WSOP Circuit Lake Tahoe - Event 3
No-Limit Hold’em
Buy-in: $500 (+50)
Number of Entries: 287
Total Prize Money: $139,195
Official Results:
1. Jory Post, Santa Cruz, CA, $44,540
2. Eric Cloutier, Mont-Laurier, Quebec, 24,500
3. John Bryant, Stockton, CA, 12,530
4. Michael Capener, Phoenix, AZ, 9,745
5. Mani Zarrehparvar, Copenhagen, Denmark, 8,350
6. Josh Ewing, S. Lake Tahoe, CA, 6,960
7. Don Mullis, Mooresville, NC, 5,570
8. John Buchanan Las Vegas, NV, 4,175
9. Carl Sciandri, Napa, CA, 2,785
10. Gabriel Bletnisky, 1,670
11. Howard ‘Tahoe’ Andrew, 1,670
12. Austin Jones, 1,670
13. Leo Angel, 1,392
14. Matthew Baltz, 1,392
15. Carlos Ramirez, 1,392
16. Peter Nguyen, 1,114
17. Howard McClune, 1,114
18. Robert Mohn, 1,114
19. Tyrone Goring, 835
20. Ross Kline, 835
21. Jason Heidma, 835
22. Michael Ruter, 835
23. Ammon Brown, 835
24. Sue Karow, 835
25. Frankie Keeth, 835
26. Nicholas Manganaro, 835
27. Craig Parsons, 835
It’s Post Time!
”I believe in the importance of education,” said Jory Post immediately following his first-place win and $44,540 payday at Lake Tahoe’s World Series of Poker Circuit tournament. “Going back to my early days at UC-Santa Cruz what I learned as an educator is no so much the importance of mathematics or social studies, but teaching kids how to think for themselves in a meaningful way in a democratic society.”
Learning, and by inference ‘self improvement’ is important to Jory Post. When he’s asked a question – it’s whether about poker or something more personal -- he pauses and gives the issue serious thought before speaking with obvious conviction. Post spent several years in a classroom setting teaching 5th and 6th graders, before gravitating into education technology consulting and writing. “I started out as a psychology major, which I think really helped me in the game of poker,” Post said. “I later learned that I enjoyed working with kids and loved the process of learning, so that became my career choice.”
Post provided quite a poker lesson to the 287 players who entered the $500 buy-in no-limit hold’em championship, the third event in this WSOPC tournament series. Day One resulted in the elimination of 278 players. Places 10 through 27 received prize money ranging from $835 up to $1,670. The nine finalists returned on Day Two, with John Bryant from Stockton, CA holding a shaky 3 to 2 chip lead over his closest rival Don Mullis – who was making his second final table appearance in just three days. Finalists arrived with the following seat positions and chip counts:
SEAT 1, Carl Sciandri, Napa, CA, 31,300
SEAT 2, Josh Ewing, S. Lake Tahoe, CA, 43,700
SEAT 3, Michael Capener, Phoenix, AZ, 28,300
SEAT 4, John Bryant, Stockton, CA, 95,700
SEAT 5, Mani Zarrehparvar, Copenhagen, Denmark, 64,000
SEAT 6, Eric Cloutier, Mont-Laurier, Quebec, 38,600
SEAT 7, Don Mullis, Mooresville, NC, 67,200
SEAT 8, John Buchanan, Las Vegas, NV, 26,700
SEAT 9, Jory Post, Santa Cruz, CA, 35,100
Players were eliminated as follows:
9th Place – Carl Sciandri arrived as one of the lowest stacks and failed to win the critical first pot that might have allowed him to become a force on Day Two. Twenty minutes into play, he was callously eliminated in 9th place. Italian-born Sciandri, who now lives in the Napa Valley in northern California, added $2,785 to his poker bankroll. With that hand, former NHL player Eric Cloutier became the new chip leader.
