26th Annual
World Series of Poker

$2,500 Buy-in
Entries: 163
Total Prize Money: $407,500

1994 Winner: T.J. Cloutier - $163,000

1995 Champion: HILBERT SHIREY

• The Winners.
• The Showdown.
• The Final Table.
• The Final Hand.

1. Hilbert Shirey				$163,000
Winterhaven, Florida
2. Tom Jacobs					  81,500
Las Vegas, Nevada
3. Ed Hill					  40,750
Las Vegas, Nevada
4. Mike Laing					  26,488
Las Vegas, Nevadaa
5. Tommy Grimes					  20,375
Houston, Texas
6. Chris Bjorin					  14,263
London, England
7. Hertzel Zalewski				  10,187
Houston, Texas
8. Tony Lantz					   8,150
Las Vegas, Nevada
9. Jim Bechtel					   6,112
Gilbert, Arizona
10. Dick Carson					   4,890
Las Vegas, Nevada
11. Matthias Rohnacher				   4,890
Heidelberg, Germany
12. O'Neil Longson				   4,890
Salt Lake City, Utah
13. Dino Moustakis				   4,075
Danvers, Massachusetts
14. Donn O'Dea					   4,075
London, England
15. George Bofysil				   4,075
Houston, Texas
16. Jason Lester				   3,260
New York, New York
17. Mansour Matloubi				   3,260
London, England
18. Peter Eichhardt				   3,260
Holbaek, Denmark

. Shirey also was awarded a World Series bracelet, plus $137,000, for his victory in the $2,500 buy-in pot-limit Omaha event held May 9. "Winning two tournaments in a row is just unbelievable -- it's like a dream," Shirey said. "I expect to win when I get in a tournament -- everyone does -- but I was so tired from last night that I didn't think I could stay focused. But I did, and I brought it on home."

. Shirey is only the fourth player in the history of the World Series of Poker to win back-to-back competitions. This feat was first accomplished by Sam Mastrogiannis back in 1986 and was achieved again in 1993 by both Ted Forrest and Phil Hellmuth.

. The owner of an auto auction, Shirey now has three WSP titles to his credit, as well as titles from the L.A. Poker Classic and the Diamond Jim Brady tournament. He played his first hand of poker 20 years ago in a home game with his family.

. Although Shirey was slightly outchipped by runner-up Tom Jacobs when heads-up play began, he soon won a key hand that put Jacobs almost down to the felt. Jacobs raised before the flop with Q-10 and Shirey, who held 7-6 suited, called. The flop came 10-9-6, giving Jacobs top pair and Shirey bottom pair and a gut-shot straight draw. When Jacobs moved all in, Shirey called all in. A seven then fell on the turn, and when the river brought a blank, Shirey took the pot and a 5-to-1 chip lead with two pair. It was all over shortly thereafter when Jacobs raised all in before the flop with AH 5D, and Shirey called with JS 10S. The final board showed QS QD 6S 9S 8S, giving Shirey a straight flush to win the pot and his third World Series title.

. For his second-place finish in the pot-limit Hold'em event, Jacobs received $81,500. A 49-year-old businessman from Las Vegas, Jacobs has cashed several times in previous World Series tournaments, including placing second in the 1993 WSP championship competition. He has been playing poker since childhood.

. Finishing in third place for $40,750 was Ed Hill of Las Vegas. A 41-year-old investor, Hill holds titles from the Hall of Fame Poker Classic and the Gold Coast Open. He was eliminated from the pot-limit Hold'em competition when he raised all in before the flop with QC 7C and was called by Shirey, who held A-3 offsuit. The flop came A-8-2 with one club. But the turn and the river brought no help to Hill, and Shirey won the pot with his pair of aces.

. Jim Bechtel, the 1993 World Champion of Poker, placed ninth for $6,112. With total WSP earnings of $1,133,252, Bechtel ranks No. 8 on the roster of all-time World Series money winners.

. Finishing in 17th place and pocketing $3,260 was Mansour Matloubi, the 1990 World Champion of Poker. His latest award brings Matloubi's total World Series earnings to $1,172,570, and he currently holds down the No. 7 spot on the roster of all-time WSP money winners.

The Final Hand

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