WSOP Circuit Rio - Main Event Final Table
Rio All-Suites Casino-Resort Championship Event
No-Limit Hold’em
Buy-in: $10,000
Number of Entries: 222
Players Remaining: 10
Total Prize Money: $2,109,000
SEAT 1: Doug Lee, Calgary, Alberta (Canada), Chip Count – 166,000
Lee is a 25-year-old real estate investor from Calgary, Alberta (Canada). His nickname is the “Canadian Super Bomber” because of his relentless attacking style of play at the poker table. Lee holds a college degree in marketing and is currently single. His most notable poker accomplishment, thus far, has been first and second place finishes at major tournaments in Canada. However, Lee lists this World Series of Poker Circuit tournament as his “favorite poker memory,” because it has given him a chance to play with so many top pros. This is the first time Lee has ever played in a World Series of Poker event. We will find out today if a new poker “star” is born.
SEAT 2: Gabriel Thaler, Las Vegas, NV, Chip Count – 278,500
Thaler is a 31-year-old professional poker player who started out as a student and then became a waiter before he decided to turn pro. Now, the only tables he hangs around at regularly are – poker tables. Thaler is originally from California’s beautiful coastal city of Carmel and now lives in Las Vegas. He has made one final table at the WSOP – a third place in the $3,000 buy-in pot-limit hold’em event, last year. Thaler has also finished in the money at the WSOP six times.
SEAT 3: Jennifer Harman, Las Vegas, NV, Chip Count – 174,000
Jennifer Harman was born in Reno NV. By the time Harman was eight years old, she was playing poker for real money – and winning. In the mid-1980s, Harman turned pro and began her climb up the ladder from $50-100 limits to $100-200, then on to $400-800 and much higher. Today, she plays in the very highest limit games in the world and is one of the game’s most feared and respected foes. Try sitting down in a $20,000-40,000 game with a million dollars in chips. Harman has done it – several times. To date, she has also made seven WSOP final tables and won two gold bracelets – Deuce-to-Seven Lowball in 2000 and Limit Hold’em in 2002. She wrote the chapter on Limit Hold’em for Doyle Brunson’s book, Super-System 2. She’s married to her sweetheart, Marco. Oddly enough, Harman is often mistakenly referred to as the best woman player in the world. She is more correctly – one of the best poker players in the world – male or female -- in both tournaments and live action.
SEAT 4: Grant Lang, Brookfield, CT, Chip Count – 454,500
The chip leader coming into the final table is Grant Lang, who is also known as “G-Money.” G-Money was born in Bronx, NY and now resides in Connecticut. He is married with three children. His top poker accomplishment was a first place finish at the Costa Rican Classic in 2004. When he was asked before the final table started if there is anything else we should know about him, G-Money confidently said – “I’m going to win.” We will see if Lang has what it takes to back up his bold prediction. He is going to be a force as the chip leader.
SEAT 5: Tom Macey, Chicago, IL, Chip Count – 201,000
Tom Macey is a 37-year-old bankruptcy attorney from Chicago. At today’s final table, Macey will try his best to avoid empathy with his clients. He’s off to a good start – ranked fifth in chips at the start of the finale. Aside from his successful legal practice, Macey has become a dedicated poker player who has done so well that he has acquired ‘semi-pro’ status. A considerable part of his personal income now comes from poker. He describes his style of play as “conservative and aggressive.” Try to figure that one out. Poker players and attorneys never lie.
SEAT 6: Jean-Robert Bellande, Hollywood, CA, Chip Count – 315,500
Jean Robert Bellande is a New York City-born nightclub owner and promoter who now resides in Hollywood, CA. He is known as “Action Bob” for his fast play and vigorous personality. Action Bob, age 34, holds a B.A. in marketing and is currently single. At the poker table, Bellande is the ultimate psychological warrior. He often baits his opponents with ceaseless chatter and enjoys putting his opponents on tilt. Action Bob is second in chips coming into the finale.
SEAT 7: Kevin Keller, San Diego, CA, Chip Count – 271,000
Kevin Keller is a 31-year-old business owner originally from Syracuse, NY. He owns ‘Spa Reflection’ -- a hair, nails and day spa. Today, Keller hopes to clean out his opponents at the final table. He started playing poker six years ago, and he has final table finishes at other major events, mostly in Los Angeles at the Commerce Casino and Bicycle Club. Keller has played magnificently over the first three days and is shooting for his first WSOP title today.
