The Borgata Open is a stop on the World Poker Tour, which is televised on the Travel Channel. Winston's victory won't be televised for a few weeks. At the final table Thursday, Winston found himself going against crowd favorite and poker star Mike 'The Mouth' Matusow, knocking him out by drawing a flush on the turn to beat his two pairs.
Winston said the emotional Matusow, who finished sixth, was so upset by being knocked out that he was actually crying. At the end, it was Winston against newcomer Scott Yoon. Winston had the huge advantage in chips with 13,370,000 to Yoon's 3,445,000.
"He was the underdog, so he had a lot of guys rooting for him too," said Winston, whose World Series of Poker exploits earlier this summer will be televised at 5 p.m., today and next Tuesday on ESPN. "Although everyone likes a Cinderella story, I didn't want to see that one come true."
Head-to-head took 84 hands, before Winston drew pocket 4s. The river turned another 4 to give him a set. Yoon got caught trying to bluff with an ace high, giving Winston his largest payday.
Entering the tournament, Winston had $425,000 in career earnings. In addition to the $1,575,280 prize, Winston also won a silver watch and entry into the $25,000 buy-in Season VI WPT World Championship in April, 2008.
Winston, a doctor who is the founder of Laser Away in Rancho Mirage and five offices in Los Angeles, said he is planning on playing more WPT events and making more of a commitment to his blossoming poker career. In the coming months, Winston plans on playing WPT tournaments in Niagara Falls in October, at the Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket, Conn., in November, and at the Bellagio in December in Las Vegas. Winston is also toying with the idea of playing in a tournament in Australia in January.
Winston said one of the treats of winning in Atlantic City was the fact his parents, Beverly and Arnold, drove out from New York to watch him. "They drove 2 hours down to watch, which was thrilling for me," Winston said. "For them to see me at the final table that was kind of cool."
Another person who was there to support Winston was his coach, Joe McGowan of La Quinta.
The Borgata Open is a stop on the World Poker Tour, which is televised on the Travel Channel. Winston's victory won't be televised for a few weeks. At the final table Thursday, Winston found himself going against crowd favorite and poker star Mike 'The Mouth' Matusow, knocking him out by drawing a flush on the turn to beat his two pairs.