Newcomer Hershler Goes from Zero to Poker Hero

Monday, 5 March 2007

Saying he started the tournament naturally assuming he had 'zero' chance to win, since it was his first ever poker tournament, Eric Hershler of Los Angeles showed the pros that you can go from 'zero' to $2,429,970 in just five days.

Saying he started the tournament naturally assuming he had 'zero' chance to win, since it was his first ever poker tournament, Eric Hershler of Los Angeles showed the pros that you can go from 'zero' to $2,429,970 in just five days.
The Los Angeles native shocked himself by capturing the record first prize at the LA Poker Classic at Commerce Casino, coming from behind to defeat highly regarded J.C. Tran, who was chip leader throughout most of the five-day World Poker Tour (WPT) event.
Hershler claimed the largest first prize ever for a $10,000 buy-in event on the WPT, defeating a field of some 791 players.
For most of the tournament, Tran was the dominant player, but in the closing hour, the first-timer Hershler kept hitting great cards to siphon off Tran's hefty chip stack. Two pair-Jacks and Sixes on the final hand sealed Tran's fate and gave Hershler the victory.
'What a great fairytale ending,' said Commerce Casino Manager Tim Gustin. 'We are especially pleased that Eric Hershler, a local player, kept the title here in Los Angeles.'
In addition to the $2.4 million, Hershler was awarded a $25,000-seat in the WPT World Championship in April at Bellagio in Las Vegas.



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