BINION'S HORSESHOE -- LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
PRESS RELEASE
APRIL 27, 2003
2003 WORLD SERIES OF POKER
Binion's Horseshoe -- Las Vegas
EVENT #13 Seven-Card Stud
Buy-in -- $2,500
Total Entries -- 103
Total Prize Pool -- $239,475
Place Name Prize
1 Michael Saltzburg (Hollidaysburg, PA) $95,580
2 Mimi Tran (Torrance, CA) $47,700
3 T.J. Cloutier (Ricahrdson, TX) $23,915
4 David Vaillancourt (Tyngsborough, MA) $14,360
5 Richard Salzman (Alpine, CA) $11,980
6 Jerri Thomas (Hamilton, OH) $9,580
7 Nitin Malik (Marietta, GA) $7,180
8 Ralph Perry (Las Vegas, NV) $4,780
9 Peter Costa (Leicester England) $3,600
10 Toto Leonidas (Glendale Ca) $3,600
11 Thor Hansen (El Segundo Ca) $3,600
12 Ron Long (Ft Wayne In) $3,600
13 John Womack (Lauderhill, Fl) $2,500
14 Jaime Ateneldff (Eaodor) $2,500
15 Harry Thomas (Hamilton Oh) $2,500
16 Helmut Koch (New Baltimore Mi) $2,500
From the Kitchen Table to the Final Table:
Dr. Michael Saltzburg Wins Championship in First Try
Life is but a series of experiences. It's the experience that's the most rewarding thing.
-- Dr. Michael Satzburg
(reflecting on his win at the World Series of Poker)
To say Michael Saltzburg's win in the $2,500 Buy-in Seven Card Stud event was an "upset" would be a gross understatement. After all, Saltzburg had never even played in, let alone won, any event at the World Series of Poker. He faced a formidable lineup of foes, including two former gold bracelet winners -- T.J. Cloutier and Jerri Thomas. Clearly from the outset, Cloutier appeared to pose the biggest obstacle, although chip-leader Thithi "Mimi" Tran would also prove to be tough.
Saltzburg played masterfully most of the day, but also enjoyed a favorable rush of cards at several key moments which propelled him to victory. Clearly, the biggest hand of the tournament occurred mid-way into the final table when Saltzburg destroyed Kenna James, with quad-fours against a big full house. Incredibly, James had aces-full, a veritable powerhouse in poker which can only be beaten by one of two hands. Saltzburg had one of them. The four-4s gave Saltzburg a mountain of chips which effectively kept him at the final table until he was into a virtual dead heat with T.J. Cloutier and Mimi Tran.
Earlier in the day, Ralph Perry, Nitin Malik, and David Valliancourt were eliminated in 8th, 7th, and 6th place respectively. Then, Jerri Thomas hit the rail in 5th place followed by Rick Salzman, who finished fourth. That put Saltzburg into the unenviable position of facing Mimi Tran, who was playing very well and T.J. Cloutier, the four -time gold bracelet winner with 40 cashes at the World Series of Poker.
Saltzburg got another boost from the deck when he cracked Cloutier's monster starting hand, and took down a pot on the river when Cloutier was convinced he was beat. Cloutier started off with (Q-J) K-10-Q with three clubs in the first five cards and then watched in horror as he caught two red rags, ending up with only a weak pair of queens. Saltzburg had the bring-in and was forced to play a hand he probably would not have been involved in, except for catching what appeared to be a straight by the fifth card. By sixth street, Saltzburg showed upcards of 3-4-6-7 and continued betting. Cloutier was unable to make a (higher) straight and folded to Saltzburg's bet on the final round. That hand effectively took Cloutier out of the running and made it a heads-up match between Saltzburg and Tran.
What was most interesting about the end of the matchup was the high level of play between the two finalists. Both players pushed small edges and frequently won pots with the thinnest of margins. One player would often win with two pair against the opponent's smaller two pair. On one hand, Tran bet a air of jacks on seventh street (that was all she had) and was called by Saltzburg with a smaller pair. The play may not have seemed significant, but the extra $8K and $10K bets that were gained on later rounds were critical. Salzburg did some value betting of his own, and mixed up his play well enough to keep Tran constantly guessing as to the strength of his hand.
