Irishman captures crown at World Series of Poker

Leprechauns were lurking at Binion's Horseshoe Thursday night.

J.J. Furlong, the 61-year-old owner of Ireland's largest carpet-making business, took the worst cards into the final hand of the 30th annual World Series of Poker and wound up a $1 million winner.

Furlong's victory over 392 other contestants capped a 24-hour period in which he and two fellow Irishmen -- Paraig Parkinson and George McKeever -- finished in the top seven of the world's biggest poker tournament.

The results reinforced the reality that, as with golf's Ryder Cup, the World Series of Poker is a truly international event. In fact, the six-player final table consisted of three Americans and three Europeans, the latter cheered lustily by fellow foreigners each time they eliminated a Yank.

Furlong isn't the first foreign-born winner, but the showing by the 10-man Irish contingent brought here this year by jovial bookmaker Terry Rogers reinforces the reality that the rest of the world is fast gaining parity in a game once dominated by Americans -- no-limit Texas hold 'em.

And, like the Ryder Cup, the title of world champion is likely to seesaw between American and foreign players even more in the future. The World Series attracts an increasing number of foreigners each year, and as Furlong and his colleagues showed this week, they can flat play this game.

All told, the Horseshoe dished out nearly $11.3 million in prize money to the top finishers in 16 events this year, the first under the direction of the downtown casino's new owner, Becky Binion Behnen.

While there'd been some concern this World Series wouldn't match the allure or excitement of previous events, the fears proved unfounded. Behnen, who's turned down $5 million for rights to the event, has vowed to keep it in its birthplace in honor of her father, the late Benny Binion.

Record entriesAnd judging from the turnout in the final event, poker players support her decision. A record 393 paid $10,000 to enter the no-limit championship, a grueling four-day grind that demands skill, stamina, courage ... and a lot of luck.

Like police work or flying, no-limit hold 'em can be filled with hours of sheer boredom interrupted by moments of sheer terror, as all your money is at risk every time you play a pot.

But unlike limit poker, where the bet size is set, no-limit hold 'em allows experienced players to use their position, and ability to assess an opponent, to bluff far more often.

Nowhere is the exhilaration and excitement of the game more evident than in the World Series finale, where this year the top 36 players split a total of $3.9 million in prize money.

A slew of former titleholders was eliminated in the first three days of the contest, but betting favorite and 1996 winner Huck Seed was among the final six players who sat down at a green-felt poker table in the Horseshoe shortly after noon on Thursday.

Furlong, nicknamed "Noel" because he was born on Christmas, was the chip leader with more than $1,544,000. In second place was Alan Goehring, a New York City bond analyst with $828,000.

Parkinson was third at $674,000, Seed fourth with $402,000, Switzerland's Chris Bigler had $319,000 and Erik Seidel trailed the field with $167,000.

Two of the Americans -- Seed and Seidel -- are poker pros and winners of several World Series events. Despite their poor chip position, they were considered likely to move up as play progressed. But Furlong, who's been playing poker for recreation for 10 years, had been to the final table before.

Early aggressorAs play began, Seidel became the aggressor, going all-in (betting all his chips) twice in the first three hands. There were a few big pots -- in one, Seed won $250,000 from Goehring, boosting his total to about $650,000 -- but by and large the play was cautious as the contestants sized each other up.

With the blind bets at $5,000 and $10,000 and antes at $2,000, each pot contained $21,000 before anyone acted. Players would often raise to capture those chips uncontested.

After a short break, Seed limped in (just called the $10,000 big-blind bet) and Furlong raised $100,000. Seed went all in with about $500,000, and Furlong called, winning the pot with aces and threes and eliminating Seed, who received $167,700 for his efforts.

Several hands later, Seidel made a play showing why he's one of the world's best players.

The lanky Henderson resident raised $60,000 before the flop and Goehring and Bigler called. All three checked the "flop" (the community cards in the center of the table) and the "turn" (the fourth card in the middle). When the "river" card hit the table, the board showed 8C, 2C, 6H, JS, 5S (the letters designate Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts or Spades).

