit after looking at the multi-flavored flop of Js-Kd-3h. Raymer, now flush with chips from his two-fer earlier made the call with Jd-10d. After a 9d hit on the turn, the river held both players fate. When a rag hit, Raymer pulled in the pot, eliminating May.
Next, Don Barton of Pahromp, Nevada took Ace-7 all-in after he paired the 7 on the flop. Then out of Weston, Massachusetts, Curt Kohlberg made the call holding a pair of 9's, which was just enough to win.
Fifth place was decided just before 5 p.m.. Alan Thompson of nearby Hopkinton, Rhode Island was eliminated after going all-in with King-8 of diamonds pre-flop. When the flop came J-A-9, Alan knew it would take runner runner to get there. Berry Johnston of Las Vegas, Nevada with his Ace-Jack of diamonds held on for the win.
Jacob Horowitz who hails from Sydney, Australia was eliminated in fourth place. With the blinds at $1,000-2,000, Horowitz got pocket 9's and pushed his stack in. Raymer, the co chip leader made the call with Ace-King. The flop brought only help for Raymer in the form of an Ace. Rags on the turn and river secured the departure for Horowitz.
With Raymer and Kohlberg about even stacked and Berry Johnston with about one third as many chips the players took a short break.
With a comfortable chip position Raymer decided to gamble and try to secure the win. With a four flush on the flop, Raymer made the big bet and had Kohlberg call him all-in for $88,500 with with a pair of Queens. Only an Ace on the river for a higher pair gave Raymer the win, and took a huge bite from Kohlberg's stacks.
After grinding back for nearly two hours, Kohlberg made a trap bet with Ace-Deuce of diamonds. With an Ace-5 Raymer popped back and Kohlberg pushed all-in. Raymer then called Kohlberg's bet and the two men stood to see the flop. With a pair of 7's and two diamonds, Raymer was hoping for black, but when the 10d came on the turn and Kohlberg showed the nut flush, Raymer was out in third place.
The very next hand, Johnston doubled up on Kohlberg to leave him short stacked. Unfortunately, Kohlberg just did the same thing to Johnston just a few hands later at the end of the $1,500-3,000 level, leaving him with less than $80,000 of the $410,000 in play.
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