Jim Bechtel
Encyclopedia
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).
when he finished runner-up to Perry Green in the $1,500 no limit
Texas hold 'em
event.
He followed up this showing with several more final table appearances at the WSOP tournaments. Bechtel first cashed in the $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event in 1986, finishing in 11th place. He made the final table of the Main Event in 1988, finishing in 6th place in the tournament which
was won by Johnny Chan
who earned his second consecutive world championship title. Bechtel earned $49,000 for his 6th place finish.
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 while Cozen only held the , the five community cards dealt were 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, 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), 1988
(6th), 1989
(31st), and 2001
(23rd).
Bechtel was also one of the players to make the final table of the inaugural $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event of the 2006 World Series of Poker
, which was won by Chip Reese
. The players at the final table for this event were one of the most accomplished groups of poker players ever to sit at a WSOP final table. The table included two world champions, Bechtel himself and Doyle Brunson
, WSOP bracelet winners T. J. Cloutier
, Phil Ivey
, Dewey Tomko
, Chip Reese, as well as established professionals David Singer
who has since won a bracelet, Patrik Antonius
, and Andy Bloch
who finished runner-up in the tournament. Bechtel was eliminated after his pocket 7's were beaten by Bloch's pocket 10's. Bechtel 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. His 23 cashes at the WSOP account for $1,809,967 of those winnings.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
and poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
player, based in Gilbert
Gilbert, Arizona
-Demographics:As of July 1, 2009, Maricopa Association of Governments, Census 2000. United States Census Bureau. there were 217,521 people, 74,147 housing units, and 3.01 persons per household....
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. He is best known for winning the 1993 Main Event at the World Series of Poker
World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker is a world-renowned series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas and, since 2005, sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment...
(WSOP).
Poker career
Bechtel began playing poker as a recreational player near his home in Arizona while working as a cotton farmer. He cashed for the first time in the World Series of Poker, coming close to winning a WSOP bracelet in 19791979 World Series of Poker
The 1979 World Series of Poker was held at Binion's Horseshoe in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.-Preliminary events:-Main Event:There were 54 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter the tournament. Fowler was the first amateur to win the WSOP...
when he finished runner-up to Perry Green in the $1,500 no limit
Betting (poker)
In the game of poker, the play largely centers on the act of betting, and as such, a protocol has been developed to speed up play, lessen confusion, and increase security while playing...
Texas hold 'em
Texas hold 'em
Texas Hold 'em is a variation of the standard card game of poker. The game consists of two cards being dealt face down to each player and then five community cards being placed face-up by the dealer—a series of three then two additional single cards , with...
event.
He followed up this showing with several more final table appearances at the WSOP tournaments. Bechtel first cashed in the $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event in 1986, finishing in 11th place. He made the final table of the Main Event in 1988, finishing in 6th place in the tournament which
was won by Johnny Chan
Johnny Chan (poker player)
Johnny Chan rather than his Chinese birth name. born in Guangzhou, China in 1957) is a Chinese American professional poker player. He has won 10 World Series of Poker bracelets, including 1987 and 1988 World Series of Poker main events consecutively....
who earned his second consecutive world championship title. Bechtel earned $49,000 for his 6th place finish.
At the 1993 WSOP
1993 World Series of Poker
-Preliminary events:-Main Event:There were 220 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter the tournament.-Final table:-Other High Finishes:NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry....
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
Mansour Matloubi
Mansour Matloubi is an Iranian-British professional poker player.Matloubi won the 1990 Main Event, making him the first non-American to do so. He also made the final table of the 1993 Main Event, finishing in fourth place. He was eliminated by the event winner, Jim Bechtel.As of 2011, his total...
and professional poker player John Bonetti
John Bonetti
John Joseph Bonetti was an American professional poker player from Houston, Texas.Born in Brooklyn, New York, Bonetti began playing at the age of 54, and won three bracelets at the World Series of Poker ....
. Bechtel then went on to defeat his final opponent Glenn Cozen
Glenn Cozen
Glenn Cozen is an American professional poker player from Pasadena, California, who is best known for his second-place finish in the $10,000 buy-in Main Event at the 1993 World Series of Poker....
