Event #24
Seven-Card Stud 
Buy-In: $5,000
Number of Entries: 144
Prize Money: $676,800

OFFICIAL RESULTS:

1 Joe Awada (Las Vegas, NV) $221,000 
2 Marcel Luske (Amsterdam, Holland) $120,800 
3 Jeffrey Lisandro (Santa Barbara, Salerno) $74,440 
4 Nick Frangos (Mays Landing, NJ) $54,140 
5 Corey Zeidman (Sarasota, FL) $44,000 
6 John Juanda (Marina Del Rey, CA) $33,840 
7 Ralph Levine (Las Vegas, NV) $27,080 
8 Dewey Tomko (Haines City, FL) $20,300 
9 Phyllis Meyers (Las Vegas, NV) $12,180 
10 Chau Giang (Las Vegas, NV) $12,180 
11 Brian Strahl (Staten Island, NY) $10,820 
12 Young Phan (Garden Grove, CA) $10,820 
13 David Levi (Marina Del Rey, CA) $9,480 
14 James Hoeppner (Las Vegas, NV) $9,480 
15 James McManus (Kenilworth, IL) $8,120 
16 Mori Eskandani (Las Vegas, NV) $8,120

If there is such a thing as “justice” in the game of poker, it was rendered in the $5,000 buy-in Seven-Card Stud event at the 2004 World Series of Poker. Jaya “Joe” Awata won his first gold bracelet in what has officially become known as the “Seven Card Stud World Championship.” Awata topped a tough field of 144 players – including his last seven rivals at the final table.

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The real story of Awata’s hard-earned victory dates back two weeks ago, to Event #9 in the $1,500 buy-in No-Limit Texas Hold’em championship. Awata came within a single card of winning the gold bracelet that day, only to see his poker dream shattered when his opponent caught two perfect “runner-runner” cards to loot the biggest pot of tournament. On that critical hand during heads up play, Awata was dealt 5-5 against (eventual winner) Scott Fischman’s A-K. The final board showed 9-7-4-9-7, which meant Fischman’s ace out-kicked Awata’s pair of fives – since the board showed two pair, higher than fives.

As ESPN cameras converged on Fischman’s moment of triumph, Awata backed away from the final table quietly and was lost amidst the excitement. He showed remarkable composure for a man who has essentially just lost $144,000 – the difference in prize money between first and second place.

Despite the heartbreaking defeat, Awata did not appear angry or upset. His self-assured manner seemed to suggest he knew the time would eventually come when he’d get back to the final table again, and be in a position to win. Fourteen days later, Awata was sitting at the final table of the Seven-Card Stud championship, with his sight set on victory. Justice would be done.

When play became heads-up, all that stood in the way of Awata’s victory was a Amsterdam (Holland) pro nicknamed “The Flying Dutchman.” His name was Marcel Luske. The duel lasted nearly three hours. Luske seized control early and built up a 3 to 1 chip advantage. For a while, it looked like Awata would end up as a bridesmaid, once again. Then, things turned as Awata changed his style and became much more aggressive, push along by a nice rush of cards. The final hand ended with Luske’s two queens losing to Awata’s flush. When Luske moved “all in” with his big pair on the river, Awata stood up and shouted, “yes!” He knew he was the winner – with a diamond flush.

After his win, Awata was interviewed by ESPN’s Normal Chad (Note: ESPN will telecast this event sometime during the Summer of 2004):

Chad: Is there anything that you learned from that final table two weeks ago that helped you today?
Awata: You hope that Lady Luck is behind you in every event that you play. But first, you have to be lucky enough to make it to the last table. I was fortunate enough to do so. Lady Luck was on my side this time.

Chad: What if you would have (finished second again)? It would have been a great accomplishment, but there would have been some disappointment with back-to-back seconds, right?
Awata: I would have been satisfied with my play. But you always want to achieve the most you can achieve. This is a totally different feeling, coming in first and winning the championship – especially this particular championship. It means a lot to me – getting my hand on this bracelet.

Chad: When you got heads up (with Marcel Luske), did you have any thoughts about how you might change your game and style of play?
Awata: I really do believe you have to be flexible. Based on your opponent, you have to adjust your game. Matter of fact, I made a lot of plays that I normally would never make. It paid off for me, because the cards started to come my way eventually. In the beginning, I made some bad plays and (Marcel) took away some of my chips. Then, I got more aggressive….and won it.

Chad: Early on, heads up -- you were down about 3 to 1 in chips. Did you tell yourself anything? Did you change the way you were playing? What happened?
Awata: During the dinner break, I beat myself up a bit, because I went off my game. I settled down and went back to basics. Then, when I got a little rush with the cards, I made my move.

Chad: You had some of your family with you here at the table. After you won, your wife called you – (is that right?)
Awata: My beautiful wife called me. I had her and the kids with me at the table. They were my cheerleaders here at the final table.

Chad: How often do your kids talk about you playing poker? Are they aware of all the poker tht you have played?
Awata: My wife thinks I’m nuts for playing poker. My kids don’t really say much, either way. But when they see their dad on ESPN, they’ll probably enjoy it and feel proud I hope – as proud as I am, at least. I am very proud of what I’ve done.

Joe Awata earned his keep and revenge in his win at the WSOP. (AP Images)

Chad: Will you ever forget the feeling on your final “all in” -- where you know you have your opponent beat (with the flush)?
Awata: I realized I had him beat because he didn’t have anything that could beat the flush. And that was it.

Chad: How many more tournaments are you going to play (at this year’s WSOP)?
Awata: Well, at least one more. I’m going to play in the big one (the $10,000 buy-in world championship).

Joe Awata is married and has six children. He was born in Lebanon and immigrated to the United States, before eventually settling down in Las Vegas. Now 45, he started playing poker at age 12. When asked about influences upon his game, Awata said he is self-taught and became proficient at poker through his own diligence.

It’s been said, “adversity introduces a man to himself.” At this year’s World Series, Joe Awata endured a terrible beat that cost him a championship. Then, he rebounded with a exhilarating triumph. That must have made the victory all the more poignant.