STUD
NEWBIE STEVE JELINEK
BESTS TOUGH 7-STUD FIELD
What
do you call a mild-mannered Kellogg's
corn flakes employee who has a secret
life as a deadly poker player?
Why,
a cereal killer, of course.
Steve
Jelinek, who is a night manager for Kellogg's
in his native Manchester, England, is
also a very fast learner. He only began
playing poker last year, entered his first
tournament this year and played his very
first game of 7-card stud in the earlier
event here six days ago. "They were
laughing at me," Jelinek said. "I
didn't even know the rules." Well,
nobody's laughing now, because Jelinek
bested some very tough final-table opponents
to win the 10th buy-in event of the 2003
St. Maarten Open, $300 7-card stud.
It
was the fourth final table for Jelinek,
who was twice a bridesmaid by finishing
second, and is now officially a bride.
Jelinek, who's had several prior tournament
cash-outs, has decided to avoid cash games
for the time being because he doesn't
think he yet has the tools to go against
more experienced players, but feels that
tournaments even things out.
The
final table assembled after Jelinek made
nines-full full to dispatch the ninth-place
finisher, who departed without leaving
his name, but who is believed to be a
local resident. Limits started at $600-$1,200,
with $100 antes and a $200 low card bring-in.
Jelinek started in second chip position,
slightly behind Marcel Luske. Luske's
usual aggressive play didn't serve him
well tonight as he dropped rapidly and
finished seventh after just 10 hands.
Finland's
Juha Helppi arrived lowest chipped with
just $3,100 and lasted just four hands.
In three-way action, he was all in on
fourth street showing 8c-Jc, ended up
with nothing and lost to jacks and 10s
made by Farsad Hooshang of Amsterdam.
Limits
moved up to $800-$1,600 with $100 antes
and a $300 bring-in two hands later. On
the first deal, Luske bet out showing
J-6-7-Q and was promptly raised by Payoleth
Jurgen of Germany who showed 10-2-3-A.
Luske folded on the river, now down to
about $5,600.
Two
hands later he was left with a few hundred
dollars when he held aces and again folded
on seventh street, this time against Jelinek,
who had made kings-up. The next hand was
Luske's last. He went all in with pocket
eights. His three opponents checked the
pot down and then poker player Ian Dobson
of the UK, making his fourth final table,
took all the chips with an ace-high flush
as Luske ended up with three pair.
All
six players were still in action when
limits moved up to $1,200-$2,400 with
$200 antes and a $400 bring-in. That didn't
last long. Jurgen bet his last $1,000
on sixth street holding buried aces and
couldn't catch Jelinek, who had started
with split kings and made kings and nines.
Marcus
Neuhoffer of Germany picked up a bunch
of chips against Dobson and Hooshang on
the 33rd hand when he turned up Ac-5c-2c
for a nut flush. The chips moved to Jelinek
a hand later. Neuhoffer bet seventh street
with two pair on board, representing a
full house. "I don't like it,"
Jelinek said. But he had to call with
his ace-high straight, which proved a
winner.
Hooshang
departed a few hands later. He started
with pocket kings and bet his last $1,000
on sixth street without improving. Dobson
began with (2-4)2 with one diamond, caught
four consecutive diamonds, and his flush
left Hooshang in fifth place.
Limits
went to $1,500-$3,000 with $300 antes
and a $500 bring-in on the next hand.
Oleg Shamardin, making his third final
table, dropped down to about $5,000 when
he folded on the river against Dobson,
who showed a pair and three hearts. But
he got it back on the next hand when he
was all in and beat Dobson with kings-up.
Midway
through the round, the players took a
short break. At that point, Jelinek led
with $37,100, followed by Dobson with
$23,800 and Neuhoffer with $21,600, while
Shamardin brought up the rear with $8,900.
Shamardin,
who comes all the way from St. Petersburg,
Russia, hung on for 16 more hands. On
the 62nd deal, limits were $2,000-$4,000,
with $400 antes and a $700 low card. On
sixth street, Shamardin showed 5-A-4-4
and bet all in for $2,600. With 2-3 in
the hole, he had made a wheel in five
cards. But it was no good because Neuhoffer,
starting with (Ks-10s)8s, had made a flush,
also on the first five cards.
The
field was now down to three, and there
were to be only three more hands before
it all ended. On the final deal, Dobson
had a door-card deuce with J-9 in the
hole. Neuhoffer, with (K-5)4, completed
the bet and Dobson, perhaps suspecting
an attempted steal, re-raised. On fifth
street, Neuhoffer paired his king, and
that did the trick. Dobson was all in
and the cards were dealt. "Seven-low,"
he said jokingly, as he ended up with
a great low hand of A-2-3-4-7-9-J.
A
chip count was taken. Jelinek had $49,000
to $42,000 for Neuhoffer and the two finalists
agreed to an even-money chop that ended
the tournament.
-- by Max Shapiro
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