Event #1: 2006 Casino Employees World Championship

2006 World Series of Poker ath the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino - Las Vegas: Official Report

Casino Employees World Championship: No-Limit Hold'em

Number of Entries: 1,232
Total Prize Money: $554,850

Official Results (Final Table):

Chris Gros Wins First Event at the 2006 World Series of Poker!

Casino Employees World Poker Championship Shatters All-Time Attendance Record - with 1,232 Entries

Las Vegas, NV -- On most days and nights, players in the "Casino Employees World Poker Championship" can be found providing customer service to the guests of their respective casino and hotel properties. On this day however, the concept of hospitality was the farthest thing from any of their minds.
As well it should have been.
The all-time record field of 1,232 participants competed for a total prize pool of $554,850 in the traditional kick-off to the six-week long World Series of Poker Tournament held at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino. The tournament paid out the top 101 finishers as follows:

1. Chris Gros  Henderson, NV  $127,506
2. Bryan Devonshire Burnsville, MN  $66,582
3. R.J. Wright  Las Vegas, NV  $38,531
4. Scott Clark  Las Vegas, NV  $22,720
5. Christopher Himmenger Las Vegas, NV  $22,176
6. Craig Federspiel Las Vegas, NV  $19,404
7. David Wortham  Hemet, CA  $16,632
8. Marsha Waggoner  Downey, CA  $13,860
9. Barry Goldberg  Las Vegas, NV  $12,474
10. Alejandro Posso  Sunrise, FL  $11,088
11. Rodney Lacsamana Temecula, CA  $10,256
12. Eric Losee  Mt. Pleasant, MI $9,425
13. Jackson Young  Las Vegas, NV  $8,593
14. Melissa Poff  THC, Indiana  $7,762
15. Florian Sutalo  Renton, WA  $6,930
16. Eric Rindal  Aurora, IL  $6,098
17. Lance Dillenberg    $5,267
18. Ed Martin  Las Vegas, NV  $4,435
19. Lydia Chang  Las Vegas, NV  $3,604
20. Randall Garza  Henderson, NV  $3,604
21. Angeliot Trinidad Las Vegas, NV  $3,604
22. Ngoc Dang  Santee, CA  $3,604
23. Ronald Marks  Las Vegas, NV  $3,604
24. Aaron Bass  Las Vegas, NV  $3,604
25. Michael Jones  Tampa, FL  $3,604
26. Thanh Huyntt  Las Vegas, NV  $3,604
27. Frederick Narciso Las Vegas, NV  $3,604
28. Bryan Connole  Palm Springs, CA $2,772
29. Sonny Lee  Las Vegas, NV  $2,772
30. Inti Garcia  Las Vegas, NV  $2,772
31. Jonathan Job  Houston, TX  $2,772
32. Brian Petersen  Las Vegas, NV  $2,772
33. Michael Bond  Las Vegas, NV  $2,772
34. Gregory Eichhorn Las Vegas, NV  $2,772
35. John Vasher  Lake Orion, MI  $2,772
36. Dustin Howes  Hayward, CA  $2,772
37. Arnim Temmler  Dortmund, GM  $2,218
38. Jason Seitz  Shakopee, MN  $2,218
39. Michael Enea  Stockton, CA  $2,218
40. Gerold Hills  Gilbert, AZ  $2,218
41. Lucia Gabor  Las Vegas, NV  $2,218
42. Marcus Pruitt  Los Angeles, CA  $2,218
43. Lorinda Ahlgren  Las Vegas, NV  $2,218
44. Robert Pacleb  Vallejo, CA  $2,218
45. Gregory Brenner  Palm Desert, CA  $2,218
46. Curisa Schweibenger N/A $1,663
47. Edward Long  El Cajon, CA  $1,663
