Poker Tournament Results

Hasan Habib

The money comes and goes, but the gold bracelet is something that I will always cherish.
-- Hasan Habib (after his first win at the WSOP)

Hasan Habib has always maintained a fearless reputation at the poker tables. During most of his career as a poker professional, Habib personified the “raise or fold” method, which asserts that to dominate a table, it’s usually best to either raise or fold – just don’t be a caller. Habib has fired up big cash games for years, often winning or losing five figures in a single night. Given his very aggressive style of play, it was a bit of a surprise then, to see the name “Hasan Habib” take first prize in the $1,500 Seven-Card Stud High-Low event at the 2004 World Series of Poker.

What isn’t a surprise is that Habib won. He’s cashed in and finished on top at several major poker tournaments over the years. Until today, Habib’s most notable accomplishment had been making all three final tables at what were the biggest and toughest poker tournaments in the world -- all within a single year. In 2000, Habib made the finals at the main event of the World Series of Poker, the Tournament of Champions, and the World Poker Challenge. He also finished second in the Bellagio’s big tournament last month – netting a whopping $1,370,000 payoff. Up to this date, the one thing that had eluded Habib was the coveted gold bracelet, presented to the winner of each event at the World Series.

Given his style and reputation, the big surprise is that Habib won a game many consider to be highly-technical, where aggression is normally not the chief prerequisite. Fact is, Habib has changed his style of play recently, which paid off handsomely as he “officially” collected first-place prize money of $93,060 and his first gold bracelet. “Actually, my game has evolved a lot,” Habib said later. “I am playing much (more conservatively). I’m not raising as much now as I used to. Before, I used to raise at least three times a round. But now, two or three rounds go by and I might not even play a hand. I’ve learned to rely on other important skills besides raising every hand, like reading my opponents, better hand selection, making plays at the right time, and so forth.”

Players at the final table busted out as follows:

8th – TOMMY HUFNAGLE – The winner of the gold bracelet for this event back in 1998 was Hufnagle. He was also 6th in this event in 1999. Making his third finalt able for this event in the past 7 years, Hufnagle came to the final table low on chips. Hufnagle went out when he had a pair of 7s to go with a low draw. He bricked in seventh street, and lost to two pair. Hufnagle, age 60 from Tempe, AZ now has 15 overall cashes at the WSOP, including seven total final tables. He collected $8,220.

7th – LINDA JOHNSON – The winner of the Razz championship in 1997 and one of poker’s greatest ambassadors, Linda Johnson, came in to the final table short-stacked. Johnson started with (6-6) 4-A-2 and looked as if she might double up when she went “all in.” But two ugly cards came on the end, and Johnson lost to trip 7s. This was Johnson’s fifth final table since her first appearance back in 1982. Johnson is the now owner of Card Player Cruises. She sailed away with $11,460 for 7th place.

6th – JAY HELFERT – Helfert is the proud owner of “Jay’s Billiards” inside the Hollywood Park Casino. He played poker professionally for a number of years, but now prefers the green felt of the pool table over poker when it comes to making money. Helfert was 5th in the $2,000 buy-in Limit Hold’em event last year, and this was his second final table overall. Helfert made his final commitment with two pair, 6s and 3s – but lost to 10s up on the final card. Helfert received $14,400 for his 6th-place finish.

5th – BLAIR RODMAN – Making his third final table appearance at this year’s WSOP, Rodman had his own cheering section in the audience. They were disappointed when their favorite player went out with a pair of 10s. Rodman had a low draw, but missed. His pair lost to two pair. Rodman now has two fifth-place finishes, and a sixth – along with $125,000 in prize money at this year’s tournament.

4th – PAUL SHERR – Sherr came in close to the chip lead, but went out a disappointing 4th after starting with a pair of queens, which failed to improve. He lost to two pair. Sherr, a Poker Host at Casino Arizona in Phoenix, whose best finish at the WSOP was 3rd in the Omaha High-Low event in 1999, now has made the money six times. He added $22,040 to his poker bankroll.

3rd – BEN TANG – Tang is a 35-year-old poker player from Scottsdale. His last final table was two years ago – second in the $2,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. event. On the key hand that essentially knocked him out of the tournament, Tang started with jacks against kings. Neither player improved, and the kings held up. A short time later, Tang was gone. Tang sang the blues as the 3rd place finisher, worth $29,860.

When heads-up play began, Tommy Polk had about a 2 to 1 chip lead over Hasan Habib. The battle began.

It took four long hours of heads-up play to finally determine the winner. During the struggle, Habib seized the chip lead and held the advantage most of the way. But just when it looked Habib might scoop a big pot and finally bust Polk, the cards would turn and Polk would stage a comeback. The chips went back and forth and many in the audience left the building. Others fell asleep, as the clock passed midnight. Clearly, this was not great theatre for those who were there – except to the enthusiastic crowd that was cheering every time Habib scooped a pot. If this were a Broadway show, the curtain should have closed a long time ago.

But for the two poker titans – Habib and Polk – this was a momentous occasion. Neither had won a gold bracelet at the WSOP before, and this was the chance both men had waited for. While eyes were shut and snoring could be heard in the audience, occasionally interrupted by shouts of “Hasan Habib!” from the crowd. Habib and Polk were locked in the ultimate showdown for the title of “world champion.”

The key hand of the event came at 12:35 PST, which meant the tournament had crossed into the third day. On fifth street, Habib made a flush (in five cards). Meanwhile, Polk had three deuces. Polk had outs to catch a pair and win with the full house. But he missed on the end and the flush held up. A huge $200,000 pot was pushed to Habib, which meant he was now at a 4 to 1 chip lead.

Holding a decisive chip-advantage, Habib got one step closer to victory when he made a bet on seventh street and Polk apparently missed a low-draw (possible straight draw) and folded. A few minutes later, he closed out the win with trip kings over two pair: Polk: (10-9) 9-7-3-4 (10) Habib: (K-K) Q-K-2-5 (6)

The match was over. The runner up, Tommy Polk now has a 7th, a 5th, and a 2nd in his three WSOP final table appearances. Polk is the owner of a retail tire business in Mississippi. He officially took $51,440 in prize money. Habib had a vocal cheering section, which congratulated the newest WSOP champion. Habib seemed relieved, more than anything.

“The first poker tournament I ever played in – I won it. I won the second one, too. But later, I realized it’s not that easy to win,” said Habib afterward.

After his gargantuan year in 2000 when his name became famous to many poker players, Habib stopped playing tournaments and decided instead to concentrate on big cash games, due mostly to the grind and travel requirements of tournament poker. But with the recent surge in popularity of tournament poker, Habib has stormed back onto the trail again and has reclaimed his status as one of the game’s premier players. In fact, Habib’s ten final tables at majors thus far this year puts him at the top of the “final table appearances” list.

So far in 2004, Habib has won nearly $1.6 million playing tournament poker. “I’ve had a great 2004, so far.” Habib said. “And I hope I can continue to play good poker through the rest of the year. That’s my goal.”

Habib was born in Pakistan. He is 42-years-old and now lives in Southern California. When asked when he first thought he could make a living at the game of poker, Habib retorted with some obvious derision, “I’m still not sure I can make a living at it,” to which the audience laughed along with a chuckling Habib.

-- Official Report by Nolan Dalla, Media Director -- 2004 World Series of Poker