8th Place – Cloutier’s rush continued as he knocked out another player a few minutes later. Cloutier was dealt Q-Q and called an ‘all in’ re-raise’ by Internet poker professional John Buchanan, who was holding A-K. Buchanan failed to catch either an ace or king, and busted out as the 8th-place finisher. This was Buchanan’s second final table appearance in three events at this year’s Lake Tahoe WSOPC tournament (he took 5th place in Event #1). Buchanan earned $4,175.
7h Place – This was also Don Mullis’ second time to make it to the final table. He finished 9th in Event #1. Unfortunately, Mullis wasn’t able to use his large stack to his advantage and failed to establish dominance over his opponents. It didn’t help that Eric Cloutier, the table’s most aggressive player, raised constantly from Mullis’ immediate right – leaving Mullis to make some tough decisions about when to commit his stack. The car dealer from North Carolina desperately needed a jump start from the deck to regain his lost chips, but in the end, he was totaled in 7th place – good for $5,570.
6th Place – It took another hour before the next player busted out. Josh Ewing moved ‘all in’ with 9-9 and was called by Jory Post, holding A-J. The flop made things interesting. The board J-10-9 gave Post top pair with jacks, but Ewing had several outs (10) with two cards to come. Unfortunately, two blanks fell and Ewing came up dry. Josh Ewing, a 24-year-old poker pro from S. Lake Tahoe, CA (technically, just across the street from the casino in Stateline, NV), walked home in a cold rain with $6,960.
5th Place – Mani Zarrehparvar arrived at the finale third in the chip count. He was the next victim to fall when he ended up short-stacked and made his final stand with K-4, not much of a hold’em hand. Eric Cloutier was sitting in the blind and called the ‘all in’ raise with A-10. An ace on the flop effectively ended any suspense, and Zarrehparvar, a telecommunications manager from Copenhagen, Denmark was disconnected from the final table. Fifth place paid $8,350.
4th Place – Michael Capener came in with the shortest stack of the nine finalists and made the biggest leap up the money ladder. Capener wasn’t ever really a ‘force’ with his few chips, but he certainly made the most of them. He was desperately short-stacked when he played his final hand, ultimately losing to a no pair king-high. To his credit, Capener has only been playing poker for two years and this was his second time to make it to a WSOP circuit final table. Capener enjoys the distinction of being one of a few players who has attend every single WSOPC event this year – which includes visits to Atlantic City, San Diego, Las Vegas, and now Lake Tahoe. Capener earned $9,745 which should help pay the airfare to New Orleans (the next WSOPC event) next month.
3rd Place – Early chip leader John Bryant went card dead at the worst possible moment, failing to put a dent in either of his opponents’ stacks when play was three-handed. Bryant was gradually blinded down and suffered the misfortune of having hyper-aggressive Eric Cloutier on his immediate left – which meant chips were certain to be flying into the pot anytime Bryant showed weakness. Bryant was down to his last 30K and made his final stand of the night with A-7. Cloutier called in the blind and won the pot when his J-9 connected with a nine on the flop. John Bryant, a corrections officer from Stockton, CA, locked up 3rd place – good for $12,530.
The heads-up duel between Eric Cloutier and Jory Post began with the Quebec Canuck holding a formidable 4 to 1 chip advantage. But if Cloutier thought he could steamroll over Post, he was in for a rude awakening. Jory Post proved to be a tenacious competitor, unsusceptible to Cloutier’s intimidating aggression. About 10 minutes into heads-up play, Post made a very tough ‘all in’ call when holding a flush draw and was staring at Cloutier set of 10s as the final card was about to be dealt. It proved the single most important moment of the tournament. Cloutier stood up from his seat ready to celebrate victory. Not so fast. Wham! Post caught a club, which completed the flush and Cloutier mucked his set in disgust.
