 Bechtel at the 2008 World Series of Poker $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event. |
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| Hometown | Gilbert, Arizona |
|---|---|
| World Series of Poker | |
| Bracelet(s) | 1 |
| Money finishes | 23 |
| Highest ITM Main Event finish |
Winner, 1993 |
| World Poker Tour | |
| Titles | None |
| Final tables | None |
| Money finishes | 4 |
| Information accurate as of 15 July 2009. | |
James Gary "Jim" Bechtel (born 1952?) is an American cotton farmer and poker player, based in Gilbert, Arizona. He is best known for winning the 1993 Main Event at the World Series of Poker (WSOP).
Bechtel came close to winning a WSOP bracelet in 1979 when he finished runner-up to Perry Green in the $1,500 no limit Texas hold 'em event.
At the 1993 WSOP Main Event, Bechtel reached the final table in second chip position with $631,000. He went on to eliminate the 1990 World Champion Mansour Matloubi and professional poker player John Bonetti.
Bechtel then went on to defeat his final opponent Glenn Cozen, who in the third hand of heads-up play raised all-in with a very short-stack of chips, Bechtel instantly called the bet without first looking at his cards which were J♣ 6♥ while Cozen only held the 7♦ 4♥, the five community cards dealt were 10♦ 8♠ 3♣ 2♣ 5♦ and since neither player's hand improved Bechtel won the title on the strength of the Jack-high alone. Bechtel earned the top prize of $1,000,000 and the WSOP bracelet[1], becoming the first amateur player at the time to win the WSOP Main Event since Hal Fowler won the 1979 WSOP Championship.
Bechtel also finished in the money of the Main Event in 1986 (11th), made the final table at the 1988 WSOP (6th), 1989 (31st), and 2001 WSOP (23rd).
Bechtel was also one of the players to make the final table of the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event of the 2006 World Series of Poker, where he earned $549,120 for his fourth-place finish.
In 2009, Bechtel competed in the WSOP Champions Invitational tournament, open only to players who have won the $10,000 No Limit Hold'em Main Event at the World Series of Poker. The tournament drew 20 out of the 24 living former world champions, and the ten-handed final table was broadcast by ESPN. Bechtel finished fourth place in the tournament, which was won by 1983 World Champion Tom McEvoy.
As of 2009, his total tournament winnings exceed $2,500,000.[2] His 23 cashes at the WSOP account for $1,809,967 of those winnings.[3]
References
- ^ "WSOP 1993 Final Hand". PokerWorks.com. http://pokerworks.com/historical-poker-hands/wsop-1993-final-hand.html. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ Hendon Mob tournament results
- ^ World Series of Poker Earnings, worldseriesofpoker.com
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