‘Rocky
II’ is Points Winner!
A young small-limit side-game player who
declined to be identified, photographed
or interviewed to any meaningful degree
came out on top in the best all-around
points play-off that ended Winnin’ o’
the Green 2004. He asked to be identified
only as “Rocky.” However, since third-place
finisher Rocky Encino had prior rights
to the name, let’s call the winner “Rocky
II.”
First
place was a trip to Paris and entry into
the Grand Prix de Paris/WPT championship
event at the Aviation Club in July, but
Rocky II elected to take the discounted
cash value. Patrick Schulze, who earned
a 2004 Hyandai Elantra for finishing second,
said he “probably” would take the car.
Enciso, who won a Harley-Davidson for
third, took the cash.
Any
player with at least 10 points was entitled
to enter the $100 buy-in event. All players
were given 300 in chips along with 10
times their points. Rocky II, who arrived
at the final table as chip leader, started
out being by far the most aggressive player,
raising repeatedly, almost wildly. The
strategy paid off because he soon built
up a massive chip lead which he never
relinquished.
This
was a H.O.S.E. event (hold’em, Omaha,
stud and stud/8) which became no-limit
hold’em at the final table. Action started
with blinds of $300-$600 and $100 antes.
On the first hand, process server Eric
Hamilton raised all in for $1,300 with
A-9. Enciso raised another $1,500 with
pocket 7s, and Tim Fu called. Enciso moved
in on a flop of K-J-2 and made a set on
the turn to leave Hamilton in 10th place.
Three hands later, an all-in Alex Limjoco,
holding 7-5, had the lead when the board
showed K-9-5-8. Enciso had J-10, hit a
river 10, and Limjoco was gone. Then,
on the next hand, Fu raised to 20k with
Js-10s, and pro player Eric Chhor put
him in with A-K. “Bye, bye, I’m going
to Paris,” Chhor chirped when the flop
came K-10-6. Rocky II now turned up the
heat, raising at every opportunity. As
blinds went to $500-$1,000 with $200 antes,
he didn’t let up, and was soon past the
40k mark in chips. On hand 12 he busted
real estate broker Jack Gevshenian, who
called all in with pocket 8s after Rocky
II raised with A-Q. The board came 6-6-5-A-6
to give Rocky II had a bigger full house.
Then
Chhor tried a bluff, moving in for 12k
with only 7-2 on a board of K-8-6. He
managed to pair a deuce on the turn, but
it was too little too late because Rocky
II had called the flop with K-8, and kings
beat deuces. Only 14 hands and half the
table was gone. Jamshed Bokhari finished
fifth. He was a big favorite with A-Q
against the A-J held by retired doctor
Tony Morcos, until a jack flopped. After
blinds went to $800-$1,600 with $300 antes,
Doc Morcos, who had already gone all in
three times, finally went broke. He raised
all in for $1,500 and got calls from Schulz
and Enciso. The board of A-3-2-A-10 was
checked down, and Enciso pulled in the
pot with A-8.
A long negotiating session now ensued,
complicated because none of the three
players left wanted to go to Paris. “Are
you kidding?” exclaimed the German-surnamed
Schulze. “The last time one of my family
members went there, we lost the war.”
No deal was reached and play resumed with
Rocky II leading with 42,300 while Enciso
had 29,200 and Schulze, 20,700. Twenty
hands later, a short-chipped Enciso raised
all in with K-J. Rocky II had only 9h-7h,
but flopped two pair. The heads-up match
lasted only one hand. Seemingly wanting
to get it over with, Schulze raised for
his last 12k with J-4. Once again Rocky
II had 9-7, and once again he won with
two pair. Rocky II won’t be going to Paris,
but he can go anywhere he wants with his
cash-out.
BIOGRAPHY
Rocky II didn’t have much to say other
than to describe himself as a “rocket
scientist” (shouldn’t that be rocky scientist?),
that he’s only been playhing poker a few
years, that he doesn’t play many tournaments,
and that his poker playing revolves mainly
around small, blue chip side games.
“I
will say this, though,” he volunteered.
“I’ve played much better in other tournaments
without getting anywhere. Tonight I had
cards.”.
Max Shapiro
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