48. Brian White  Las Vegas, NV  $1,663
49. Keith Maclaine  Las Vegas, NV  $1,663
50. Kyle Weurding  Las Vegas, NV  $1,663
51. Kelly Dora  St. Clair Shores, MI $1,663
52. Matthew Voorhees Englewood, CO  $1,663
53. Phillip Wong  Mesa, AZ  $1,663
54. John Hopkins  El Caton, CA  $1,663
55. Henry Karevowski Incline Village, NV $1,386
56. Nikkailette Letran Keiut, WA  $1,386
57. Jake Nowatchik  Milwaukie, OR  $1,386
58. Charles Clark  Windbear, PA  $1,386
59. Michael Allen  Las Vegas, NV  $1,386
60. Donnalee Polgar  Las Vegas, NV  $1,386
61. Victor Randall  New Caney, TX  $1,386
62. William Hagen  San Jose, CA  $1,386
63. Lenoidas Vargas  Las Vegas, NV  $1,386
64. Thomas Shue  Las Vegas, NV  $1,109
65. Richard Pecorello Sherrill, NY  $1,109
66. Anthony Zeichick Las Vegas, NV  $1,109
67. Scott Bean Jr.  Reno, NV  $1,109
68. Matthew Rhinerson Las Vegas, NV  $1,109
69. Todd Dobereiner  Davenport, IA  $1,109
70. Shawn Karmil  Mill Creek, WA  $1,109
71. Matthew Hardesty Las Vegas, NV  $1,109
72. Richard T. Gatewood Las Vegas, NV  $1,109
73. Randall Shur  Henderson, CO  $1,109
74. David Day  Las Vegas, NV  $1,109
75. Joseph Bodrogi  Henderson, NV  $1,109
76. Patrick Filomena Henderson, NV  $1,109
77. Joseph Bilckenstaff Henderson, NV  $1,109
78. Scott Johnson  Las Vegas, NV  $1,109
79. Jobie Cross  Marana, AZ  $1,109
80. Stephen Angeles  Las Vegas, NV  $1,109
81. Unknown   Unknown   $1,109
82. Amanda G. Wheeler Las Vegas, NV  $832
83. Mohammad Fathipour Woodland Hills, CA $832
84. Neal Lipman  Las Vegas, NV  $832
85. Brian David Kooymar Hanford, CA  $832
86. Woody Rivero  Las Vegas, NV  $832
87. Ari Mzrachi  Las Vegas, NV  $832
88. Lisa Brumbeloe  Auburn, CA  $832
89. Richard Haughey  Las Vegas, NV  $832
90. James W. Riley III Las Vegas, NV  $832
91. Jesse Petrakis  Napa, CA  $832
92. Justo Gutrerrez Arruyo  Seco, NM  $832
93. Robert Alan Vaneerde Las Vegas, NV  $832
94. James Margellos  Las Vegas, NV  $832
95. Ashley Young  Pleasanton, CA  $594
96. Curtis Wood  Las Vegas, NV  $594
97. James Gorczyca  Henderson, NV  $594
98. Hank Ritchey  Las Vegas, NV  $594
99. Ryan Kirk  Federal Way, WA  $594
100. Brian Johnson  Arcata, CA  $594
101. Joshua McBroom  Las Vegas, NV  $594

The ten players at the final table were an array of individuals vying for the $127,616 first prize and coveted WSOP championship gold bracelet. The lone female finalist, Marsha Waggoner was unwavering when asked how she felt as the only woman at the table. "This is where I belong," she replied with a confident grin.

10th Place Finisher -- Alejandro Posso.

After a spell of little action in the early rounds, Alejandro Posso moved all-in with pocket kings. For Posso, opportunity quickly turned into a devastating instance of bad timing as Christopher Himmenger called and showed pocket aces. The flop of 3h 3c 8h did nothing for Posso, representing The Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The turn showed the 4d, while a Qs on the river sealed the Columbian-born poker dealer's 10th place finish.

