Joseph DeSanto had nothing to lose, but his run in the American Poker Championship ended sooner than expected Monday at Turning Stone Resort and Casino.

“I had so many people behind me,” DeSanto said yesterday. “People from across the country sent me e-mails, saying they were praying for me.”

DeSanto finished 43rd in a field of 112 competitors that included eight of the top 20 best poker players in the world.

Players who finished in the top 36 moved onto the second day of competition Tuesday, with the final six playing yesterday.

DeSanto played in the tournament hoping to win money for Tyler’s Fund, named in honor of his 5-year-old grandson Tyler Fry, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

The Arcadia town supervisor won his way into the championship by finishing in the top three in a “super satellite” tournament last Thursday.

DeSanto drew Table 8 in the 10-table tournament, playing against mostly professionals.

“No matter where I turned, there was a pro,” he said.

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DeSanto began with $10,000 worth of chips — winning as much as $26,000 before bowing out.

“I had ace/10 quite a bit,” noted DeSanto. “I had ace/jack in the last hand. I went all in and we sat there for about three minutes before the pro called. He had ace/queen.”

DeSanto said he went “all in” — meaning he bet everything he had — three times during the competition, winning twice. Some of the professionals were impressed with DeSanto’s play, he said.

“I had a lot of compliments from the professionals,” said DeSanto. “I told them I’d see them next year. I just have to win another seat.”

DeSanto finished better than some of the best in the world, including 2004 World Series of Poker champion Greg “Fossilman” Rayner, who finished in 85th place.

“I really enjoyed myself. It was emotional,” said DeSanto. “These poker players are some of the most down-to-earth people I’ve ever met.”

Phil Ivey of Las Vegas won Fox Sports Net’s American Poker Championship in the first live poker telecast last night, taking home $500,000.

DeSanto plans to compete in the second annual Empire State Hold ’Em Poker Championships in August at Turning Stone, with a $25,000 top prize.

Source: Finger Lakes Times Online

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