Salzburg made one error which, at the time, looked as though it might have cost him the tournament. Saltzburg bet aggressively on every round on a draw and missed. On seventh street, Saltzburg fired $10K into the pot and Tran called with two pair. Saltzburg mucked his cards on a bluff, which gave Tran a 3 to 1 chip advantage. Tran, who has finished second at the final table before was eager to seize her first World Series of Poker victory.
But that bluff may have paid dividends down the road when Saltzburg actually did pick up a big hand and would ultimately get paid off along the way. One big hand came for Saltzburg when he made a full house against Tran's club flush. That swung the momentum of the duel in the newcomer's favor and put Saltzburg back in the chip lead.
A few minutes later -- Saltzburg would effectively end the match with four-jacks against Tran, which gave the good Doctor an almost insurmountable chip advantage. Son thereafter, the final hand came as follows:
SALTZBURG: (Q-5) 10-10-4-8 (Q)
TRAN: (A-A) Q-6-3-K (2)
Michael Saltzburg is an orthopedic surgeon in Pennsylvania. He plays poker in home games and frequents Atlantic City casinos and cardrooms regularly. "For me, this is an experience," he said. "To come here and just be part of the excitement is all I ever wanted to do. To win an event at the World Series of Poker is more than I could ask for."
-- by Nolan Dalla
Final table standings:
Mimi Tran 64,800 chips seat 7
T.J.Cloutier 54,700 chips seat 2
Michael Saltzburg 51,800 chips seat 8
Rick Sazzman 28,300 chips Seat 3
Jerri Thomas 18,700 chips Seat 6
David Vaillancourt 18,000 chips seat 6
Nitin Malik 13,600 chips seat 4
Ralph Perry 7,400 chips seat 1
-- by Nolan Dalla
PRESS RELEASE
APRIL 27, 2003
2003 WORLD SERIES OF POKER
Binion's Horseshoe -- Las Vegas
EVENT #13 Seven-Card Stud
Buy-in -- $2,500
Total Entries -- 103
Total Prize Pool -- $239,475
Place Name Prize
1 Michael Saltzburg (Hollidaysburg, PA) $95,580
2 Mimi Tran (Torrance, CA) $47,700
3 T.J. Cloutier (Ricahrdson, TX) $23,915
4 David Vaillancourt (Tyngsborough, MA) $14,360
5 Richard Salzman (Alpine, CA) $11,980
6 Jerri Thomas (Hamilton, OH) $9,580
7 Nitin Malik (Marietta, GA) $7,180
8 Ralph Perry (Las Vegas, NV) $4,780
9 Peter Costa (Leicester England) $3,600
10 Toto Leonidas (Glendale Ca) $3,600
11 Thor Hansen (El Segundo Ca) $3,600
12 Ron Long (Ft Wayne In) $3,600
13 John Womack (Lauderhill, Fl) $2,500
14 Jaime Ateneldff (Eaodor) $2,500
15 Harry Thomas (Hamilton Oh) $2,500
16 Helmut Koch (New Baltimore Mi) $2,500
From the Kitchen Table to the Final Table:
Dr. Michael Saltzburg Wins Championship in First Try
Life is but a series of experiences. It's the experience that's the most rewarding thing.
-- Dr. Michael Satzburg
(reflecting on his win at the World Series of Poker)
To say Michael Saltzburg's win in the $2,500 Buy-in Seven Card Stud event was an "upset" would be a gross understatement. After all, Saltzburg had never even played in, let alone won, any event at the World Series of Poker. He faced a formidable lineup of foes, including two former gold bracelet winners -- T.J. Cloutier and Jerri Thomas. Clearly from the outset, Cloutier appeared to pose the biggest obstacle, although chip-leader Thithi "Mimi" Tran would also prove to be tough.
