WSOP Circuit Rincon - Main Event - Final Table
SEAT 1: Alex B. Prendes, Jr., Miami, FL
Chip Count – 158,000
Prendes is a 24-year-old investment consultant from Miami, FL. He is also known as “Fatal” or ”Big Al.” Prendes holds a degree in finance from Florida State University. Remarkably, Prendes has only played three major ‘live’ tournaments in his life, and he has placed in the money in all three. He was 21st at the World Poker Open in January. He finished 29th in the LA Poker Classic last month. This is the first time Prendes has ever played in a World Series of Poker event. We will find out today if a new poker “star” is born.
SEAT 2: Naseen Salem, San Diego, CA
Chip Count – 21,500
Salem is a 31-year-old business owner who was born in Baghdad, Iraq. He is married and has three children. Salem owns two supermarkets and now lives in San Diego. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering. Salem has played a number of small poker tournaments and also plays regularly online. Poker runs in the Salem family – as Naseen’s uncle is the well-known poker pro, Lee Salem. Even with his impressive background, Salem clearly has the toughest challenge of anyone at this final table, since he comes in lowest in chips. We will find out today is Salem can pull of his version of a poker miracle.
SEAT 3: Robert Williamson III, Dallas, TX
Chip Count – 123,000
Williamson is one of poker’s most popular players – both as a public figure and with his fellow competitors. He is a true ‘renaissance man’ who devotes totally himself to whatever he does – whether that be enjoying fine wine or betting sports, two of his favorite pastimes. Williamson, age 34, was raised in Houston, graduated from Angelo State University with degrees in finance and real estate, and now lives in Dallas. Williamson has been just as successful outside of poker as in it. He has owned restaurants, been a real estate developer, and served as a consultant. However, he can now be found attending most major poker events. Williamson won a World Series of Poker gold bracelet in 2002 for Pot-Limit Omaha. He also has several final table appearances at the World Series to his name. Williamson is a recent newlywed and would like nothing more than to win the top prize.
SEAT 4: Chad Brown, Los Angeles, CA
Chip Count – 365,000
Third in chips coming into the final table is Chad Brown, from Los Angeles. Brown has worked as an actor and recently served as a poker commentator for a tournament in Las Vegas. Eventually, Brown found poker to be a far less risky endeavor than acting – or perhaps just another extension of it. Indeed, Brown has top finishes at the LA Poker Classic, the Bellagio Five Diamond Classic, and many other major tournaments.
SEAT 5: Mark Hanna, Cincinnati, OH
Chip Count – 76,500
Mark Hanna was the chip leader after the end of Day Two, but now comes in facing his biggest poker challenge ever. Nicknamed “Big Daddy from Cincinnati,” Hanna currently serves as President of the ‘Experience the Difference’ Corporation – which manages over 12,000 websites. The 50-year-old executive and part-time poker player won a No-Limit tournament at the Queens Poker Classic in 2000 and is now devoting even more time to his game. For the last 8 months Hanna has been traveling around North America in a luxury motorcoach, playing poker wherever he goes, accompanied along the way by his wife and three terriers.
SEAT 6: James “Krazy Kanuck” Worth, Toronto, ON (Canada)
Chip Count – 199,500
The Krazy Kanuck is the only foreign-based player at today’s final table. The 26-year-old Canadian is both a writer and poker player. He has finished in the money two times previously at the World Series of Poker. But most of his income comes from playing poker online. By his estimation, Worth has won over a hundred online poker tournaments. We’ll soon find out if Worth is really a “Krazy Kanuck” and whether he can translate those online skills into his first major win in a live poker tournament.
SEAT 7: Lonnie Alexander, Las Vegas, NV
Chip Count – 186,500
Alexander is a 47-year-old professional poker player who once worked as a car salesman. Although he was born in and attended college in the state of Wyoming, Alexander is nicknamed “Montana.” Now engaged, Alexander lives in Las Vegas. But there’s nothing confusing about his poker ability or ambitions. “Montana” Alexander has a number of smaller tournament wins to his name and hopes today for his biggest payday ever.
SEAT 8: Prahlad Friedman, Los Angeles, CA
Chip Count – 475,000
Today’s chip leader was involved in one of the World Series of Poker’s rare political controversies. In 2003 Friedman -- who once attended Cal-Berkeley as a student -- let everyone know his views on war and the current Administration when he caused an uproar immediately after winning a gold bracelet for Pot-Limit Hold’em. Indeed, Friedman is never one to shy away from a conflict or fight for what he believes in. The 26-year-old poker pro has been playing high-limit stakes, $200-400 and up, for nearly five years, and is clearly one of the game’s best and brightest young players. Not everyone with agree with his politics, but the verdict is unanimous that Freidman is one of the favorites to win this event.
