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Amateur Wins World Series of Poker27 May 2002”At Binion's Horseshoe in Las Vegas, they were talking about Robert Varkonyi yesterday like he was a Wild West gunslinger who blew into town with the tumbleweed. ”…A mild-mannered, bespectacled computer analyst from Brooklyn Heights, Varkonyi emerged from obscurity to win Friday night's high-stakes World Series of Poker. ”The 40-year-old amateur wore a T-shirt and a stunned expression as he flung his arms around a heap of chips and cash after a 10 of clubs handed him a surprise victory at the 33rd annual tournament. ”…Gasps from the crowd of 200 filled Binion's as the dealer uncovered the last common card in the final round of no-limit Texas Hold 'Em. ”Though the 10 of clubs gave 23-year-old Julian Gardner, England's top player, a flush, Varkonyi and the spectators didn't immediately realize it also gave him a full house of 10s and queens. A full house beats a flush. ”…The windfall was more than Varkonyi, who is the son of Hungarian immigrants and attended MIT on a scholarship, could have imagined. ”Growing up in Fresh Meadows, Queens, he practiced his poker face in nickel-and-dime games with his parents' friends. ”…For six years he's made the trip to Vegas for so-called satellite games, where a $200 stake gives you a shot at winning the $10,000 entry fee for the World Series. He never made the cut. ”This time a friend persuaded him to get into a $1,000 game. He won, became one of 631 players in the World Series field and started working his way to the finals. ”…Varkonyi was thrilled when he got to the round where he was guaranteed $20,000 — sitting with guys who were talking about their Ferraris and half-million-dollar pick-up games. ”…Varkonyi, who gave up his computer systems job to be a part-time technology investor and consultant a few years ago, had only one plan for the money: `Spend it,’ he laughed…” |