[Be sure to visit the World Series of Poker live blog from Dr. Pauly. More photos are now in the 2005 WSOP Photo Gallery. Complete World Series of poker tournament results can be found at Poker Player Newspaper.]
It took Todd Witteles two chances at a final table this year before he won his first WSOP bracelet. He had to outlast a field of 406 players who were competing for a prize pool of $1,120,560. Todd also had to survive a final table that included the leading Player of the Year point leader in Cyndy Violette.
Twenty-five players began day two and during the first hour, the action was rapid. Players were dropping out fast, almost too fast for everyone to keep up. Daniel Negreanu and his short stack was one of the first players eliminated. Matt Matros, who started the day second in chips, took a huge hit when he was rivered. He had top pair with an average kicker and his opponent paired his kicker on the river.
Here are the final table seat assignments with chip counts:
Seat 1: Rafael Perry (Las Vegas, NV) $101K
Seat 2: Mike Nargi (Las Vegas, NV) $82K
Seat 3: Cyndy Violette (Atlantic City, NJ) $45K
Seat 4: Matt Hawrilenko (Philadelphia, PA) $110K
Seat 5: Daryl Mixan (Omaha, NE) $176K
Seat 6: Craig Crivello (Scottsdale, AZ) $67K
Seat 7: Todd Witteles (Las Vegas, NV) $212K
Seat 8: Eddie Scharf (Colgone, Germany) $95K
Seat 9: Kieu Duong (Mayslanding, NJ) $310K
Seat 10: Matt Matros (Brooklyn, NY) $23K
Here are some random facts about the final table players:
- Rafael Perry was born in Russia. He’s a professional poker player currently living in Las Vegas.
- Mike Nargi was born in New York City. He’s a professional gambler.
- Cyndy Violette is at her third final table of this year’s WSOP. She’s currently leading Player of the Year standings.
- Matt Hawrilenko was born in Boston and is a trader. He’s won three tournaments on various online sites. This is the second year he’s participated in the WSOP.
- Daryl Mixan is currently with the Coast Guard and is stationed in Alaska. This is his first WSOP.
- Craig Crivello was born in Wisconsin. He cashed in the 2004 WSOP main event.
- Todd Witteles is at his second final table at this year’s WSOP. He is known as “Dan Druff” and is a cash game specialist.
- Eddie Scharf is at his second final table this year. He’s a pilot from Germany and has two WSOP bracelets.
- Kieu Duong is a housewife and she has made final tables at both Taj Mahal and at Foxwoods.
- Matt Matros is a professional poker player and writer from Brooklyn, NY.
Todd Witteles cracked Eddie Sharf’s pocket aces with a river flush. Eddie was down to just one chip. A few hands earlier, Cyndy Violette scooped a huge pot. After doubling up and then quadrupling up, Eddie Sharf moved all in with Q-J against Matts’ pocket tens. Matt’s hand held up and Eddie was knocked out in 10th place. He won $13,445.
Matt Matros was eliminated in 9th place. He took a huge hit when someone sucked out a flush on him. With a small stack, he was all in with A-Q and lost to Todd Witness’ J-10. Matt said, “I can’t stop the flushes from hitting.” Matt Matros collected $22,410 for his work.
Mike Nargi and his short stack was just busted in 8th place by Craig Crivello’s A-J. Nargi won $33,615. With Ad-9d Cyndy Violette doubled up with her small stack when she caught a flush. Unfortunately, she was busted soon after and finished in 7th place. She moved all in preflop and Rafael Perry won with A-A. Cyndy took home $44,820.
Craig Crivello was knocked out in 6th place. Craig’s 6-6 did not hold up against Todd Witteles A-10. Craig won $56,030 for 6th place. Matt Hawrilenko moved all in on board of Q-7-5-9. Kieu Duong called with Q-J. Hawrilenko showed Q-6. The river was no help and Hawrilenko finished in 5th. He won $67,235.
Rafael Perry moved all in preflop with 2-2 against Todd Witteles’ Qc-Jc. Witteles caught a Jack on the turn and Perry was eliminated in 4th place. He won $78,440. Kieu Duong moved all in preflop against Todd Witteles and his Kd-6d. Duong showed Ac-4c and led all the way until the river when a King fell on the river. Kieu Duong finished in 3rd place. She earned $89,645. We reached heads up play. Todd Witteles had almost a 2 to 1 chiplead.
After ninety minutes of heads up play, Daryl Mixen was eliminated in second place. On a board of K-8-7-10, Daryl Mixan moved all in. Todd Witteles showed two pair 10-7 and Mixan only had top pair with K-6. The river didn’t help Daryl Mixan, and he was eliminated in 2nd place. Daryl Mixan won $179,385. Todd Witteles won $347,385 and his first gold bracelet.