2007 World Series of Poker

The PokerNews Interview

Jay Newnum talked with Mike Spegal about playing in such a star-filled final table, and about how much more impact the win has coming on his 9th wedding aniversary.

Click here to check out the interview.

Tags: Bracelet, Mike Spegal.

Day 3 completed

Posted 06-05-2007 23:59 GMT-8

The ESPN Interview

In his post-victory interview with ESPN's Norm Chad, Mike Spegal revealed that this was his 9th wedding anniversary, and he and his wife actually had tickets since February to see Howie Mandell at 9:00 p.m. tonight. He then said that staying here at the Rio was a much better show.

When asked whether this victory was for him or his wife, Spegal said, "She can have the money; I'll take the bracelet."

Spegal was very respectful of his opponents at tonight's final table, particularly praising the play of Eric 'Rizen' Lynch and Gavin Smith.

Tags: Eric "Rizen" Lynch, Gavin Smith, Mike Spegal, Norman Chad.

Hand #129 - Mike Spegal Wins Event #4 ($252,290)

Hand #129 - Gavin Smith has the button, he raises to 120,000, Spegal raises to 240,000, Smith moves all in for 415,000, and Spegal calls with . Smith shows the , and he'll need his pocket pair to hold up to stay alive.

The flop comes , and Spegal picks up a flush draw to go with his two overcards.

The turn card is the , and Spegal clinches the pot with an ace-high flush. (The meaningless river card is the .)

Gavin Smith is eliminated in second place, earning $155,645.

Mike Spegal wins Event #4 ($1,500 Pot-Limit Hold'em), earning $252,290, a Corum watch, and a coveted WSOP bracelet.

Hand #128

Hand #128 - Mike Spegal has the button, he limps for 40,000, and Smith checks. The flop comes , and both players check. The turn card is the . Smith bets 65,000, and Spegal calls. The river card is the . Smith bets 175,000, and Spegal calls. Smith shows 8-4 for a bluff (he's playing the board), and Spegal shows for two pair (aces and deuces) to win the pot.

Hand #127

Hand #127 - Gavin Smith has the button, he limps for 40,000, and Spegal checks. The flop comes , Spegal checks, Smith bets 40,000, and Spegal calls. The turn card pairs the board with the . Spegal bets 40,000, and Smith calls. The river card is the . Spegal checks, Smith bets 135,000, and Spegal calls with Q-3 for two pair, aces and queens. But Smith shows for trip aces to win the pot.

Updated Chip Counts

Mike Spegal - 1,785,000
Gavin Smith - 565,000

Hand #126

Hand #126 - Mike Spegal has the button, he raises to 80,000, and Smith calls. The flop comes , and both players check. The turn card is the , Smith checks, Spegal bets 75,000, and Smith calls. The river card is the , Smith checks, Spegal bets 150,000, and Smith folds. Spegal takes the pot.

Hand #125

Between hands, Gavin Smith says this to Mike Spegal: "Why don't you start playing like a business owner and not like a poker player? I mean, stop it!"

Hand #125 - Gavin Smith has the button, he limps for 40,000, and Spegal checks. The flop comes , Spegal bets 40,000, and Smith folds. Spegal takes the pot.

Hand #124

Hand #124 - Mike Spegal has the button, and he folds.