THE CHICAGO NO-LIMIT POKER CHAMPIONSHIP

2008 FINAL TABLE

Michael Canning, 4th

Howard Moore, 8th

Fabian Ramos, 9th (tie)

PLAYER PROFILES

During the '07-08 season, hundreds of players competed in the regular-schedule and playoff events leading to the 2007 and 2008 No-Limit Poker Grand Championships. On Jan. 4, 2009, 80 of the city's best competed in a double-elimination format for the 2008 Chicago No-Limit Texas Holdem Championship. The final table was a mixture of ages, styles, and experience. As a measure of how challenging this event was, the Final Table featured both of the top-two ranked players of 2007. The "class of 2008" will make a tremendous contribution to the competiton level at the 2010 Chicago Player of the Decade Tournament.

Tournament Manager "Chicago Mike" Bishop noted that Rabito's strategy is tailored to fit him. "Not everyone see's position the way Robb does, some look at it just the opposite... the important thing is that he's thinking on many more levels than just the cards in front of him and he's fashioned a style that suits his individual personality, that's critical if you're going to play professionally".

Rabito plays both single-table and tournament poker and figures (correctly) that his game will improve by taking on the best competition he can find. "I enjoy the game and I know pressure comes with good competition", he says. "The key is to know your opponent's style and what they're likely to do given their chip count".

Bishop first met Rabito when he was an accomplished amateur several years ago: "...Robb was always one of the hard-working guys at the tournament, he wanted to learn and play the best competition he could find. I never saw him get dejected over a loss, he just bounced back better at the next event... He's the classic example of what you can accomplish at poker when you work at it." Robito will have a chance to match wits with the city's greatest players at the Chicago Player of the Decade Tournament set for 2010.

Tournament Manager Mike Bishop was surprised to learn Alejo was relatively new to the game: "... he sure packed alot of poker into those 2 years", Bishop said. "I started watching Milo about an hour into the tournament. He was building a stack from the get-go and seemed to increase it at every table he played. He had alot of confidence tonite and that helped given the great players he was facing... Some players look for soft games, and some thrive in pressure, perhaps he's in that latter category..."

"Chicago Mike" Bishop watched him play throughout the tournament. "I was real impressed by his poise" Bishop said. "I'd never have suspected this was Rogelio's first brick and mortar event, no way.... he's real patient and calculating and you can't teach that..."

Asked what might be next for Lopez, Bishop answered: "...All those new players out there can use Rog as an example. What he has to do now is play more poker AND different kinds of poker... play stud, omaha, lowball... tournaments and ring games. Take your hard knocks and develop your own personal style that fits you best... That's how you go from lucky amateur to seasoned pro...".

Noticing the parallels in the careers of the top 3 finishers Bishop said "... it's amazing how similar Robb, Milo and Rogelio are in style, you don't often find that at a tournament... Robb's just got a few years on them and they'd be real smart to take a page out of his playbook... take on all the competition they can..."

"Mikes an amazing player, he came to the final table very short-stacked but patiently picked his spots and managed to finish 4th overall" Bishop said "... you could pick him out about 30 minutes into the tournament... very confident in himself, patient, experienced... and he was having a good time, that's more important than alot of people realize because the pressure can get to you... veteran players like Mike, Fabian, and Merri.. they guaranteed that this final table would be a challenge!"

Looking back on the tournament Joe remembered one particularly fateful hand: "... Early on I had A-3 short stacked and was all-in when an Ace hit the flop... The other player had A-J and I caught a lucky 3 on the river to stay in the game... I guess 3 was my card because I also hit quad 3's tonite ! ..."

Tournament Manager "Chicago Mike" Bishop knows Fitzgerald well, having seen him play many times over the past 3 years: "...Joe has paid his dues and is becoming a truly accomplished player... He's confident, loves poker and the challenges that go with it... like Robb he's been moving up in class year by year... Joe's got all the skills and now he's put in the time to hone his game..." Next stop for Fitzgerald is the 2010 Chicago Player of the Decade Tournament

"... I know it sounds trite, but luck is still a big part of this game... every night I expect at least one major lucky hand and for me the key is how you play it, and what you do with the payoff..." Asked about memorable hands this evening Ory said "... I limped in the big blind with deuce-seven offsuit and a checked flop let me see the turn... the board was 4-flushed in spades so I called a small bet on the river with my 7 of spades only to find it held up..."

"Howard is a lifelong student of poker", said Tournament Manager Bishop, "every time he plays he incorporates what he's learned and sharpens his game... "

Merri Furlong has a natural gift for poker. Unflappable, she reads people and situations superbly. She's a master of all varieties of the game as proven by victories in both the No-Limit Lowball and No-Limit Omaha 2007 Grand Championships. During the regular 2007 season Merri made 26 Final Tables including 5 Top Three finishes.

Furlong can now add the 2008 Championship Final Table to her resume. With more than enough professional talent now, if Merri continues her rate of improvement she truly has "No Limit".

Fabian's 2006-07 record speaks for itself. In the regular season he made 39 Final Tables, 19 Top Three's, and 6 first place finishes. Even more impressive he made 9 Playoff Final Tables, winning four of them.

Ramos is a true pro-level player in every respect. Patient, calculating, and difficult to put on tilt, he can play a solid game for hours and capitalize on his opponents mistakes. For over a year this Chicago legend has proven himself a consistent winner at every game from Lowball to Stud to Holdem.

For the Full Chicago Poker Tournaments Scoreboard Index, click here.