News

Stateline, NV - The 2006-07 World Series of Poker Circuit has begun! Entering its third consecutive year, the world's largest and most prestigious poker tournament series now runs year around, from coast to coast.  Harvey's Lake Tahoe, owned by Harrah's Entertainment, is the first stop of season number three.

"The 2006 World Series of Poker was the largest poker tournament ever in history," said Jack Effel, Director of Poker Operations for Harrah's Entertainment.  "Now, the World Series has evolved into a year-around attraction.  The tremendous appeal of all the WSOPC events is that poker players everywhere can now experience the same excitement that they see in Las Vegas and on television - but much closer to home."

Indeed, the Harrah's Lake Tahoe event attracts players from all over the West.  Nestled in the pine forests of beautiful South Lake Tahoe, this circuit stop has rapidly turned into one of the most popular poker destinations of the year.  Two year's ago, this circuit stop hosted the largest poker tournament ever held in Northern Nevada.  The number of participants continues to be strong as evidenced by the 262 players who entered the first WSOPC tournament of the new season.

 After 253 players were eliminated on Day One, the nine finalists returned for the final table on Day Two.  Chris Carmichael and Bill Hans both enjoyed decisive chip advantages versus the remainder of the table.  In fact, Carmichael and Hans possessed about 60 percent of the total chips when play resumed at the final table.  Seating order and chips counts were as follows: 

SEAT 1 - Bill Hans   94,700
SEAT 2 - "Tony E"    68,800
SEAT 3 - Steve Dick   6,900
SEAT 4 - Michael Yoshihara  6,200
SEAT 5 - Sergio Osadchuk  29,400
SEAT 6 - Chris Carmichael  114,700
SEAT 7 - Aaron Donovan  28,300
SEAT 8 - Rickies Miller  13,800
SEAT 9 - Bill Goulet   29,500

The final table was played on the second floor of the Harvey's Casino-Resort, adjacent to the Hard Rock Café and the Sports and Racebook, filled to capacity on a Saturday afternoon.  This final table was completed in near-record time.  It took less than two hours to determine the final outcome.  This was the second-quickest final table on record for WSOPC events.  The fastest final table played to completion -- which clocked in at just under two hours -- took place at Harrah's New Orleans in 2005.  Players were eliminated in the following order:

9th Place - Steve Dick was helplessly short-stacked.  Five minutes into play, he picked up a powerful hand and moved all-in with A-K.  Chip leader Chris Carmichael was quick to make the call, holding Q-Q.  The pocket queens held up, and Dick was the first to be eliminated.  The granite fabricator nicknamed "Yukon," who lives in Chester, California collected $1,525 in prize money.

8th Place - A few hands later, Bill Goulet was low on chips and made his final stand with Q-7.  Bill Hans had his opponent easily covered and called with A-Q.  Goulet was dominated and failed to pull off the upset.  Goulet, a salesman from San Ramon, California received $2,287 in prize money.  

7th Place - Michael Yoshihara had arrived on the second day as the lowest stack.  He managed to move two spots up the money ladder before busting out in seventh place.  Yoshihara doubled through once, then lost his final hand of the night with A-8 versus Chris Carmichael's A-J. The better hand won, and Japanese-born Yoshihara, who now lives in Reno, said "sayonara." Yoshihara's earnings amounted to $3,050.

6th Place - Carmichael's hatchet job continued.  Rickies W. Miller was chopped next when his K-9 was trounced by Carmichael's A-9.  Both players flopped three-of-a-kind when the board showed 9-9-2.  But Carmichael ended up holding the better kicker (ace versus king) and won the big pot.  Miller, a poker dealer from Sacramento, collected $3,812 for sixth place.

5th Place -- The blistering pace of eliminations went on.  Only 45 minutes into play, the fifth player went out when Aaron Donovan took A-4 up against Bill Hans' A-8.  Once again, the superior hand prevailed.  Aaron Donovan, a small business owner from Glendale, California (nicknamed the train) was derailed in fifth place.  He received $4,575 in prize money.

4th Place - Chris Carmichael seemed to be ‘the player' to beat during the final rounds.  However, he took a series of tough beats late that left him low on chips.  Down to his last 31K, Carmichael was dealt K-J and moved all-in hoping to steal the blinds and antes.  The sizable raise was called by Sergio Osadchuk, holding K-Q.  Both players flopped a pair with the board showed Q-J-3.  But in reality, Carmichael's situation had gone from bad to worse.  Essentially down to just two outs (the remaining jacks), he failed to improve, and exited disappointingly in fourth place.  Carmichael, who works in a restaurant in Sacramento, was served prize money totaling $5,337.

3rd Place - The worst beat of the night belonged to Tony E.  Earlier, when play was six-handed, Tony was dealt pocket aces and flopped an ace.  His opponent, Sergio Osadchuk had A-K and moved all-in holding top pair, with top kicker.  Tony couldn't move his chips into the pot fast enough with the huge hand - three aces.  But poker is an unpredictable game.  Remarkably, the final board showed A-Q-J-7-10, which made a straight for Osadchuck, holding a king.  That miracle catch catapulted him up into third place, instead of sixth.  Osadchuk, a restaurant manager from San Rafael, California agreed to a three-player deal and was officially listed as the third-place finisher.
  
2nd Place - "Tony E" (real name Dino Erardi) took second place.  The 45-year-old real estate broker from Stockton, California agreed to a deal with Osadchuk and Hans.

1st Place - The official winner was Bill Hans, a 56-year-old poker player from Wenatchee, Washington.  Hans owns multiple upscale coffee shops in the Pacific Northwest.  Hans officially collected first prize totaling $24,401. Hans had previously finished in the money twice on last year's Circuit, with two such appearances at Harrah's Rincon (San Diego).  This was his first major tournament victory.

       
For more information, please contact: Nolan Dalla -- WSOP Media Director at (702) 358-4642
Or visit our official website: http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com

World Series of Poker Commissioner - Jeffrey Pollack
Director of Poker Operations for Harrah's Entertainment - Jack Effel
Harrah's Lake Tahoe Race and Sportsbook Manager - Steve Schorr
Harvey's Lake Tahoe Poker Room Manager - Vince Contaxis