2007 WSOP Circuit Main Event - New Orleans

Monday, December 10, 2007 | Francis Lee

The World Series of Poker Circuit tour was in the city of New Orleans at the Harrah’s casino. 160 players entered the $5,000 buy in main event creating a total prize pool of $765,000. There were a number of the well known poker players around at the start of play with the likes of Chris Moneymaker, Robert Williamson III, Phil Gordon and Kido Pham to name a few.

At the end of the second days play we were left with the final nine players to battle it out on the final table. Josh Arieh was leading the chip rankings on $510,000 in chips, with a good sized lead over second placed David Fox on $324,000. Andy Philacheck and Lou Esposito were the short stacked players both with under $35,000 and needed to make a good start to have a chance.

Final Table Chip Rankings:

• 1st Josh Arieh $510,000
• 2nd David Fox $324,000
• 3rd Ted McCollum $252,500
• 4th Leonard Pruzansky $174,000
• 5th Bruce F. Macgregor $123,500
• 6th Philip Sparta, Jr. $85,500
• 7th Nic Gellepis $65,000
• 8th Andy Philachack $35,000
• 9th Lou Esposito $20,500

Both the short stacked players made an early stand at the start of play on the final table with opposite effects. First Andy Philacheck doubled up against Nic Gellepis with against On the next hand of play Lou Esposito moved All In with and was called by Gellepis with Both players missed the board showing knocking Esposito out in 9th place.

The fast pace didn’t stop here as on the next hand of play Philip Sparta was called All In with against Ted McCollom with pocket Three’s. The small pocket pair held up as Sparta hit no piece of the board and collected $22,950 in 8th place.

Four hands later Philachack was in the action again moving All In with pocket Tens. He was called by McCollom with pocket Aces, and things were looking bleak for Philachack. The Flop and Turn was no help to him coming down but the River gave him the pot coming down with the trebling Philachack’s stack up.

This set back didn’t stop McCollom as on the next hand of play he eliminated Bruce MacGregor in a coin flip situation. He called Bruce All In with pocket Sixes against The Sixes held up with the final board coming down leaving Bruce to head for the rail in 7th place.

After this frantic start play settled down and we had to wait for just under 50 hands before the next knockout hand came about. Nic Gellepis opened the betting by moving All In, this was followed by Lenny Pruzansky moving All his chips into the middle as well for exactly the same amount of chips as Gellepis. Josh Areih thought for a while before making the call revealing pocket Nines. Lenny had and in the lead was Gellepis with pocket Jacks. The Flop came down giving Areih the lead but Lenny had a flush draw and Gellepis needed a Jack or runner runner straight to have a chance. Amazingly the came down on the Turn like a final nail being slammed into a coffin, ending both Lenny’s and Gellepis’s tournament there and then. They both split the 5th and 6th placed prize money, as both had entered the hand with the same amount of chips.

Only a few hands had passed and we were down to the final three players. David Fox moved All In with pocket Sixes and was called by Philachack with It looked like Fox was about to pick up the pot with the first four cards coming down but the came down on the River ending his tournament in 4th place winning $61,200.

Ted McCollom was looking good to make the final two before loosing two big hands in a row which ended his tournament. First he doubled Philachack up loosing with pocket Sixes against On the next hand of play he was called All In against Areih after the Flop came down Areih had and McCollom had a flush draw with The on the Turn ended his hopes as he was drawing dead on the River, McCollom won $76,500 coming in 3rd place.

Both players had almost an even amount in chips with Philachack just ahead. Play only lasted four hands. The final hand came after both players limped in and the Flop came down Both players bet into the pot until they were All In. Areih had with two pair but Philachack had with a better two pair. The on the turn left Areih needing a Nine on the River to survive. The came down to end the tournament handing Andy Philachack the win collecting $247,860 and the WSOP Championship circuit ring. A great come back for Philachack considering his starting position at this final table.

Final Standings:

• 1st Andy Philachack $247,860
• 2nd Josh Arieh $130,050
• 3rd Ted McCollum $76,500
• 4th David Fox $61,200
• 5th Lenny Pruzansky $42,075
• 6th Nic Gellepis $42,075
• 7th Bruce Macgregor $30,600
• 8th Philip Sparta $22,950
• 9th Lou Esposito $15,300

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