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ALMOST FIRST OUT, ANTHONY SWIFT ENDS UP WINNING HARVEYS EVENT #4, $500 NO-LIMIT
Stateline, NV—Anthony Swift, a 34-year-old shoe importer from Sacramento, California, made an astonishing recovery today. Down to 400 chips after 30 minutes of play, he was all in with pocket 5s, about to be the first player knocked out.
Instead, he made a straight on the river, tripled up, was never all in again. He ended up in first place in the fourth event of the WSOP Circuit stop at Harveys Lake Tahoe, $500 no-limit. First officially paid $36,543, but when this event ended abruptly with a seven-way even chop, he was declared the winner, and actually pocketed $14,526, the same as the other six.
9th place: With blinds at 6,000-12,000, we lost our first player. Chao moved in with As-Qs, and Allan Jacobi had an easy call with pocket kings. Chao couldn’t catch up and finished ninth, paying $2,383.
8th place: Immediately afterwards, Tat Le put his last chips in with Ac-Jc. Drew Marks called with Q-8, outdrawing Le when a board of Q-5-4-6-2 paired his queen. For eighth, Le picked up $3,310. Originally from Vietnam, Le, 39, now lives in Sacramento, California, employed as a mill worker. He’s played three years, learning from TV, and this is his first Circuit event.
The level ended, and…that’s all folks! The remaining seven now made a deal, to a certain degree dictated by tax consequences, since each player had to sign for the full amount corresponding to his finish.
7th place: Marks ended up seventh, officially paying $4,502. Marks is 40, from El Dorado Hills, California, and in the communications business. He cashed 16th last year at the $5,000 main event here. His hobby is being a dad.
6th place: Danny Lindner officially got $5,958 for sixth. Lindner is a 22-year-old full-time student from Chico, California. He learned poker online four years ago and also likes basketball and working out.
5th place: This spot officially paid Jacobi $7,547. Jacobi, 52, is a financial advisor from Moraga, California. He started playing with friends back in high school. He had a cash in the first WSOP event he played two years ago and made a final table at a Vegas Circuit event in April. His hobby is watching his daughter play soccer and softball.
4th place: Richard Orchid’s official payout was $10,195. Orchid, 52, is a project manager for a commercial general contracting firm. He lives in Chico, California and has played six years, learning by “losing money.” He has two prior final tables at Harveys, finished 100th out of 2,707 players at the WSOP Seniors event this year. He also has two World Poker Tour preliminary event final tables along with other multiple wins.
3rd place: Foundation’s official payment for third was $14,962. Foundation is a 38-year-old poker player, formerly a retail business owner, from Twain Harte, California. He began playing at a friendly Wednesday night game. He’s been playing seriously for two years and his hobbies are boating and four-wheeling.
2nd place: John McFarland was runner-up, officially paying $31,979. McFarland is 42, lives in San Rafael, California, and is a consultant.
1st place: Swift has been in the shoe import business for 10 years, and that’s how long he’s been playing poker. This is only his second Circuit try. His tournament action generally is at the local Casino Royale where he’s won numerous morning tournaments, seven in the past month. The owner’s son might stake him in the $5,000 main event here, and in the meantime, he’ll be playing more events.
Swift describes his style of play as tight but aggressive. When he got to the final table, he analyzed the players and said he liked his chances. His recreation is long walks on the beach. –Max Shapiro