That hand would prove to be the turning point, and essentially would determine the outcome of the tournament. Afterward, Cloutier held a 290K to 150K chip lead, and then the hemorrhaging began. A few key hands later, Post enjoyed a slight chip lead and then the final hand came out of nowhere:
Post was dealt J-10. Cloutier was dealt 9-8. Cloutier certainly didn’t know it at the time, but he was about to be gutted like a Canadian salmon. The flop came 10-9-3. Both players caught a pair, but Post had the best hand with top pair. Cloutier called Post’s modest-sized bet quickly. An ace fell on the turn – a potential ‘scare’ card for both players. Just as the ace hit the felt, Cloutier declared he was ‘all in,’ and after about 30 seconds of judicious deliberation, Post quietly spoke two words Cloutier did not want to hear -- “I call.” Cloutier winced and knew he’d made a big mistake. “He bet out too fast,” Post explained later. “I thought he probably had a nine. I really didn’t think the ace helped him.”
Post had read his opponent perfectly. Perhaps it was the early training in psychology, the teaching of others, or the career spent working in education. Or perhaps it was 30-plus years playing poker in Reno, Lake Tahoe, and the Bay Area. Whatever the reason, Post’s victory was a convincing display of poker expertise.
The runner up, Eric Cloutier is sure to make it to many more final tables. The former professional hockey player from Quebec (who now owns several sports bars in Louisiana and elsewhere) was disappointed with the outcome. But it was his aggression that bolted him into a commanding chip lead at one point, just as it was his fearless style of attack that ultimately ended up busting him out. Live by the sword, die by the sword. Second place paid $24,500.
Fifty-four year old Jory Post made it clear that while he has numerous accomplishments (including an honorary fellowship) and has learned about many different subjects, he still strives to study and learn more. “Learning never ends,” Post concluded.
Report by Nolan Dalla – World Series of Poker Media Director
World Series of Poker Circuit Director – Ken Lambert
World Series of Poker Tournament Director – John Grooms
Harveys Poker Room Manager – Vince Contaxis
Harrah’s Full Service Games Manager -- Steve Schorr
Buy-in: $500 (+50)
Number of Entries: 287
Total Prize Money: $139,195
Official Results:
1. Jory Post, Santa Cruz, CA, $44,540
2. Eric Cloutier, Mont-Laurier, Quebec, 24,500
3. John Bryant, Stockton, CA, 12,530
4. Michael Capener, Phoenix, AZ, 9,745
5. Mani Zarrehparvar, Copenhagen, Denmark, 8,350
6. Josh Ewing, S. Lake Tahoe, CA, 6,960
7. Don Mullis, Mooresville, NC, 5,570
8. John Buchanan Las Vegas, NV, 4,175
9. Carl Sciandri, Napa, CA, 2,785
10. Gabriel Bletnisky, 1,670
11. Howard ‘Tahoe’ Andrew, 1,670
12. Austin Jones, 1,670
13. Leo Angel, 1,392
14. Matthew Baltz, 1,392
15. Carlos Ramirez, 1,392
16. Peter Nguyen, 1,114
17. Howard McClune, 1,114
18. Robert Mohn, 1,114
19. Tyrone Goring, 835
20. Ross Kline, 835
21. Jason Heidma, 835
22. Michael Ruter, 835
23. Ammon Brown, 835
24. Sue Karow, 835
25. Frankie Keeth, 835
26. Nicholas Manganaro, 835
27. Craig Parsons, 835
It’s Post Time!
Bay Area educator Jory Post rides to victory in Lake Tahoe’s $500 no-limit hold’em championship
”I believe in the importance of education,” said Jory Post immediately following his first-place win and $44,540 payday at Lake Tahoe’s World Series of Poker Circuit tournament. “Going back to my early days at UC-Santa Cruz what I learned as an educator is no so much the importance of mathematics or social studies, but teaching kids how to think for themselves in a meaningful way in a democratic society.”
