The Weekend News Roundup for March 14
by Bodog Poker | Mar 14 2011
Los Angeles, California
Daylight savings time didn't help the fifteen-hour final table at the $10,000 Big Event Bounty Shootout at the Bike this weekend.
The event, part of a series of special tournaments held at the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles was finally won by Pat Walsh, who eared $241,700.
The first-place cash was just $171,000, but Walsh also won another $40,000 for coming out on top of his first table, $26,000 in bounties and his share of a $20,000 prize for earning the most knockouts. That final bonus amount was split between four other players, leaving Walsh with $4,000 extra.
Atlantic City, New Jersey
He may have an unfortunate nickname, but Gregory "Fish" Fishberg's skills earned him respect during Event #8 at the World Series of Poker circuit stop at Caesars Atlantic City.
He won the $1,000 buy-in no limit hold 'em tournament, getting just over $46,000 of the $179,450 prize pool.
He was soon joined in the ring-bearers circle by Vincent Basilicata, who came in first in Event #9, a deceptively inexpensive but still brutal $350 turbo No Limit Hold 'Em tournament. He beat 288 other players and earned $20,113 for his excellent play.
Top honors went to Brian Ali however, who did more than win $139,284 for beating the field in the World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event Championship at Caesars Atlantic City.
The 51 year old retiree from Brooklyn got himself $139,284 and bragging rights for the next year or so.
South Eastern Massachusetts
The poker room at Raynham Park in Massachusetts isn't the most exciting place in the world, but players on Friday night got to witness something pretty incredible: dealer Steve Parigian saved a man's life.
He was two hours into his first shift in the poker room when a commotion got his attention and someone rushed into the room demanding to know if anyone knew CPR.
Without thinking, Parigian was by his side and with help from two unidentified man, began administering lifesaving procedures on the man.
Turns out Parigian's more than just another dealer: he's also in training to become an EMT at a local EMS academy and is only a month away from taking his certification test.
"It was scary," Parigian told the local newspaper. "It was the first time I’ve seen anything like that ever happen. So I wasn’t exactly prepared for it, considering I wasn’t on the job for that. I was dealing cards."
Remarkably, Parigian was back at his table after an hour and a half break, even after management asked him if he wanted to go home.