SEAT 8: Hieu ‘Tony’ Ma, South El Monte, CA, Chip Count – 126,000
Tony Ma was Card Player magazine’s ‘Player of the Year” in 1999. Ma, now age 48, was born in Vietnam and immigrated to Southern California twenty years ago. He has been one of poker’s top tournament players over the past decade. Ma holds two WSOP gold bracelets – both for Limit Hold’em -- one in 1996 and the other in 2000. He is married and has two children. When he’s not playing poker, Ma enjoys singing. But he hopes his opponents will be doing the singing today – singing the blues. Despite his incredible tournament skills, Ma will need all the support he can get at the final table. He comes in ninth in the chip count.
SEAT 9: Dennis Perry, Williamstown, KY, Chip Count – 91,000
Dennis Perry is a 55-year-old retired iron worker from Kentucky. Perry demonstrated he has nerves of steel, outlasting 213 players who entered this event three days ago. When he was asked which single person taught him the most about poker, Perry answered with great reverence – “My Dad.” When he’s not playing poker, he likes to hunt and fish. Perry has previously made final tables at the Mid-America Classic in Tunica. This is his first WSOP final table. Perry clearly has the toughest challenge of anyone at this final table, since he comes in lowest in the chip count. We will find out today if “Iron Man” Perry can build a chip castle.
SEAT 10: Phil Ivey, Las Vegas, NV, Chip Count – 142,500
Phil Ivey was born in New Jersey and first crafted his trade in the poker rooms of Atlantic City. Now age 28, Ivey has become one of poker’s most famous player-celebrities, due to his natural charisma and great poker talent. Ivey has won four WSOP gold bracelets, including three wins back in 2002 – one of only two players ever to win three events in a single year. The mainstream media have referred to Ivey as “the Tiger Woods of poker.” But that’s not really true. Given the depths of his talent, perhaps it’s more appropriate to actually say “Tiger Woods is the Phil Ivey of golf.”
NOTE: Play at the final table will start on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 at 2:00 pm PST
No-Limit Hold’em
Buy-in: $10,000
Number of Entries: 222
Players Remaining: 10
Total Prize Money: $2,109,000
SEAT 1: Doug Lee, Calgary, Alberta (Canada), Chip Count – 166,000Lee is a 25-year-old real estate investor from Calgary, Alberta (Canada). His nickname is the “Canadian Super Bomber” because of his relentless attacking style of play at the poker table. Lee holds a college degree in marketing and is currently single. His most notable poker accomplishment, thus far, has been first and second place finishes at major tournaments in Canada. However, Lee lists this World Series of Poker Circuit tournament as his “favorite poker memory,” because it has given him a chance to play with so many top pros. This is the first time Lee has ever played in a World Series of Poker event. We will find out today if a new poker “star” is born.
SEAT 2: Gabriel Thaler, Las Vegas, NV, Chip Count – 278,500Thaler is a 31-year-old professional poker player who started out as a student and then became a waiter before he decided to turn pro. Now, the only tables he hangs around at regularly are – poker tables. Thaler is originally from California’s beautiful coastal city of Carmel and now lives in Las Vegas. He has made one final table at the WSOP – a third place in the $3,000 buy-in pot-limit hold’em event, last year. Thaler has also finished in the money at the WSOP six times.
SEAT 3: Jennifer Harman, Las Vegas, NV, Chip Count – 174,000Jennifer Harman was born in Reno NV. By the time Harman was eight years old, she was playing poker for real money – and winning. In the mid-1980s, Harman turned pro and began her climb up the ladder from $50-100 limits to $100-200, then on to $400-800 and much higher. Today, she plays in the very highest limit games in the world and is one of the game’s most feared and respected foes. Try sitting down in a $20,000-40,000 game with a million dollars in chips. Harman has done it – several times. To date, she has also made seven WSOP final tables and won two gold bracelets – Deuce-to-Seven Lowball in 2000 and Limit Hold’em in 2002. She wrote the chapter on Limit Hold’em for Doyle Brunson’s book, Super-System 2. She’s married to her sweetheart, Marco. Oddly enough, Harman is often mistakenly referred to as the best woman player in the world. She is more correctly – one of the best poker players in the world – male or female -- in both tournaments and live action.
