New Frontier, Las Vegas NV: Live Money Blackjack Tournament, Feb 12-13, 2004

Summary by Kenneth R Smith

The format of the New Frontier tournaments has 2 players advancing from every round, all the way to the finals. Each round is 25 hands played with $300 in live money, with betting limits of $5 to $100. The game is dealt from a six-deck shoe, and late surrender is allowed.

Finalists, starting in seat 1 (nearest in photo), were Jeff Walden, Philip Chalberg, Mohammad Radmanesh, Arnold Holmberg, Johnny Cuchia and Chandler Duncan.

SeatPlayerBankrollBet CardsValueWin/Loss
Hand 21
1Walden$302.50 $5.005 6 Dbl T21+$10.00
2Chalberg$92.50 $15.008 A19-$15.00
3Radmanesh$395.00 $20.007 8Surr-$10.00
4Holmberg$280.00 $55.006 5 3 9Bust-$55.00
5==>Cuchia$355.00 $50.00A 5Surr-$25.00
6Duncan$352.50 $55.009 4 A QBust-$55.00
DealerUpcard K K Q20
Hand 22
1Walden$312.50 $5.00J 6Surr-$2.50
2Chalberg$77.50 $20.00A 5 6 4 9Bust-$20.00
3Radmanesh$385.00 $25.008 K18$0.00
4Holmberg$225.00 $50.008 K18$0.00
5Cuchia$330.00 $5.006 QSurr-$2.50
6==>Duncan$297.50 $40.00Q 818$0.00
DealerUpcard T T 818
Hand 23
1==>Walden$310.00 $60.00(9,9)Split: 9 4 / 9 2 Dbl 313 / 14-$180.00
2Chalberg$57.50 * $27.504 J14-$27.50
3Radmanesh$385.00 $30.009 615-$30.00
4Holmberg$225.00 $75.00K 919-$75.00
5Cuchia$327.50 $60.00K T20$0.00
6Duncan$297.50 $52.50Q T20$0.00
DealerUpcard 2 2 8 K20
Hand 24
1Walden$130.00 $65.00(Q,K)Split: K 7 / Q 517 / 15-$130.00
2==>Chalberg* $5.00 $5.00Q 616-$5.00
3Radmanesh$355.00 $5.00J Q20+$5.00
4Holmberg$150.00 $50.00Q 414-$50.00
5Cuchia$327.50 $40.00T 919$0.00
6Duncan$297.50 $62.50K 313-$62.50
DealerUpcard 6 6 3 T19
Hand 25
1Walden--- ---
2Chalberg--- ---
3==>Radmanesh$360.00 $30.00J 717-$30.00
4Holmberg$100.00 $100.008 2 5 7Bust-$100.00
5Cuchia$327.50 $100.003 A T14-$100.00
6Duncan$235.00 $100.00(7,7) Split: 7 J / 7 Q17 / 17-$200.00
DealerUpcard 9 9 3 820
* Note: My records are apparently inaccurate regarding the bankroll and bets of Philip Chalberg, since my calculated bankroll of $30 differs from the actual bankroll of $5 going into hand 24. My apologies for the confusion, -Ken-

Notice the remarkable lack of wins in the final five hands here. Out of 28 hands dealt to the finalists after the countdown, only two hands were paid, for a total of $15.

Final Standings
PlayerFinal BankrollPlacePrize Money
Jeff Walden$0.005th (Tie)$2,095
Philip Chalberg$0.005th (Tie)$2,095
Mohammad Radmanesh$330.001st$27,870
Arnold Holmberg$0.004th$5,575
Johnny Cuchia$227.502nd$14,865
Chandler Duncan$35.003rd$9,290

Pictured below: The winner Mohammad Radmanesh (right).
Thanks to Melanie Mabry of the New Frontier for providing the photos.


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