Valley Center, CA – "H.O.R.S.E." is an acronym for the five most popular poker games played inside American cardrooms today.  H.O.R.S.E. tournaments include a rotation of games -- including Hold'em, Omaha High-Low, Razz, Seven-Card Stud, and Stud High-Low (also called Eight-or-Better).  Many poker purists consider H.O.R.S.E. to be the ultimate test of skill, since it requires that a competitor play all games well in order to win.  This was proven at the 2006 World Series of Poker, where H.O.R.S.E. returned to the tournament schedule after a long hiatus.  For more than two decades, Chip Reese, the winner of the $1.7 million top prize in that event, had been widely regarded as the best all-around player in the world.  But there was nothing on his resume to prove that fact until last summer's event in Las Vegas.  Appropriately, he won the largest buy-in poker tournament in history (costing $50,000 to enter) and became the world "H.O.R.S.E." champion for 2006.

This was the third time a H.O.R.S.E. competition has been offered this season as part of the World Series of Poker Circuit menu.  The Harrah's Rincon Casino Resort hosted the $1,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. championship, which attracted a modest field of 24 players (a no-limit hold'em event held the same day attracted a far greater number).  Given the limit structure of H.O.R.S.E. and the more deliberate, structured pace of play, it took ten hours and a full day of playing to eliminate just 15 players.  In fact, six players at the final table would not make it into the money.  Only the top three spots were paid.  Seating at the final table and chip counts were as follows:

Seat 1: Jim Pechoc            7,200
Seat 2: Jeff Chui              27,775
Seat 3: Teddy Nassif         8,975
Seat 4: Chris DeFalco      21,650
Seat 5: Pete Krementiev    9,075
Seat 6: Brandon Taylor   11,825
Seat 7: Rick Priest             9,175
Seat 8: David Boyett        25,110

Play began promptly at 2 pm on day two.  Pete Krementiev, from Concord, CA was the first player to exit.  Soon thereafter, Jim Pechoc, from Phoenix, AZ hit the rail.  Mr. Pechoc had the greatest amount of high-stakes tournament experience at the final nine, and his elimination certainly made things easier for the remainder of the field.

The next player to exit was Brendan Taylor, from Pasadena, CA.  Rick Priest, a real estate developer from San Marcos, CA followed him out the door in fifth place.  The "bubble" prize went to    In tournament poker, the "bubble" refers to the last player to finish out of the money.  It is a mixed blessing for most players.  While the "bubble" player can be satisfied that he played well and outlasted the vast majority of the field, the prize money is an empty well.

The bubble prize went to Jeff Chui, from San Diego.  Mr. Chui had arrived as the chip leader.  But brutal rounds of stud and eight-or-better destroyed most of Mr. Chui's stack.  He finally went out playing stud high-low and suffered the indignity of a fourth-place showing.

With everyone guaranteed prize money, three-handed play began with David Boyett holding a comfortable chip lead over his two rivals Teddy Nassif and Chris DeFalco.  The trio battled for an hour before Teddy Nassif was eliminated.  With limits escalating, all it took was a few hands to swing the momentum.  When Mr. Nassif went card dead during the final half-hour of play, he was doomed.  Nassif has previously enjoyed some tournament success at Harrah's Rincon.  He won the $500 no-limit hold'em event held here last year.  This time he had to settle for third place, which paid $4,656.

When heads-up play began, Chris DeFalco enjoyed a slight chip lead.  The finalists battled back and forth for an hour before DeFalco began to distance himself from his rival.  At one point, Mr. DeFalco had Mr. Boyett down to the final card, seemingly moments away from victory.  Playing seven-card stud, on 5th street he held four cards to a flush, with a straight draw.  But two blanks on 6th and 7th street prolonged Mr. Boyett's stay.

It didn't seem to matter as DeFalco was never seriously threatened beyond that point.  About 20 minutes later, DeFalco finally won the last hand of the night, and seized the tournament victory, ending 18 hours of play over two days.

The runner up was David Boyett, a 40-year-old mortgage broker from Vista, CA.  Mr. Boyett made it to a final table here last year as well, coming in 7th in WSOP Circuit Harrah's Rincon's $1,000 buy-in hold'em event.  For second place, Mr. Boyett received $6,984 in prize money.  

Chris DeFalco is a 36-year-old pawnshop owner, from Murrieta, CA.  He actually owns two stores.  Mr. DeFalco has been playing poker for several years.  He has won poker tournaments at casinos throughout the San Diego area.  He also won seats to play in the main event at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, in both 2004 and 2005.  He cashed in 2005 in the main event.  However, this was his first major tournament victory.

Mr. DeFalco's win netted a payoff of $11,640.  He also received the coveted WSOP-crested gold ring, which is presented to all Circuit winners.  Given his jubilation after winning, it's doubtful this ring will end up in a pawnshop.
 
    
by Nolan Dalla

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Tournament Director – Janis Sexton

Harrah's Rincon Poker Room Manager – Mike Adams