SEAT 4: Grant Lang, Brookfield, CT, Chip Count – 454,500The chip leader coming into the final table is Grant Lang, who is also known as “G-Money.” G-Money was born in Bronx, NY and now resides in Connecticut. He is married with three children. His top poker accomplishment was a first place finish at the Costa Rican Classic in 2004. When he was asked before the final table started if there is anything else we should know about him, G-Money confidently said – “I’m going to win.” We will see if Lang has what it takes to back up his bold prediction. He is going to be a force as the chip leader.
SEAT 5: Tom Macey, Chicago, IL, Chip Count – 201,000Tom Macey is a 37-year-old bankruptcy attorney from Chicago. At today’s final table, Macey will try his best to avoid empathy with his clients. He’s off to a good start – ranked fifth in chips at the start of the finale. Aside from his successful legal practice, Macey has become a dedicated poker player who has done so well that he has acquired ‘semi-pro’ status. A considerable part of his personal income now comes from poker. He describes his style of play as “conservative and aggressive.” Try to figure that one out. Poker players and attorneys never lie.
SEAT 6: Jean-Robert Bellande, Hollywood, CA, Chip Count – 315,500 Jean Robert Bellande is a New York City-born nightclub owner and promoter who now resides in Hollywood, CA. He is known as “Action Bob” for his fast play and vigorous personality. Action Bob, age 34, holds a B.A. in marketing and is currently single. At the poker table, Bellande is the ultimate psychological warrior. He often baits his opponents with ceaseless chatter and enjoys putting his opponents on tilt. Action Bob is second in chips coming into the finale.
SEAT 7: Kevin Keller, San Diego, CA, Chip Count – 271,000 Kevin Keller is a 31-year-old business owner originally from Syracuse, NY. He owns ‘Spa Reflection’ -- a hair, nails and day spa. Today, Keller hopes to clean out his opponents at the final table. He started playing poker six years ago, and he has final table finishes at other major events, mostly in Los Angeles at the Commerce Casino and Bicycle Club. Keller has played magnificently over the first three days and is shooting for his first WSOP title today.
SEAT 8: Hieu ‘Tony’ Ma, South El Monte, CA, Chip Count – 126,000Tony Ma was Card Player magazine’s ‘Player of the Year” in 1999. Ma, now age 48, was born in Vietnam and immigrated to Southern California twenty years ago. He has been one of poker’s top tournament players over the past decade. Ma holds two WSOP gold bracelets – both for Limit Hold’em -- one in 1996 and the other in 2000. He is married and has two children. When he’s not playing poker, Ma enjoys singing. But he hopes his opponents will be doing the singing today – singing the blues. Despite his incredible tournament skills, Ma will need all the support he can get at the final table. He comes in ninth in the chip count.
SEAT 9: Dennis Perry, Williamstown, KY, Chip Count – 91,000 Dennis Perry is a 55-year-old retired iron worker from Kentucky. Perry demonstrated he has nerves of steel, outlasting 213 players who entered this event three days ago. When he was asked which single person taught him the most about poker, Perry answered with great reverence – “My Dad.” When he’s not playing poker, he likes to hunt and fish. Perry has previously made final tables at the Mid-America Classic in Tunica. This is his first WSOP final table. Perry clearly has the toughest challenge of anyone at this final table, since he comes in lowest in the chip count. We will find out today if “Iron Man” Perry can build a chip castle.
SEAT 10: Phil Ivey, Las Vegas, NV, Chip Count – 142,500 Phil Ivey was born in New Jersey and first crafted his trade in the poker rooms of Atlantic City. Now age 28, Ivey has become one of poker’s most famous player-celebrities, due to his natural charisma and great poker talent. Ivey has won four WSOP gold bracelets, including three wins back in 2002 – one of only two players ever to win three events in a single year. The mainstream media have referred to Ivey as “the Tiger Woods of poker.” But that’s not really true. Given the depths of his talent, perhaps it’s more appropriate to actually say “Tiger Woods is the Phil Ivey of golf.”
NOTE: Play at the final table will start on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 at 2:00 pm PST
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