 |
World Poker Tour Insider
Top Gun: Scott Fischman outdraws to win "Young Guns of Poker"
by Oliver Tse
|
LAS VEGAS -- Former poker dealer turned professional poker player Scott Fischman won the World Poker Tour (WPT) "Young Guns of Poker" invitational freeroll tournament at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino.
By winning this winner-take-all tournament, Fischman earned a $25000 seat at the WPT Championship in April.
Fischman, who won 2 preliminary "bracelet" events at the 2004 World Series of Poker (WSOP), outlasted 5 other young players 24 years old or under who have appeared on major televised tournament final tables within the past 12 months.
On Hand 98 with blinds at 30000-60000, Fischman, who had over 1 million of the 1.5 million chips in play, raised to 400000 from the button. High stakes cash game player Joe Cassidy moved all in and Fischman called.
Even though Cassidy's As Qd dominated Fischman's Qh Jd and the flop of 8h 7c 4d did not help Fischman, the Jh fell on the turn to make one pair for Fischman. The 9c on the river eliminated Cassidy.
"Obviously, I pulled another Joe Awada," said Fischman to WPT commentator Mike Sexton. Fischman outdrew Awada during heads-up play at a WSOP preliminary event in May to avoid elimination.
Fischman, who started the heads up battle as the short stack with 565000 chips, took the chip lead from Cassidy on Hand 89. With blinds at 30000-60000, Cassidy moved all in from the button. Fischman thought for over a minute before calling. Fischman's Ad 3s stood up against Cassidy's 8h 9s on a board of 2s Qc Kh 5s 2h.
Cassidy, who finished 4th at the 2004 WPT Invitational at Commerce Casino in February, was philosophical in defeat.
"I'd like to be able to complain about the last hand, " said Cassidy. "You have to suck out in order to win a tournament like this."
Cassidy survived early elimination by outdrawing 2004 WSOP main event runner up David Williams on Hand 31 with blinds at 5000-10000. On a flop of 3d 3c 4c, Cassidy bet 22000, Williams raised to 62000, Cassidy re-raised all-in to 147000 and Williams called.
Williams' Qs 3s made three-of-a kind on the flop, but Cassidy had an inside straight draw. The 2d on the turn made the "wheel" straight for Cassidy, and the Jd on the river did not help 'Williams who was down to 26000 chips.
Even though Williams tripled up on Hand 32 with pocket queens, he was eliminated in 6th place by Fischman on Hand 45, when Fischman's Ah Qc was behind Williams' 5h 5s on a flop of 5d Qd 8d. 'The Qh on the turn made a full house for Williams, but the Qs fell on the river to make four-of-a kind for Fischman.
John D'Agostino, who finished 5th at the WPT "Caribbean Adventure" cruise in January and 2nd to Phil Ivey at a televised tournament at Turning Stone Casino in Upstate New York in July, was eliminated in 5th place by Cassidy on Hand 55.
With blinds at 12000-24000, D'Agostino moved his remaining 111000 chips all-in holding Qh Jc and ran into Cassidy's pocket kings. Cassidy's pair of kings stood up on a board of Jd 5s 2d Ah 8c.
Thomas "Thunder" Keller, who won a preliminary event at the 2004 WSOP, was eliminated in 4th place by Fischman on Hand 64.
Fischman opened the betting for 60000. Keller called from the big blind. Keller moved all-in on a flop of 9s 7h 3c and Fischman called. Keller's attempt to bluff failed as he showed Qc Tc while Fischman showed pocket queens. The 2c on the turn and the 7s on the river did not help Keller.
"Pistol" Pete Lawson, who finished 3rd at the Legends of Poker at the Bicycle Casino in suburban Los Angeles in August and won a televised tournament at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas in October, was eliminated in 3rd place on Hand 74 by Cassidy.
On a board of Tc 8d 2d, Lawson checked. Cassidy bet 400000 and Lawson called. Both check the 3c on the turn. When the 9d fell on the river, Lawson moved his remaining 225000 chips and Cassidy called. Cassidy made 2 pairs with 9d 2h while Lawson only made one pair with four-deuce offsuit.
Posted Monday, December 20th, 2004
By Oliver Tse
|
