News
Cheong is the Champ
Mar 22 2010 08:03 PM EST
Valley Center, CA – Joseph Cheong dominated the most recent WSOP Circuit tournament in a way that has not been seen in quite some time. The 23-year-old professional poker player from La Miranda, CA patiently took his seat at the most recent tournament Final Table held at the Harrah’s Rincon Casino and Resort and proceeded to demolish the final nine players en route to his biggest live cash, to date.
From the moment Cheong sat down, he seemed the player to beat. No one could derail Cheong’s mission and the flurry of cards which propelled him to his first major tournament win.
From the moment Cheong sat down, he seemed the player to beat. No one could derail Cheong’s mission and the flurry of cards which propelled him to his first major tournament win.
Cheong was born in Seoul, South Korea. He is a recent college graduate. After knocking out six of the final nine players at this Final Table, he ended up scooping the biggest prize of his young career, a payout totaling $17,541. Cheong was also presented with his first gold ring, the coveted award which is presented to all champions of WSOP Circuit tournaments held around the country. This was Cheong’s first time to cash in a WSOP Circuit tournament. He has previously cashed at a few tournaments held in Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Final Table play began on a Saturday night and was held inside The Pavilion at Rincon. There were no prior WSOP Circuit event winners amongst the final nine players, thus guaranteeing a first-time champion. Raney Stanczak, from Carlsbad, CA began play with a decisive chip advantage. In fact, he had about 25 percent of the total chips in play when "Shuffle Up and Deal" was announced.
Two other players – Jeffrey Jack and Brandon Bowyer – appeared to be within striking distance. But it was Joseph Cheong who made an early move and seized momentum during much of the five-hour finale. Cheong posed the biggest threat to Stanczak and eventually seized the chip lead, culminating in an impressive victory in heads-up plays against Dave Williams, the runner up.
Two other players – Jeffrey Jack and Brandon Bowyer – appeared to be within striking distance. But it was Joseph Cheong who made an early move and seized momentum during much of the five-hour finale. Cheong posed the biggest threat to Stanczak and eventually seized the chip lead, culminating in an impressive victory in heads-up plays against Dave Williams, the runner up.
The nine finalists and their starting chip counts were as follows:.
| Seat | Player | Hometown | Chip Count |
| 1 | Sean "the Dog" Stewart | Chino Hills, CA | 79,000 |
| 2 | William Guerend | Canyon Country, CA | 115,000 |
| 3 | Raney Stanczak | Carlsbad, CA | 444,000 |
| 4 | John Hernandez | San Diego, CA | 125,000 |
| 5 | Dave Williams | San Marcos, CA | 207,000 |
| 6 | Jeffrey Jack | Providence, RI | 300,000 |
| 7 | Dave Caserta | Vista, CA | 88,000 |
| 8 | Brandon Bowyer | Oceanside, CA | 340,000 |
| 9 | Joseph Cheong | La Miranda, CA | 167,000 |
Players were eliminated in the following order:
Tenth Place: Savage Ravaged
David "Da Piper" Savage, a teacher from Encinitas, CA was the first player to be expelled from the finale. He moved all in on his last hand in what became a three-way pot, holding 
. Savage went up against two opponents – holding 
and 
. The flop almost eliminated Savage from the moment it was revealed, when 
showed. Then, things went from very bad to impossible when two more aces fell, giving Joseph Cheong (with ) quad aces. This was Savage’s first time to cash in a WSOP-related tournament. However, he has won two small tournaments played at a nearby casino near San Diego. Tenth place paid $1,312.
. Savage went up against two opponents – holding and . The flop almost eliminated Savage from the moment it was revealed, when showed. Then, things went from very bad to impossible when two more aces fell, giving Joseph Cheong (with ) quad aces. This was Savage’s first time to cash in a WSOP-related tournament. However, he has won two small tournaments played at a nearby casino near San Diego. Tenth place paid $1,312. Ninth Place: Retiree Retired
A few hands later, William Guerend was knocked out when his was bested by John Hernandez, who held 
. Guerend failed to make a pair, which resulted in his early dismissal. Guerend, a retiree who lives in Canyon Country, CA received a poker pension totaling $1,497.
was bested by John Hernandez, who held . Guerend failed to make a pair, which resulted in his early dismissal. Guerend, a retiree who lives in Canyon Country, CA received a poker pension totaling $1,497. Eighth Place: Brandon Bowyer Bounced
Brandon Bowyer, who works in sales and lives in Oceanside, CA came into the finale with high expectations, based on his third-best chip count. But nothing went right for Bowyer, who lost his remaining stack with 
, which ended up losing to Joseph Cheong’s 
. Bowyer flopped a pair and pushed all of his chips into the pot, but Cheong flopped two pair and made the instant call. Bowyer failed to improve which ultimately led to his eighth place finish. He collected $1,765.
