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World Poker Finals Recap
Level 12: 150,000-300,000, 30,000 ante
After five long days and 608 eliminations, the World Poker Final has come to an end. At the beginning of the final day, amateur E.G. Harvin’s monster stack and the historic development of Mimi Tran and Kathy Liebert making the final table were the big stories. By the end, it was one big man. Nenad Medic, the 6’4�? Serbian, emerged victorious, taking down Harvin in a series of strong post-flop plays that saw him let the 58-year old Harvin play into his hands. A resident of Niagara Falls, Canada, Medic has been a regular in the biggest no-limit cash games in the world. Now he can proudly boast about his tournament success too. Medic takes home over $1.7 million in cash, a seat in the WPT World Championships, a whole lot of Budweiser and Xience and bragging rights. He’s promised to ‘donate his winnings back to the poker community’, but the thinking here is that the biggest games just got a little bit tougher. Our thanks to Foxwoods for hosting a fantastic event. Our next stop will be a month from today at the Bellagio’s Five Diamond Classic. In the meantime, be sure to check back on worldpokertour.com, where increased content and the WPT Academy will be revolutionizing the way we look at the WPT.
Sorted In: Tournaments, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Foxwoods World Poker Finals, Season V05:13 PM, 11/16/06
NENAD MEDIC WINS WORLD POKER FINALS
Level 12: 150,000-300,000, 30,000 ante
We here at Behind the Scenes thought we might witness history tonight. No woman has ever won a regular WPT tournament. That's hard to believe for a couple reasons. First of all, the number of female players in the poker universe is expanding at a rapid rate. Secondly, many of the best players in the world are women. How one has never snagged a WPT championship is beyond me. Tonight we had not one, but TWO females at the table -- and many, including Mike Sexton, thought they were the most dangerous players despite not entering with the chip lead. Kathy Liebert has been on an absolute tear this season, making final tables and cashing left and right. Poker star Mimi Tran, mentored by Barry Greenstein, has been on a tear, as well. Barry considers her clearly one of the best players in the world -- male or female. However, history was denied tonight as both Kathy (placing 5th) and Mimi (placing 3rd) were unable to emerge the winner. Nenad Medic came from behind amidst the fanfare created by Kathy, Mimi and big chip leader E.G. Hervin to capture the title. Nenad played brilliantly and proved that he's not only one of the best high stakes limit players, he's got serious tournament game, too. Congratulations to Nenad from all of us at Behind the Scenes! We had a great time here at Foxwoods and we hope you did, too. Enjoy the clips. If you want to see more, click on "Behind the Scenes" on the WPT home page to view videos from this tournament as well as others from throughout the season. We'll catch ya next month at the Bellagio for the Five Diamond! -- Danger
Sorted In: Tournaments, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Foxwoods World Poker Finals, Season V05:09 PM, 11/16/06
Interview With a Champion: Nenad Medic
Level 12: 150,000-300,000, 30,000 ante
Gary: Tell us how you’re feeling right now? Nenad: Feeling amazing, you know. I just feel great. I’ve been waiting…playing the circuit for two years. It’s frustrating losing tournaments. Once you get close, you really want to win. Gary: Did you ever dream you’d get this far? Nenad: I had a good feeling from the start. I had a good start after getting here two and a half hours late. The cards went my way though and I just had a feeling this would be the one. Gary: When did you think you had a real shot at this thing? Nenad: I was always confident. Coming into the final table I liked my spot. I’d played with most of the players and I was confident in my skill level against theirs. When there were there left, I thought it was a can’t miss. Gary: What was your game plan coming in? Nenad: Didn’t really have one. Play the player. I had a decent stack, which was plenty at the time. Just wanted to wait around. Gary: Did you have a particular read on EG? How about during that last hand? Nenad: A little bit. He gives away certain things when he has a hand. I was pretty sure I was calling. Almost 100% sure Gary: Want to give a shout out to anyone? Nenad: My family, they flew in last night. My girlfriend’s here. My mom is checking on the updates. (Hi Mrs. Medic! – Gary) Gary: How will you spend the money? Nenad: Give it back to the poker community. The cash games might get a little juicy in the next couple of months.