SEAT 9: Keith Sexton, Las Vegas, NV
Chip Count – 104,500
Sexton, a 55-year-old real estate investor turned poker pro and sports bettor, was born in Ohio and now lives in Las Vegas. He has played at the World Series of Poker seven times and has made it into the money a number of times, also. His best finish was second in an event about ten years ago. When asked what person had the most influence on Sexton in teaching him the game, he answers with great respect and reverence – his mother. Sexton will need all the support he cane get at the final table. He comes in eighth in the chip count.
SEAT 10: Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, Pacific Palisades, CA
Chip Count – 387,000
Ferguson is the 2000 world poker champion. He is one of poker’s most instantly-recognizable faces. Known simply as “Jesus,” Ferguson clearly has divine poker talent, illustrated by 36 cashes, five gold bracelets, and nearly $3 million dollars at the World Series of Poker. Jesus holds a PhD in mathematics from UCLA and says his ambition is to eventually become a professor of game theory at a major university. If he does that and quits playing poker, he’ll surely be taking a big cut in salary.
NOTE: Play at the final table will start on Wednesday, February 3, 2005 at 2:00 pm PST
Prize Money:
1st $652,085
2nd $359,630
3rd $197,600
4th $158,080
5th $118,560
6th $98,800
7th $79,040
8th $59,280
9th $39,520
10th $27,665
Other money finishes:
11. Arturo Diaz, Mexico City, Mexico, 27,665
12. David Levi, Las Vegas, NV, 27,665
13. Senthil Kumar, Los Gatos, CA, 23,710
14. Jesse Martin, Northboro, MA, 23,710
15. Patrick MacMillan, St. Charles, MO, 23,710
16. Gavin Smith, Las Vegas, NV, 19,760
17. Tony Licastro, Long Valley, NJ, 19,760
18. Tony Bloom, London, England, 19,760
Report by Nolan Dalla – World Series of Poker Media Director
World Series of Poker Tournament Director – John Grooms
World Series of Poker Circuit Director – Ken Lambert
Chip Count – 158,000
Prendes is a 24-year-old investment consultant from Miami, FL. He is also known as “Fatal” or ”Big Al.” Prendes holds a degree in finance from Florida State University. Remarkably, Prendes has only played three major ‘live’ tournaments in his life, and he has placed in the money in all three. He was 21st at the World Poker Open in January. He finished 29th in the LA Poker Classic last month. This is the first time Prendes has ever played in a World Series of Poker event. We will find out today if a new poker “star” is born.
SEAT 2: Naseen Salem, San Diego, CA
Chip Count – 21,500
Salem is a 31-year-old business owner who was born in Baghdad, Iraq. He is married and has three children. Salem owns two supermarkets and now lives in San Diego. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering. Salem has played a number of small poker tournaments and also plays regularly online. Poker runs in the Salem family – as Naseen’s uncle is the well-known poker pro, Lee Salem. Even with his impressive background, Salem clearly has the toughest challenge of anyone at this final table, since he comes in lowest in chips. We will find out today is Salem can pull of his version of a poker miracle.
SEAT 3: Robert Williamson III, Dallas, TX
Chip Count – 123,000
Williamson is one of poker’s most popular players – both as a public figure and with his fellow competitors. He is a true ‘renaissance man’ who devotes totally himself to whatever he does – whether that be enjoying fine wine or betting sports, two of his favorite pastimes. Williamson, age 34, was raised in Houston, graduated from Angelo State University with degrees in finance and real estate, and now lives in Dallas. Williamson has been just as successful outside of poker as in it. He has owned restaurants, been a real estate developer, and served as a consultant. However, he can now be found attending most major poker events. Williamson won a World Series of Poker gold bracelet in 2002 for Pot-Limit Omaha. He also has several final table appearances at the World Series to his name. Williamson is a recent newlywed and would like nothing more than to win the top prize.
SEAT 4: Chad Brown, Los Angeles, CA
Chip Count – 365,000
Third in chips coming into the final table is Chad Brown, from Los Angeles. Brown has worked as an actor and recently served as a poker commentator for a tournament in Las Vegas. Eventually, Brown found poker to be a far less risky endeavor than acting – or perhaps just another extension of it. Indeed, Brown has top finishes at the LA Poker Classic, the Bellagio Five Diamond Classic, and many other major tournaments.
