Choi wins Texas Hold-Em title at Dynasty

Jim Choi of Canada out-bluffed, outplayed, and outlasted a field of 40 international poker players last Sunday to take home $7,200 and a trophy in the first ever “Freeze-Out” style Texas Hold-Em Poker Tournament at the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino.

Four tables were alive with action on opening day, as the 40 competitors entered their first blinds at 4pm, but five hours later, 30 participants made an early exit from the two-day affair, as only 10 finalists made the cut to the final table.

The finalists made their way to Tinian in a variety of ways, as Augusto Sablan, Chris Morato, and John Cace flew from Guam, as did Tagawa Kiyomi of Japan. Albert Lee, Ralph Torres, and Roman Tudela took the ferry from Saipan, while Bill Richardson and Kim Jin Seup took a short drive from their residences in Tinian. Jim Choi had the longest journey of all, but his return to Canada was by far the most enjoyable.

Tudela and Seup were the first to leave the table, risking it all early and bowing out 10 minutes into the fray. Returning competitor Morato from Guam bid the table a fond adieu five minutes later. A waterfall of players were washed away as Lee, Tagawa, and Sablan found themselves wading through the last of their chips before grasping at green felt.

Torres, Richardson, and Choi let a smile surface when Cace relinquished his seat at the table, as the trio knew that they were in the money regardless of the finish.

Torres held a tight grip on his cache of chips, but ultimately had to take plenty of chances with cards that were less than ideal, and parted with $1,200 and a trophy. When Torres left the table, Richardson and Choi were locked in head-to-head competition. Choi refused to let up with his banter, and after 20 minutes of intense poker faces, he found himself to be the “Last Man Standing” and took home $7,560. Richardson didn’t leave empty handed, as the Tinian native took home $3,780.

Following the event, all of the participants were invited to a cocktail party and award presentation hosted by Miller Lite and the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino.

The next major event for the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino is their $100,000 Baccarat Tournament on Saturday, Mar. 12 and Sunday, Mar. 13.

“This is the first Baccarat tourney for 2005 and we’re expecting a minimum of 100 participants,” said Kiri Jackson of TDHC marketing and promotions.