Sorted In: Tournaments, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Foxwoods World Poker Finals, Season V05:08 PM, 11/16/06
Runner-up Interview: E.G. Harvin
Level 12: 150,000-300,000, 30,000 ante
Gary: EG, tell us about that last hand. E.G.: If I can recall, I had A-J. The flop came 55-something. There was a lot of betting, and on the turn, when it came 9, I thought my ace-high was good. The river was another 9, so I didn’t think he was calling. I decided I was all-in, and if he didn’t have a five from the get go, I would have won. No regrets, he’s a good kid Gary: Did you think you had a read on Nenad that would cause him to fold? E.G.: I haven’t played enough to get reads on people. I mostly play my cards. I played the whole hand thinking that he though he could get me off the hand. I thought that when he took so long to call, he was going to lay down. He couldn’t lay that down though. Gary: Did you ever dream you would get this far? E.G.: Absolutely not. Gary: Were you feeling nervous in the first hour? E.G.: I wasn’t nervous at all. Maybe it looked like that, but I haven’t been nervous in the whole thing. Gary: How would you sum up your first WPT experience? E.G.: I enjoyed every minute of it. It’s more than I ever expected it to be. A total joy to do it, and if I never do it again, I’ll be happy with it. I probably never will do it again, I have no interest in playing for a living. If I qualify without having to spend 10,000 dollars I’ll play. Gary: Want to give a shout out to anyone? E.G.: Hello to my friends in Florida. I want to say hi to the Roses, Nancy and Robert, to Dave and Sue and my many friends at Trinity United Methodist Church. Gary: How will you spend the money? E.G.: 10% is going to the church, and then I’ll give some to my son and daughter to help them out. My daughter has 5 kids and a 3 bedroom house, so I’m blessed that I can help them
Sorted In: Tournaments, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Foxwoods World Poker Finals, Season V05:07 PM, 11/16/06
Hand 88 - Nenad Medic wins Foxwoods' World Poker Finals!
Level 12: 150,000-300,000, 30,000 ante
Nenad Medic calls from the button. E G Harvin knocks the table. The flop comes 5
5
3 Harvin checks and Medic bets T150,000. Harvin raises to T650,000. Medic calls. The turn is the 9
Harvin bets T1,000,000. Medic calls. The river is the 9 Harvin moves all-in and stands up.... Medic thinks and thinks and thinks...looks up to Harvin trying to get a read... he looks back down at his chips...counts them out... and calls!
Medic turns over 75
Harvin shows AJ
Medic wins the pot and wins the championship earning $1,717,194! E G Harvin finishes 2nd earning $904,389.
04:21 PM, 11/16/06
Hand 87
Level 12: 150,000-300,000, 30,000 ante
The flop comes AQ10 and Medic checks, Harvin bets T200,000. Medic calls and the turn card is the 8. Medic checks and Harvin bets T300,000. Medic calls and the river card is the A. Medic checks and Harvin bets T600,000. Medic calls and Harvin shows QQ.
04:14 PM, 11/16/06
Hand 86
Level 12: 150,000-300,000, 30,000 ante
Medic calls and Harvin knocks the table.
The flop comes25K
Both players check.
Turn is the 3
Harvin bets T200,000. Medic calls.
River is the A
Harvin checks and Medic bets T450,000. Harvin calls.
Medic shows two pairs: Kings and Threes... Harvin mucks.
04:12 PM, 11/16/06
Hand 85
Level 12: 150,000-300,000, 30,000 ante
The board comes A978 and Harvin bets T150,000. Medic folds.
04:09 PM, 11/16/06
Hand 84
Level 12: 150,000-300,000, 30,000 ante
Medic calls from the button and Harvin raises to T240,000. Medic calls.
The flop comes Q59
Harvin bets T150,000. Medic calls.
The turn is the 4
Harvin bets T250,000. Medic calls.
The river is the A
Harvin checks and Medic bets T500,000. Harvin calls.
Medic shows two pairs with 5's and 4's. Harvin mucks.
04:08 PM, 11/16/06
Hand 83
Level 12: 150,000-300,000, 30,000 ante
The board comes QJ85K and both players check all the way through. Medic shows K-5 and wins the pot.
04:04 PM, 11/16/06