SEAT 5: Mark Hanna, Cincinnati, OH
Chip Count – 76,500
Mark Hanna was the chip leader after the end of Day Two, but now comes in facing his biggest poker challenge ever. Nicknamed “Big Daddy from Cincinnati,” Hanna currently serves as President of the ‘Experience the Difference’ Corporation – which manages over 12,000 websites. The 50-year-old executive and part-time poker player won a No-Limit tournament at the Queens Poker Classic in 2000 and is now devoting even more time to his game. For the last 8 months Hanna has been traveling around North America in a luxury motorcoach, playing poker wherever he goes, accompanied along the way by his wife and three terriers.
SEAT 6: James “Krazy Kanuck” Worth, Toronto, ON (Canada)
Chip Count – 199,500
The Krazy Kanuck is the only foreign-based player at today’s final table. The 26-year-old Canadian is both a writer and poker player. He has finished in the money two times previously at the World Series of Poker. But most of his income comes from playing poker online. By his estimation, Worth has won over a hundred online poker tournaments. We’ll soon find out if Worth is really a “Krazy Kanuck” and whether he can translate those online skills into his first major win in a live poker tournament.
SEAT 7: Lonnie Alexander, Las Vegas, NV
Chip Count – 186,500
Alexander is a 47-year-old professional poker player who once worked as a car salesman. Although he was born in and attended college in the state of Wyoming, Alexander is nicknamed “Montana.” Now engaged, Alexander lives in Las Vegas. But there’s nothing confusing about his poker ability or ambitions. “Montana” Alexander has a number of smaller tournament wins to his name and hopes today for his biggest payday ever.
SEAT 8: Prahlad Friedman, Los Angeles, CA
Chip Count – 475,000
Today’s chip leader was involved in one of the World Series of Poker’s rare political controversies. In 2003 Friedman -- who once attended Cal-Berkeley as a student -- let everyone know his views on war and the current Administration when he caused an uproar immediately after winning a gold bracelet for Pot-Limit Hold’em. Indeed, Friedman is never one to shy away from a conflict or fight for what he believes in. The 26-year-old poker pro has been playing high-limit stakes, $200-400 and up, for nearly five years, and is clearly one of the game’s best and brightest young players. Not everyone with agree with his politics, but the verdict is unanimous that Freidman is one of the favorites to win this event.
SEAT 9: Keith Sexton, Las Vegas, NV
Chip Count – 104,500
Sexton, a 55-year-old real estate investor turned poker pro and sports bettor, was born in Ohio and now lives in Las Vegas. He has played at the World Series of Poker seven times and has made it into the money a number of times, also. His best finish was second in an event about ten years ago. When asked what person had the most influence on Sexton in teaching him the game, he answers with great respect and reverence – his mother. Sexton will need all the support he cane get at the final table. He comes in eighth in the chip count.
SEAT 10: Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, Pacific Palisades, CA
Chip Count – 387,000
Ferguson is the 2000 world poker champion. He is one of poker’s most instantly-recognizable faces. Known simply as “Jesus,” Ferguson clearly has divine poker talent, illustrated by 36 cashes, five gold bracelets, and nearly $3 million dollars at the World Series of Poker. Jesus holds a PhD in mathematics from UCLA and says his ambition is to eventually become a professor of game theory at a major university. If he does that and quits playing poker, he’ll surely be taking a big cut in salary.
NOTE: Play at the final table will start on Wednesday, February 3, 2005 at 2:00 pm PST
Prize Money:
1st $652,085
2nd $359,630
3rd $197,600
4th $158,080
5th $118,560
6th $98,800
7th $79,040
8th $59,280
9th $39,520
10th $27,665
Other money finishes:
11. Arturo Diaz, Mexico City, Mexico, 27,665
12. David Levi, Las Vegas, NV, 27,665
13. Senthil Kumar, Los Gatos, CA, 23,710
14. Jesse Martin, Northboro, MA, 23,710
15. Patrick MacMillan, St. Charles, MO, 23,710
16. Gavin Smith, Las Vegas, NV, 19,760
17. Tony Licastro, Long Valley, NJ, 19,760
18. Tony Bloom, London, England, 19,760
Report by Nolan Dalla – World Series of Poker Media Director
World Series of Poker Tournament Director – John Grooms
World Series of Poker Circuit Director – Ken Lambert
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