, which ended up losing to Joseph Cheong’s . Bowyer flopped a pair and pushed all of his chips into the pot, but Cheong flopped two pair and made the instant call. Bowyer failed to improve which ultimately led to his eighth place finish. He collected $1,765. Seventh Place: Jack Cracked
Jeffrey Jack, a student from Providence, RI was short stacked and pushed all in with 
. His raise was called by John Hernandez, who showed pocket 9’s. Jack failed to connect with one of his overcards and ended up as the seventh place finisher. Jack, who served in the U.S. Navy Band for six years, could trumpet his winnings from this event, which amounted to $2,177.
. His raise was called by John Hernandez, who showed pocket 9’s. Jack failed to connect with one of his overcards and ended up as the seventh place finisher. Jack, who served in the U.S. Navy Band for six years, could trumpet his winnings from this event, which amounted to $2,177. Sixth Place: Chip Leader Bites "The Dog"
Sean "the Dog" Stewart came to the final table with the smallest stack, yet was able to last nearly two hours before being eliminated. On his final hand, he was dealt 
and ran into Raney Stanczak’s . Stanczak flopped a nine, which nearly left Stewart drawing dead. He ended up settling for $3,262 inn prize money. This marked Stewart’s third time to cash in a WSOP Circuit event at Harrah’s Rincon and was his second final table appearance.
and ran into Raney Stanczak’s . Stanczak flopped a nine, which nearly left Stewart drawing dead. He ended up settling for $3,262 inn prize money. This marked Stewart’s third time to cash in a WSOP Circuit event at Harrah’s Rincon and was his second final table appearance. Fifth Place: C.O.O. is O.U.T.
Dave Caserta, a chief operating officer from Vista, CA, enjoyed what was arguably the most impressive Final Table run of anyone. He began play with one of the lowest stacks, yet managed to climb all the way to fifth place. He was eliminated when he moved all in with 
against Joseph Cheong’s 
. The final board came 
which gave both players a pair of aces. But Cheong’s 8s played as the kicker and put Caserta out of the tournament. He received a nice payout totaling $4,347.
against Joseph Cheong’s . The final board came which gave both players a pair of aces. But Cheong’s 8s played as the kicker and put Caserta out of the tournament. He received a nice payout totaling $4,347. Fourth Place: Hernandez Heads Home
John Hernandez, a fence installer from San Diego, CA posted blinds for about three hours before finally losing a race against Joseph Cheong. Hernandez was dealt against Cheong’s . The board came 
[Ah , which gave Cheong two pair with his pocket 8’s. Hernandez could certainly be proud of his fourth place finish, which paid $5,432.
against Cheong’s . The board came [Ah , which gave Cheong two pair with his pocket 8’s. Hernandez could certainly be proud of his fourth place finish, which paid $5,432.Third Place: Early Chip Leader Busts
Raney Stanczak played an outstanding tournament, but lost his momentum late, resulting in a third place finish. He watched helplessly as Joseph Cheong took over the chip lead and dominated the later states of the tournament. Stanszak managed to double up a few times and moved back into contention, but he was knocked out by his adversary late when he moved all in with 
. Cheong insta-called with 
and watched happily as five blanks fell on board, making the pocket Q’s the best hand. Stanczak, a student who has played Paintball professionally, earned $7,609 in his first time to cash in a WSOP Circuit event.
. Cheong insta-called with and watched happily as five blanks fell on board, making the pocket Q’s the best hand. Stanczak, a student who has played Paintball professionally, earned $7,609 in his first time to cash in a WSOP Circuit event.Second Place: Dave Williams is Runner Up
Dave Williams, a 41-year-old contractor from San Marcos, CA nailed down second place and $10,727. He has previously made it to WSOP Circuit Final Tables at Rincon. But this was his highest finish ever. Williams ran out of steam when he took a tough beat on the last hand of the night. He seemed likely to double up when he moved all in with Jh Jc and was called by Cheong, who showed 
. But a K on the flop ruined Williams’ hopes. The final board showed 
, giving Cheong two pair, and the victory.
. But a K on the flop ruined Williams’ hopes. The final board showed , giving Cheong two pair, and the victory. First Place: Cheong Becomes Champion
Last year, Joseph Cheong graduated with a degree from the University of California at San Diego. He has plans to work in investments, but also has serious ambitions to play poker over the next few years. His victory paid $17,541 in prize money, plus his first WSOP Circuit gold ring. Cheong says he intends to play in the remaining WSOPC events at Rincon, followed by the series at Caesars Las Vegas in April. He will also play in the WSOP this summer. Cheong’s goal is to win a few more WSOPC rings, then win his first gold bracelet.