, 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 while Cozen only held the , the five community cards dealt were 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, becoming the first amateur player at the time to win the WSOP Main Event since Hal Fowler
Hal Fowler
Harold Arthur "Hal" Fowler was an American poker player known for winning the 1979 World Series of Poker Main Event. He is considered the first amateur poker player to become poker's World Champion....
won the 1979 WSOP Championship.
Bechtel also finished in the money of the Main Event in 1986
1986 World Series of Poker
-Preliminary events:-Main Event:There were 141 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter the tournament.-Final table:-Other High Finishes:NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry....
(11th), 1988
1988 World Series of Poker
-Preliminary events:-Final table:-Other High Finishes:NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry....
(6th), 1989
1989 World Series of Poker
The 1989 World Series of Poker was held at Binion's Horseshoe. The 1989 Main Event was won by 24-year-old Phil Hellmuth, defeating defending champion Johnny Chan, and also breaking the record for the youngest player to win the WSOP Main Event . Had Johnny Chan won, he would have tied Johnny...
(31st), and 2001
2001 World Series of Poker
-Preliminary events:-Main Event:There were 613 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter what was the largest poker tournament ever played in a non-online casino at the time.-Final table:-Other High Finishes:...
(23rd).
Bechtel was also one of the players to make the final table of the inaugural $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event of the 2006 World Series of Poker
2006 World Series of Poker
The 2006 World Series of Poker began on June 25, 2006 with "satellite" events, with regular play commencing on June 26 with the annual Casino Employee event, and the Tournament of Champions held on June 28 and 29...
, which was won by Chip Reese
Chip Reese
David Edward Reese , more commonly known as Chip Reese, was an American professional poker player and gambler from Centerville, Ohio...
. The players at the final table for this event were one of the most accomplished groups of poker players ever to sit at a WSOP final table. The table included two world champions, Bechtel himself and Doyle Brunson
Doyle Brunson
Doyle F. Brunson is an American professional poker player who has played professionally for over 50 years. He is the first two-time World Series of Poker main event champion to win consecutively, a Poker Hall of Fame inductee, and the author of several books on poker.Brunson is the first player to...
, WSOP bracelet winners T. J. Cloutier
T. J. Cloutier
Thomas James "T.J." Cloutier is a professional poker player from Richardson, Texas. He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2006.-Early years:...
, Phil Ivey
Phil Ivey
Phillip Dennis "Phil" Ivey Jr. is an American professional poker player who has won eight World Series of Poker bracelets, one World Poker Tour title and appeared at nine World Poker Tour final tables...
, Dewey Tomko
Dewey Tomko
Duane "Dewey" Tomko is an American former kindergarten teacher turned professional poker player, based in Winter Haven, Florida....
, Chip Reese, as well as established professionals David Singer
David Singer (poker player)
David Singer is an American professional poker player and former attorney.-Law career:Singer is a former environmental lawyer who worked on issues and lawsuits related to cleaning up the Long Island Sound for a non-profit organization.-Poker career:He has been playing poker professionally since...
who has since won a bracelet, Patrik Antonius
Patrik Antonius
Patrik Antonius is a Finnish professional poker player, former tennis player and coach, and model from Vantaa, Finland. He currently resides in Monte Carlo...
, and Andy Bloch
Andy Bloch
Andrew Elliot Bloch is a professional poker player. He holds two electrical engineering degrees from MIT and a JD from Harvard Law School.-Poker:...
who finished runner-up in the tournament. Bechtel was eliminated after his pocket 7's were beaten by Bloch's pocket 10's. Bechtel 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
Tom McEvoy
Thomas K. McEvoy is a professional poker player and author. He is best known for his win in the 1983 World Series of Poker main event.-Early life:...
.
As of 2009, his total tournament winnings exceed $2,500,000. His 23 cashes at the WSOP account for $1,809,967 of those winnings.
World Series of Poker bracelet
| Year | Event | Prize ($US) |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 1993 World Series of Poker -Preliminary events:-Main Event:There were 220 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter the tournament.-Final table:-Other High Finishes:NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry.... |
$10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship | $1,000,000 |