The South has had some decent wins and cashes around the country as of late. Here’s a look at some of them.
William Kakon of Aventura, Fla., took down the Borgata’s $500K guarantee Deep Stack event, besting 329 players in the $1,650 tournament for a $140,694 payday May 19.
Other southern cashers included Dewey Whitmore of Martinsburg, W.Va., (12th, $6,306) and Anthony Lam of Fairfax, Va., (23rd, $2,911).
The Borgata also hosted a $350 Double Play tournament with four southerners cashing from the 333-player field: Norman Rodriguez of Kissimmee, Fla., (ninth, $1,938); Ray Ho Lin of Tampa, Fla., (15th, $969); Nicos Ktori of Miami Beach (32nd, $485) and David Tran of Annandale, Va., (33rd, $485).
WPT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Billy Baxter, the Poker Hall of Famer from Augusta, Ga., finished sixth in the $25K no-limit hold’em main event.
The seven-time World Series of Poker bracelet-winner made the TV final table but was eliminated by eventual champ David Williams, pocketing $247K.
Other cashers from The South included Jason Lester of Miami (12th, $56,439); Robert Cooper of Plantation, Fla., (15th, $51,736); Josh Arieh of Atlanta (16th, $47,033) and Ante Up 2009 WSOP Player of the Year Tony Cousineau of Daytona Beach, Fla., (18th, $47,033).
CALIF. STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: Our best showing came from Michael Moed of Miami, who finished eighth in Event 3, a $335 Omaha/8 event with 146 players. But the biggest cash goes to Ross Gruber of Woodstock, Ky., who earned $2,100 for his 15th place finish in the $220 NLHE rebuy event.
Other cashers included Thomas Blake of Burlington, Ky., (Event 1, $220 NLHE, 274th place, $400); Barbara Cunningham of Norcross, Ga., (Event 2, $220 LHE, ninth place, $1,050); Shean Whelan of Clifton, Va., (Event 13, $220 NLHE w/rebys, 25th, $1,700) and Robert Kalteux of Seminole, Fla., (Event 19, $335 NLHE, 30th, $810).
FOXWOODS MEGASTACK: Michael Woods grabbed sixth place in the $1,650 NLHE event that drew 166 entries. The Cana, Va., resident pocketed $13,580.
Kevin Schaffel of 2009 November Nine fame, finished 42nd in the $560 NLHE event. The Coral Springs, Fla., resident won $1,006.
Howard Mann of Martinsburg, W.Va., finished seventh in a field of 925 players for the $340 NLHE event. He won $9,960.