Learning, and by inference ‘self improvement’ is important to Jory Post. When he’s asked a question – it’s whether about poker or something more personal -- he pauses and gives the issue serious thought before speaking with obvious conviction. Post spent several years in a classroom setting teaching 5th and 6th graders, before gravitating into education technology consulting and writing. “I started out as a psychology major, which I think really helped me in the game of poker,” Post said. “I later learned that I enjoyed working with kids and loved the process of learning, so that became my career choice.”
Post provided quite a poker lesson to the 287 players who entered the $500 buy-in no-limit hold’em championship, the third event in this WSOPC tournament series. Day One resulted in the elimination of 278 players. Places 10 through 27 received prize money ranging from $835 up to $1,670. The nine finalists returned on Day Two, with John Bryant from Stockton, CA holding a shaky 3 to 2 chip lead over his closest rival Don Mullis – who was making his second final table appearance in just three days. Finalists arrived with the following seat positions and chip counts:
SEAT 1, Carl Sciandri, Napa, CA, 31,300
SEAT 2, Josh Ewing, S. Lake Tahoe, CA, 43,700
SEAT 3, Michael Capener, Phoenix, AZ, 28,300
SEAT 4, John Bryant, Stockton, CA, 95,700
SEAT 5, Mani Zarrehparvar, Copenhagen, Denmark, 64,000
SEAT 6, Eric Cloutier, Mont-Laurier, Quebec, 38,600
SEAT 7, Don Mullis, Mooresville, NC, 67,200
SEAT 8, John Buchanan, Las Vegas, NV, 26,700
SEAT 9, Jory Post, Santa Cruz, CA, 35,100
Players were eliminated as follows:
9th Place – Carl Sciandri arrived as one of the lowest stacks and failed to win the critical first pot that might have allowed him to become a force on Day Two. Twenty minutes into play, he was callously eliminated in 9th place. Italian-born Sciandri, who now lives in the Napa Valley in northern California, added $2,785 to his poker bankroll. With that hand, former NHL player Eric Cloutier became the new chip leader.
8th Place – Cloutier’s rush continued as he knocked out another player a few minutes later. Cloutier was dealt Q-Q and called an ‘all in’ re-raise’ by Internet poker professional John Buchanan, who was holding A-K. Buchanan failed to catch either an ace or king, and busted out as the 8th-place finisher. This was Buchanan’s second final table appearance in three events at this year’s Lake Tahoe WSOPC tournament (he took 5th place in Event #1). Buchanan earned $4,175.
7h Place – This was also Don Mullis’ second time to make it to the final table. He finished 9th in Event #1. Unfortunately, Mullis wasn’t able to use his large stack to his advantage and failed to establish dominance over his opponents. It didn’t help that Eric Cloutier, the table’s most aggressive player, raised constantly from Mullis’ immediate right – leaving Mullis to make some tough decisions about when to commit his stack. The car dealer from North Carolina desperately needed a jump start from the deck to regain his lost chips, but in the end, he was totaled in 7th place – good for $5,570.
6th Place – It took another hour before the next player busted out. Josh Ewing moved ‘all in’ with 9-9 and was called by Jory Post, holding A-J. The flop made things interesting. The board J-10-9 gave Post top pair with jacks, but Ewing had several outs (10) with two cards to come. Unfortunately, two blanks fell and Ewing came up dry. Josh Ewing, a 24-year-old poker pro from S. Lake Tahoe, CA (technically, just across the street from the casino in Stateline, NV), walked home in a cold rain with $6,960.
5th Place – Mani Zarrehparvar arrived at the finale third in the chip count. He was the next victim to fall when he ended up short-stacked and made his final stand with K-4, not much of a hold’em hand. Eric Cloutier was sitting in the blind and called the ‘all in’ raise with A-10. An ace on the flop effectively ended any suspense, and Zarrehparvar, a telecommunications manager from Copenhagen, Denmark was disconnected from the final table. Fifth place paid $8,350.
