Atlantic City, NJ (March 10, 2007) – Poker is not just an American pastime.  It has become an international phenomenon.  Each and every year, more players come into the game from far away nations and cities better known for their political and economic conflicts than for positive influences upon the rest of the world.  Poker has produced champions from Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon and other troubled regions -- which is a real testament to the game being a means of opportunity for everyone who plays it, regardless of who they are or where they come from. 

Avdo Djokovic grew up in Kosovo.  It is a land-locked Eastern European nation which made headlines ten years ago for the sadness and strife endured by thousands of people, many of whom were and remain Mr. Djokovic's family and friends.  Now 42, Mr. Djokovic left his native land and arrived in America to start a new life.  Along the way, he learned how to play poker.  Then, he learned how to play poker well.  And now, Mr. Djokovic has learned how to play championship-level poker – a fact illustrated by his triumph at the latest World Series of Poker Circuit tournament.  
   
Mr. Djokovic topped a tough field and won a well-deserved top prize of $133,300 in his first-ever major tournament victory.  Prior to this win, Mr. Djokovic has made numerous cashes and final table appearances – at the United States Poker Championship, LA Poker Classic, World Poker Finals, and elsewhere.  His best WSOP Circuit finish was ninth last year at Harrah's Atlantic City. 
The $1,000 buy-in no-limit hold'em tournament (Event #5) at Caesars Atlantic City attracted 430 players, which is now the highest turnout for any $1,000 buy-in event in the three-year history of the World Series of Poker Circuit.  After 421 players were eliminated over the first 16 hours on days one and two, nine survivors took seats at the final table (Note: Carl Rastifo, who finished 10th, was one spot away from being the first and only player at this tournament series to make multiple final table appearances).
 
Eugene Foulsman started with a slight chip advantage over Avdo Djokovic, with the rest of the field more than 100,000 behind the chip leaders.  Ultimately, the top two would battle it out for the championship.  Seating positions and chip counts began as follows:

Seat 1: Rich Davidson  300,000 
Seat 2: Steven Rodriguez  86,000
Seat 3: Douglas Cressi  139,000
Seat 4: Matt Brady   80,000
Seat 5: Russell Crane  238,000
Seat 6: Nat Kuey   380,000
Seat 7: Eugene Foulsman  503,000
Seat 8: Sang Tae   376,000
Seat 9: Avdo Djokovic  481,000
 
Blinds began at 5,000-10,000 with a 1,000 ante.  Things started off badly for the big stacks.  Just three hands into play, Mr. Foulsman took his first hit.  He was dealt Q-Q and moved over the top of an all-in raise by Steven Rodriguez, holding A-10 of hearts.  The flop came Q-7-2 with two hearts.  Mr. Foulsman flopped a big hand (trip queens), but Mr. Rodriguez had a flush draw.  Bingo!  A river heart electrified the room and caused Mr. Rodriguez to celebrate missing a date with the grim reaper.

Next, Douglas Cressi was dealt pocket aces and doubled up against Avdo Djokovic.  Then, Nat Kuey took a blow when Steven Rodriguez made a full house.  In the course of just 25 minutes, Steven Rodriguez had catapulted from one of the lowest stacks to third in chips.

The next big stack to get the axe was Rich Davidson.  In fact, he exited first from the final table.  About an hour into play and low on chips, Mr. Davidson moved all-in with A-7 and was called by Eugene Foulsman, holding A-Q.  Both players caught an ace.  But the higher kicker played and Mr. Davidson was gone.  Rich Davidson, the owner of a heating an air conditioning company, burned out in ninth place.  He collected $8,600.  Mr. Davison also finished third at the WSOP Circuit at Harrah's Atlantic City last year.

Low stacked Russell Crane went out next.  On his final hand, the 21-year-old college student was involved in a three-way pot in which Avdo Djokovic made the nut flush.  Mr. Crane mucked his (unseen) cards and conceded defeat.  Russell Crane was lifted off the final table in eighth place, good for $12,900.
Avdo Djokovic's good run continued.  He was dealt K-K and called an all-in raise by short-stacked Matt Brady, holding A-3.  Mr. Brady missed his ace and thus went out in seventh place.  Mat Brady, who has made it to numerous final tables at the Bellagio, Taj Mahal, Foxwoods, and elsewhere added Caesars Atlantic City to his long list of cash outs, this time for $17,200.

Six players remained.  Not for long.  Steven "Quietstorm" Rodriguez busted out when his A-Q fell to pocket sevens.  Nat Kuey dragged what were left of Mr. Rodriuez' chips, putting the real estate broker from Staten Island out in sixth place.  This was "Quietstorm's" second WSOP Circuit-related final table as he finished fifth in one of the events at Harrah's Atlantic City last year.  He earned $21,500 in prize money.

Down to five, Sang Tae then doubled up against Avdo Djokovic – creating three big stacks and two short stacks out of the survivors.  One of those low stacks belonged to Doug Cressi.  He was the next player to be eliminated when his A-8 was topped by Eugene Foulsman's A-K.  Niether player made a pair, so the high cards played.  Douglas Cressi, a 45-year-old poker pro from Glen Cove, NY collected $25,800 for fifth place.

With four players alive, Sang Tae was low and moved all-in with this last 100,000 on Doyle Brunson's favorite hand, 10-2.  His results did not match that of the former two-time WSOP champion.  The dog hand didn't bite, which resulted in another elimination.  Sang Tae, a 53-year-old self employed part-time poker player from Leonia, NJ received $30,100 for fourth place.

Next, Nat Kuey hit the rail.  The office manager from New York City moved all-in with Q-J and was called by Eugene Foulsman, holding A-5.  The superior hand held up, which meant a third-place showing for Mr. Kuey.  He picked up $34,400.

By this time, the players had agreed to a deal.  Terms were not disclosed.  That resulted in some fast play in the final stages which gave Mr. Djokovic the win.  On a key late hand, Mr. Djokovic won the majority of his opponent's stack with A-K which basically sealed the final results.  The final hand was played out, but was largely symbolic due to the financial arrangement made between the players.        

The runner up was Eugene Foulsman.  He is a 28-year-old investment analyst from New Jersey.  Mr. Foulsman has finished high in previous Atlantic City tournaments, including on the WSOP Circuit.  His "official" payout amounted to $68,800.

The newest poker champion is Avdo Djokovic.  He now lives in Staten Island, NY and is the part-owner of a successful business (Triangle Services) which is a maintenance company in New York City.  With this win at Caesars, Mr. Djokovic has now earned over $450,000 in tournament poker in his lifetime (which places him in the top 500).  Amongst those poker layers born in Kosovo, however – Avdo Djokovic is the king and number one.   


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by Nolan Dalla – World Series of Poker Media Director
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