Seidel checked, Goehring bet $150,000 and Bigler folded. Seidel's AS-QD (ace of spades, queen of diamonds) gave him A-Q-J-8-6, a poor hand. Calling the bet and losing the hand would leave him with only $25,000.

But Seidel studied the board for several moments, while Goehring sat as rigid as a statue, eyes hidden behind dark glasses. Finally, Seidel called, winning nearly $450,000 when Goehring turned over his QC-10D to reveal a bluff.

By now, Furlong had more than $2 million and began playing more conservatively, hoping to let other players knock each other out without risking his chips unless he had a big hand.

Cardinal sinBut when he was dealt a big hand, Furlong committed one of no-limit poker's cardinal sins. Last to act before the flop, he limped in (just called the $10,000 big blind bet) -- even though he had been dealt two kings -- and Bigler called in the small blind.

Normally, players would put in a big raise with such a hand, but Furlong hoped to trap his opponents by disguising his strength. But it can be a dangerous move against the two blind bettors.

The flop came down 8S-7D-JH, the two blinds checked and Furlong bet $100,000. Bigler folded and Parkinson went all-in with $664,000. Furlong called, and lost a huge pot when Parkinson, holding JC-8D, made a full house on the river after flopping two pair. Had Furlong raised in the first place, Parkinson probably wouldn't have called. The mistake cost the chip leader a third of his stack.

But Furlong soon added to his holdings when Bigler made a similar error by flopping three nines and checking. That allowed Furlong a free chance to fill an outside straight draw, which he did. The two went all in, but Bigler didn't improve his hand and was eliminated. He got $212,420 for fifth place.

That win reinvigorated Furlong's spirits, and he became more aggressive, using his regained chip lead to muscle the game, raising and winning with hands such as 10-6 unsuited when no one called his pre-flop raises. Seidel, who had more than $400,000 now, was playing a patient waiting game, while Goehring had fallen to last place with just $110,000 in chips -- just 3 percent of the total on board.

Parkinson, meanwhile, won some big pots, giving the two Irishmen the bulk of the chips in play. And then came a hand demonstrating the importance of "kickers" (lowest card of the two dealt to a player) in no-limit hold 'em.

Parkinson bet $50,000 and Seidel went all-in for $300,000 with an A-Q. Parkinson called immediately and turned over A-K, making Seidel a huge underdog before the flop. But when a queen hit the board, Seidel became a huge favorite. Only a king would save Parkinson.

A nine fell on the turn and now the Irishman needed one of the three kings still out among the 44 unknown cards, making him almost a 14-to-1 underdog.

And a king came. Seidel got $279,500 for fourth.

Now the two Irishmen had more than 85 percent of the chips, while Goehring was barely holding on. But he won a $600,000 pot when his pocket kings beat Parkinson's pocket 10s. Five minutes later, he won a $1 million pot when his pocket 10s beat Furlong's A-Q.

That made the three finalists nearly even, and the play among Furlong, Goehring and Parkinson mirrored the chip distribution. Several small bets were abandoned when an opponent made a bet of a million or so, but slowly, Goehring -- now in the lead -- and Furlong picked away at Parkinson's stack.

Finally, Parkinson led off with a $100,000 bet and Furlong called. The flop came 4C-2DC-6D, and Parkinson, holding QC-10D, went all-in for $617,000 on a bluff. Furlong, holding a flush draw with A-8 of diamonds, called and won when an ace hit the board. Parkinson got $489,125 for third.

Now Furlong, his chips scattered over the table in front of him, began gradually whittling down Goehring's stack. Then he was dealt two 5s, Goehring two 6s, making the New Yorker a huge favorite.

But the flop came down QH-5S-QC. Furlong, who'd flopped a full house, checked. So did Goehring. When the 2S came on the turn, Furlong bet $150,000 and Goehring raised $300,000. Furlong put him all-in with a re-raise. Now only a queen or a six could save Goehring, but the 8S fell on the river. Goehring got $768,625 for second.

As a beaming Terry Rogers applauded his countryman, a reporter said, "Pretty good day for the Irish, isn't it?"

Replied Rogers with a smile: "Every day is pretty good for the Irish."

archive