4th Place – Michael Capener came in with the shortest stack of the nine finalists and made the biggest leap up the money ladder. Capener wasn’t ever really a ‘force’ with his few chips, but he certainly made the most of them. He was desperately short-stacked when he played his final hand, ultimately losing to a no pair king-high. To his credit, Capener has only been playing poker for two years and this was his second time to make it to a WSOP circuit final table. Capener enjoys the distinction of being one of a few players who has attend every single WSOPC event this year – which includes visits to Atlantic City, San Diego, Las Vegas, and now Lake Tahoe. Capener earned $9,745 which should help pay the airfare to New Orleans (the next WSOPC event) next month.
3rd Place – Early chip leader John Bryant went card dead at the worst possible moment, failing to put a dent in either of his opponents’ stacks when play was three-handed. Bryant was gradually blinded down and suffered the misfortune of having hyper-aggressive Eric Cloutier on his immediate left – which meant chips were certain to be flying into the pot anytime Bryant showed weakness. Bryant was down to his last 30K and made his final stand of the night with A-7. Cloutier called in the blind and won the pot when his J-9 connected with a nine on the flop. John Bryant, a corrections officer from Stockton, CA, locked up 3rd place – good for $12,530.
The heads-up duel between Eric Cloutier and Jory Post began with the Quebec Canuck holding a formidable 4 to 1 chip advantage. But if Cloutier thought he could steamroll over Post, he was in for a rude awakening. Jory Post proved to be a tenacious competitor, unsusceptible to Cloutier’s intimidating aggression. About 10 minutes into heads-up play, Post made a very tough ‘all in’ call when holding a flush draw and was staring at Cloutier set of 10s as the final card was about to be dealt. It proved the single most important moment of the tournament. Cloutier stood up from his seat ready to celebrate victory. Not so fast. Wham! Post caught a club, which completed the flush and Cloutier mucked his set in disgust.
That hand would prove to be the turning point, and essentially would determine the outcome of the tournament. Afterward, Cloutier held a 290K to 150K chip lead, and then the hemorrhaging began. A few key hands later, Post enjoyed a slight chip lead and then the final hand came out of nowhere:
Post was dealt J-10. Cloutier was dealt 9-8. Cloutier certainly didn’t know it at the time, but he was about to be gutted like a Canadian salmon. The flop came 10-9-3. Both players caught a pair, but Post had the best hand with top pair. Cloutier called Post’s modest-sized bet quickly. An ace fell on the turn – a potential ‘scare’ card for both players. Just as the ace hit the felt, Cloutier declared he was ‘all in,’ and after about 30 seconds of judicious deliberation, Post quietly spoke two words Cloutier did not want to hear -- “I call.” Cloutier winced and knew he’d made a big mistake. “He bet out too fast,” Post explained later. “I thought he probably had a nine. I really didn’t think the ace helped him.”
Post had read his opponent perfectly. Perhaps it was the early training in psychology, the teaching of others, or the career spent working in education. Or perhaps it was 30-plus years playing poker in Reno, Lake Tahoe, and the Bay Area. Whatever the reason, Post’s victory was a convincing display of poker expertise.
The runner up, Eric Cloutier is sure to make it to many more final tables. The former professional hockey player from Quebec (who now owns several sports bars in Louisiana and elsewhere) was disappointed with the outcome. But it was his aggression that bolted him into a commanding chip lead at one point, just as it was his fearless style of attack that ultimately ended up busting him out. Live by the sword, die by the sword. Second place paid $24,500.
Fifty-four year old Jory Post made it clear that while he has numerous accomplishments (including an honorary fellowship) and has learned about many different subjects, he still strives to study and learn more. “Learning never ends,” Post concluded.
Report by Nolan Dalla – World Series of Poker Media Director
World Series of Poker Circuit Director – Ken Lambert
World Series of Poker Tournament Director – John Grooms
Harveys Poker Room Manager – Vince Contaxis
Harrah’s Full Service Games Manager -- Steve Schorr
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