Eric Blair Wins World Series of Poker Circuit The Lodge Casino for $116,325
The penultimate stop of the 2013/2014 World Series of Poker Circuit wrapped up its $1,675 Main Event on Monday at The Lodge Casino in Blackhawk, Colorado.
The tournament attracted 330 entries to create a prize pool of $495,000. After three days of play, Eric Blair walked away with the $116,325 first-place prize and a seat into the 2014 National Championship.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eric Blair | Las Vegas, NV | $126,325 |
| 2 | Nicholas Petitti | Denver, CO | $71,924 |
| 3 | Craig Varnell | Ft. Collins, CO | $52,237 |
| 4 | Alexander Greenblatt | Atherton, CA | $38,585 |
| 5 | Corey Zedo | Denver, CO | $28,967 |
| 6 | Gino Levrini | Las Vegas, NV | $22,092 |
| 7 | Jonathan Haidsiak | Laramie, WY | $17,112 |
| 8 | Michael Wolf | Aurora, CO | $13,454 |
| 9 | Brian Hartner | Northglenn, CO | $10,737 |
Notable finishes: Tim West (21st - $5,039), Jesse Capps (23rd - $4,321), Alex Masek (24th - $4,321), Bernard Lee (25th - $3,757), Joe Kuether (29th - $3,312)
According to the WSOP Blog, the final table was reached late on Day 2. In Level 23 (8,000/16,000/2,000), a short-stacked Brian Hartner moved all in and was in bad shape against Alex Greenblatt.
Hartner: Q♦8♣
Greenblatt: A♣Q♥
Hartner had some kicker issues, and he would receive no help as the board ran out 10♠2♥7♣5♥5♠. Hartner took home $10,737 for his ninth-place finish.
After Jamie Wolf and Jonathan Haidsiak fell in eighth and seventh place, respectively, Gino Levrini followed them out the door in sixth for $22,092, and play was halted for the evening.
Five players returned to action on Day 3, which kicked off in Level 26 (15,000/30,000/5,000). Corey Zedo was the first to go in fifth place for $28,967 after his pocket sixes ran into Blair’s kings, and then it was Greenblatt’s turn to go after his nines lost a race to Craig Varnell’s A♣J♠.
A little later on, Varnell moved all in from the button holding the K♣8♦ and Nicholas Petitti called with the A♣K♥. The 9♣8♥3♥ flop gave Varnell the lead with a pair of eights, but it was short lived as the dealer burned and turned the A♦. Petitti retook the lead and kept it as the 4♥ blanked on the river. Varnell took home $52,237 for his third-place finish.
Blair began heads-up play with a sizeable lead over Petitti, but it proved to be a back-and-forth affair. The final hand played out in Level 29 (30,000/60,000/10,000) and began when Petitti opened for 130,000 from the button only to have Blair three-bet to 370,000. Petitti responded with a four-bet to 680,000, and then hit the tank hard when Blair moved all in. Petitti thought for a few minutes before making the call, and he was ahead.
Blair: A♦Q♥
Petitti: 10♥10♠
It was another race, and while Petitti had a bit of a head start, Blair pulled ahead on the Q♣9♠3♠ flop. The 8♦ turn gave Petitti a gutshot straight draw, but he missed as the 4♦ appeared on the river. Petitti had to settled for runner-up and a $71,924 consolation prize.
Congratulations to Eric Blair, winner of the WSOP Circuit The Lodge Casino Main Event for $116,325, a gold ring, and a seat into the 2014 National Championship.
The 2013/2014 WSOP Circuit continues at Harrah’s New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana, which will play out May 8-19. You will be able to find a recap from that Main Event upon its completion right here on PokerNews.com
Photos and data courtesy of the WSOP.
Get all the latest PokerNews updates on your social media outlets. Follow us on Twitter and find us on both Facebook and Google+!
PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.
