26th Annual
World Series of Poker

$1,500 Buy-in
Entries: 212
Total Prize Money: $318,000

1994 Winner: Vince Burgio - $127,200

1995 Champion: ROD PEATE

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

1. Rod Peate					$127,200
Newport Beach, California
2. Steve Hohn					  63,600
Leewood, Kansas
3. Dr. Willard Noyes				  31,800
Kutztown, Pennsylvania
4. Phil Tanner					  19,080
Springfield, Illinois
5. Mike Sexton					  15,900
Las Vegas, Nevada
6. Mike Hart					  12,720
Newport Beach, California
7. Martin Fox					   9,540
New York, New York
8. Wing Wong					   6,360
Scottsdale, Arizona
9. Thomas Chung					   4,770
Federal Way, Washington
10. Sven Arntzen				   4,770
Annapolis, Maryland
11. Thomas Hayden				   4,770
Owensboro, Kentucky
12. J.J. Volpe					   4,770
Redlands, California
13. Gus Nescoe					   3,180
Largo, Florida
14. Bill Alexander				   3,180
Palm Springs, Florida
15. Rick Steiner				   3,180
Cincinnati, Ohio
16. George Gonzales				   3,180
Chicago, Illinois

. This is the first World Series title for Peate, who was runner-up to Tom McEvoy in the 1983 WSP no-limit Hold'em championship event. A poker shift supervisor for Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood, California, Peate holds a title from the Diamond Jim Brady tournament and has cashed numerous times in other major competitions. He played in home poker games as a kid and became a serious competitor 15 years ago.

. Peate came to the final table as the chip leader and managed to maintain his position until shortly before he faced Steve Hohn in the final showdown. When heads-up play began, the two men were almost even in chips and the lead swung back and forth for the next 30 minutes. Soon thereafter, Peate seized the advantage when he made sevens full of jacks, scooping a huge pot and leaving Hohn with only $2,000. The next hand, Hohn raised all in on third street with pocket queens and a six in the door, and Peate called with A-8-5. Hohn failed to improve, and Peate secured the pot and his first World Series title with aces up.

. "After placing in several World Series events over the years, it's great to finally win one," Peate said. "My wife Debbie wanted me to play in this tournament, and she staked me."

. For his second-place finish in the Stud High-Low Split event, Hohn received $63,600. A 46-year-old stockbroker from Leewood, Kansas, he has cashed in several other major tournaments, including the Poker Hall of Fame and the L.A. Poker Classic.

. "I'm thrilled with second place -- it's the most money I've ever won," Hohn said. "I was very fortunate today. I made a lot of comebacks and managed to yo-yo my way up."

. Dr. Willard Noyes, a 62-year-old vascular surgeon from Kutztown, Pennsylvania, finished in third place for $31,800. A poker player since the age of 6, Noyes holds a title from the Queens Poker Classic and has finished in the money in the World Poker Finals and the New England Poker Championship tournament.

. Noyes was eliminated from the Stud High-Low Split competition when he bet all in on sixth street with a low draw, failed to improve, and lost the pot to Steve Hohn, who made a pair of nines.

. Incidentally, Noyes commended the Horseshoe for instituting the new "Player Abuse Policy," saying that it was a pleasure to play in a tournament free from profanity and other indiscretions. "This should be the start of a nationwide reformation to give the game of poker the class and respect it deserves," he stated.

The Final Hand

Next Event. Previous Event.