Saltzburg played masterfully most of the day, but also enjoyed a favorable rush of cards at several key moments which propelled him to victory. Clearly, the biggest hand of the tournament occurred mid-way into the final table when Saltzburg destroyed Kenna James, with quad-fours against a big full house. Incredibly, James had aces-full, a veritable powerhouse in poker which can only be beaten by one of two hands. Saltzburg had one of them. The four-4s gave Saltzburg a mountain of chips which effectively kept him at the final table until he was into a virtual dead heat with T.J. Cloutier and Mimi Tran.
Earlier in the day, Ralph Perry, Nitin Malik, and David Valliancourt were eliminated in 8th, 7th, and 6th place respectively. Then, Jerri Thomas hit the rail in 5th place followed by Rick Salzman, who finished fourth. That put Saltzburg into the unenviable position of facing Mimi Tran, who was playing very well and T.J. Cloutier, the four -time gold bracelet winner with 40 cashes at the World Series of Poker.
Saltzburg got another boost from the deck when he cracked Cloutier's monster starting hand, and took down a pot on the river when Cloutier was convinced he was beat. Cloutier started off with (Q-J) K-10-Q with three clubs in the first five cards and then watched in horror as he caught two red rags, ending up with only a weak pair of queens. Saltzburg had the bring-in and was forced to play a hand he probably would not have been involved in, except for catching what appeared to be a straight by the fifth card. By sixth street, Saltzburg showed upcards of 3-4-6-7 and continued betting. Cloutier was unable to make a (higher) straight and folded to Saltzburg's bet on the final round. That hand effectively took Cloutier out of the running and made it a heads-up match between Saltzburg and Tran.
What was most interesting about the end of the matchup was the high level of play between the two finalists. Both players pushed small edges and frequently won pots with the thinnest of margins. One player would often win with two pair against the opponent's smaller two pair. On one hand, Tran bet a air of jacks on seventh street (that was all she had) and was called by Saltzburg with a smaller pair. The play may not have seemed significant, but the extra $8K and $10K bets that were gained on later rounds were critical. Salzburg did some value betting of his own, and mixed up his play well enough to keep Tran constantly guessing as to the strength of his hand.
Salzburg made one error which, at the time, looked as though it might have cost him the tournament. Saltzburg bet aggressively on every round on a draw and missed. On seventh street, Saltzburg fired $10K into the pot and Tran called with two pair. Saltzburg mucked his cards on a bluff, which gave Tran a 3 to 1 chip advantage. Tran, who has finished second at the final table before was eager to seize her first World Series of Poker victory.
But that bluff may have paid dividends down the road when Saltzburg actually did pick up a big hand and would ultimately get paid off along the way. One big hand came for Saltzburg when he made a full house against Tran's club flush. That swung the momentum of the duel in the newcomer's favor and put Saltzburg back in the chip lead.
A few minutes later -- Saltzburg would effectively end the match with four-jacks against Tran, which gave the good Doctor an almost insurmountable chip advantage. Son thereafter, the final hand came as follows:
SALTZBURG: (Q-5) 10-10-4-8 (Q)
TRAN: (A-A) Q-6-3-K (2)
Michael Saltzburg is an orthopedic surgeon in Pennsylvania. He plays poker in home games and frequents Atlantic City casinos and cardrooms regularly. "For me, this is an experience," he said. "To come here and just be part of the excitement is all I ever wanted to do. To win an event at the World Series of Poker is more than I could ask for."
-- by Nolan Dalla
Final table standings:
Mimi Tran 64,800 chips seat 7
T.J.Cloutier 54,700 chips seat 2
Michael Saltzburg 51,800 chips seat 8
Rick Sazzman 28,300 chips Seat 3
Jerri Thomas 18,700 chips Seat 6
David Vaillancourt 18,000 chips seat 6
Nitin Malik 13,600 chips seat 4
Ralph Perry 7,400 chips seat 1
-- by Nolan Dalla