9th Place Finisher -- Barry Goldberg

A little more than an hour later, Barry Goldberg moved all in with Ac-Jd and R.J. Wright quickly called. Wright's dominating Ad-Qc ended Goldberg's bid as the flop showed 9s, 10s, 3d followed by a benign 5d at the turn and a 10d on the river.

8th Place Finisher -- Marsha Waggoner

The Brisbane, Australia native took home $13,860 after finishing in 8th place. An executive host for Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California, Waggoner beat out 1,227 other competitors before being eliminated.

7th Place Finisher -- David Wortham

Originally from Atlanta, GA, Wortham played a tight game at the final table, doubling-up when the opportunity presented itself. However, what seemed to be an opportunity turned into a bust as his pocket Queens were trumped by Bryan Devonshire's pocket Aces. Luck was not a lady that night as Devonshire's rockets held-up against Wortham.

6th Place Finisher -- Craig Federspiel

Moving all-in with pocket Jacks, Federspiel was called by Chris Gros who turned over what else? Pocket Aces. The Mirage Las Vegas dealer originally from Louisville, KY who holds a Bachelor's Degree from UNC Chapel Hill was eliminated as Gros's aces held up.

5th Place Finisher-Chris Himmenger

With the blinds increased to $4,000-$8,000, Chris Himmenger moved all-in for $49,000 and R.J. Wright obliged. Himmenger, a waiter at Binion's Casino in Las Vegas, turned over As-6h. Wright showed 10s-9s. The flop came 2c - 7c - 7s. An 8h at the turn gave Wright an open-ended straight draw while the Jh on the river completed the straight and busted Himmenger.

4th Place Finisher -- Scott Clark

After watching his colossal chip-count slowly diminish, Clark, a 25-year old dealer at the Rio Las Vegas, pushed his remaining stack into the pot. Once again, R.J. Wright sensed opportunity and called. Clark, or "Scooter" as his friends and family affectionately call him, showed pocket fives. Wright turns over Ad-3s. It was bad news for Clark as the flop showed Ac, 4s, 9c. Wright eliminated his third opponent at the final table as the turn came with an 8s and the river showed Qc.

3rd place Finisher -- R.J. Wright

Only a couple of hands later, the "eliminator" became the "eliminated" when Wright went all-in after a flop of 6d, 2d, 2h, re-raising Chris Gros's 200K bet. Gros called and showed Ks-Qs. Wright, a New Jersey native and dealer at the Luxor in Las Vegas, turned over the better hand, As-5d. The turn brought the 3h. A Kc on the river prompted a loud eruption from spectators as Wright was eliminated.

Heads-Up Action -- Chris Gros vs. Bryan Devonshire

After a number of alternating re-raises and folds between the two finalists, Gros, a dealer at Caesar's Palace, called 24-year-old Devonshire's 30K pre-flop re-raise. After a flop of 3s, 3d, 8h, Devonshire, a semi-professional poker player from Burnsville, MN bet $45,000. Gros re-raised to 100K and Devonshire moved all-in. Chris Gros, a St. Louis native who holds a Bachelor's Degree in Biology called and revealed that he caught trip 3's with 4h,-3c in his hand. Devonshire turned over Ac-Kc. A 10h at the turn and a 7s on the river made Gros the champion of the opening 2006 World Series of Poker event.

"Oh my God," replied Gros when asked how it felt to be a WSOP bracelet winner. "I don't know what's more exiting, not having to make another mortgage payment or winning the bracelet. It is something that I will always have."

by Alan Fowler (WSOP Staff)

Note: All content in this report may be re-printed by media.

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World Series of Poker Commissioner – Jeffrey Pollack

Director of Sports and Entertainment Marketing (Licensing) -- Ty Stewart

Director of Sports and Entertainment Marketing (Communications) – Gary Thompson

Vice President of Specialty Gaming -- Howard Greenbaum

WSOP Tournament Director – Robert Daily

WSOP Tournament Director / Director of Poker Operations for Harrah's Entertainment – Jack Effel