Robert Georato Wins WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Hammond Event #1 for $110,471
This past weekend, the World Series of Poker Circuit Horseshoe Hammond kicked off with Event #1 $365 No-Limit Hold’em Re-Entry, which surpassed its $500,000 guarantee by attracting 2,496 entries and creating a prize pool of $748,800. The top 252 finishers were paid, and it was Robert Georato of Naples, Florida that walked away with the $110,471 first-place prize.
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Robert Georato | Naples, Florida | $110,471 |
| 2nd | Joseph Michaels | Crown Point, Indiana | $69,489 |
| 3rd | Michael Younan | Chicago, Illinois | $52,109 |
| 4th | William Jones | Hemet, California | $40,128 |
| 5th | Travis Towns | Oshkosh, Wisconsin | $31,173 |
| 6th | Bryan Wile | Lapel, Indiana | $24,336 |
| 7th | Matthew Benjamin | n/a | $19,169 |
| 8th | Matthew Jager | n/a | $15,276 |
| 9th | Michael Ross | n/a | $12,378 |
Notable Finishes: Jean Gaspard (23rd - $4,658), Jeff Fielder (106th - $1,033), Isaac Baron (113th - $1,033), Shawn Rice (118th - $1,033), Keven Stammen (136th - $951), Ari Engel (148th - $951), Nick Jivkov (149th - $951), Sam Panzica (160th - $876), Kevin Saul (167th - $876)
Prior to his big score in Hammond, Georato has made three final tables at the Horseshoe Southern Indiana, including a seventh-place finish in the Main Event. It was a nice showing, but one that left him disappointed considering he began that final table as the chip leader. Fortunately, he was able to redeem himself in Hammond, which is just across the state line from Chicago.
Two starting flights accounted for 2,496 entries, but just 299 (a total of 125 players advanced from Day 1a while 174 moved on from Day 1b) made it through to Day 2 on Saturday. Within 40 minutes, the money bubble burst and then the field played down to the final 10. Michael Younan began the third and final day of play with the chip lead, but early on Georato pulled out in front and never looked back. After 10 hours at the final table, four of which were spent playing three handed, Georato emerged victorious to capture his second WSOP Circuit gold ring and a seat to the Horseshoe Hammond Main Event.
“Southern Indiana was tough. I was really disappointed with how things ended in the Main Event,” Georato told the WSOP after his win. “I don’t want to say I was due, but this feels really good.”
The 2013/2014 WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Hammond stop continues through Oct. 28 and will conclude with the massive $2,000,000 guaranteed Main Event. Stay tuned to PokerNews for a recap of that event to see who walks away with the title.
*Lead photo courtesy of WSOP.
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PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.
