2009 Southern Poker Championship, Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi USA

A report by David Sasseman & Claire ‚Anne‘ McDonald

Thomas „Eddy“ Pullens, pulls out the Victory in Event #8, Omaha Stud High-Low Championship at the Beau Rivage at the SPC Tournament

Thomas `Eddy´ Pullens (Photo by impdi.com)
Thomas `Eddy´ Pullens (Photo by impdi.com)

Biloxi, MS (January 9, 2009) – What a victory for this former poker dealer who now plays on the other side of the poker table. He occasionally deals at a casino near Biloxi for fun. Omaha is known to seemingly not have as much of a „luck“ factor as no limit and attracts usually an older group of players. In fact, „Eddy“ Pullens was the youngest player at the final table at 36.

The final table of 10 started at 4PM and four hours later the results were as follows: Danny Hofer and Michael Steckler finished l0th and 9th respectively collecting USD 1,426 and USD 2,037. Annie Lu, from Las Vegas, NV, the only woman to make the final table ran into bad luck and went out in 8th place banking USD 3,056. Bobby „the Bus“ Ferdinand, Revere, MA who gets his nickname from being a former bus driver as well as the fact that he likes to run over people at the poker table got ditched today as he got low stacked and could not connect on a low draw or a flush draw. He previously has had over 17 cashes and took home USD 4,074 today.

Out in 6th position was Randy Holland, a poker pro with two WSOP victories, and with this cash adds USD 5,093 to his poker winnings. Tom Spigel was chip leader when this final table began but he had some tough losses and went out fifth netting USD 6,111. That is not a bad return for USD 65 satellite entry. Fourth place went to Bob Selmar of Tequesta, FL who has never been to a final table. He also came in on a satellite entry of USD 65 cashing USD 8,148.

Thomas „Eddy“ Pullens is chip leader with about USD 800,00, Roger Smith – USD 250,000 in chips and Richard Pilchman – USD 200,000. Both Smith and Pilchman are poker pros with many cashes; however today, it would be the young Pullens to take the victory. Finishing 3rd, Pilchman won USD 10,185. This started heads-up action between Smith and Pullens. One the last hand, they both get flushes, but Pullens has the higher one. Pullens looked happy but, his wife, Amy, was ecstatic. Earlier she told him that since he did not play Omaha very much he should stay home with her today. What a mistake that would have been as Pullens victory netted him USD 33.608.

Final Results:

Event #8
Omaha High-Low Split
Buy-In: USD 500 (+50)
Total Entries: 210
Total Prize Pool: USD 101,850
January 8-9, 2009

1. Thomas „Eddy“ Pullens (Picayune, MS) USD 33,608
2. Roger T. Smith (Foster, RI) USD 18,537
3. Richard J. Pilchman (Brick, NJ) USD 10,185
4. Bob Selman (Tequesta, FL) USD 8,148
5. Tom Spigel (Dallas, TX) USD 6,111
6. Randy Holland (Winnetka, CA) USD 5,093
7. Bobby „the Bus“ Ferdinand (Revere, MA) USD 4,074
8. Annie Lu (Las Vegas, NV) USD 3,056
9. Michael Steckler (Zepher Hills, FL) USD 2,037
10. Danny Hofer (Bronx, NY) USD 1,426
11. Richard Brewer USD 1,426
12. Richard Kaplan USD 1,426
13. Jesse Petrakis USD 1,222
14. Richard Joel USD 1,222
15. Brent Carter USD 1,222
16. Chris Tryba USD 1,019
17. William Hope USD 1,019
18. Leonard Deloteus USD 1,019