Is poker a family game? Probably not, but in the hopes of turning a tournament into a bit of fun at low level stakes, Poker Player Newspaper teamed with Hollywood Park Casino to stage the Poker's #1 Family tournament.
Four members of the Mizrachi family graciously attended the party, all the way from Florida. Although the turnout was many times the first year's event, Hollywood Park decided to open the three events up to individual, unconnected players, with the proviso that only the qualified parties
could win the title, but the money would be normally distributed.
So, I played in the first event, and for a while I was far and away the chip leader. At the final table, David "the grinder" Mizrachi came up with the most chips. He personally knocked out nearly everyone at that table with his super aggressive play. He even knocked out his mother, Susie, and twin brother Eric on the same hand.
Finally, when I was on the bubble-three places were paid-he cracked my pocket aces with four hearts on the board and the king of hearts in his hand. Unfortunately, neither of my aces was a heart.
That win leaves the Mizrachi clan Poker's Number 1 Family Team until next year. The couple's event was won by Steve Wachtel and Lorri Broda, naming them Poker's Number 1 Couple, and the Parent-Child event was won by Jose and Dominico Graciamedrano.
We'll probably try this again next year. Leaving the game, but not the title, open, will invariably bring in more players when announced in advance. See you there.
Sunday: 1st Family Parent/Child
Buy-In $300+$40 Per Team
13 Teams
1. Jose & Dominico Graciamedrano . . . . . $1,890
2. Lila Aviv . . . . . . . . . . . $1,135
3. Alan Mendelson . . . . . $ 755
Saturday: 1st Family Pairs
$200+$30 per Couple
51 entries (10 pairs & 31 singles)
1. Sergio Cabreras . . . . . $1,830
2 Eduardo Mendoza . . . . .$990
3. Terry Carpenter . . . . . .$595
4. Steve Wachtel & Lorri Broda . . . . . . . . . .$390
Top Finishing Couple
5. Tony Nguyen . . . . . . . . .$320
6. Chris Berry . . . . . . . . . .$270
7. Farzad Bavarian . . . . . .$225
8. Ron Austin $175
9. John Scarpaci $150
Sunday: 1st Family Team
23 entries
1. Michael Mizrachi & Family . . . . . . . . . . $1,095
2. Al Siegel . . . . . . . . . . . . .$655
3. Christopher Konwin . . .$435
