John Eames Wins WSOP Circuit Planet Hollywood Main Event for $289,706
The 2014/2015 World Series of Poker Circuit recently completed their $1,675 Main Event at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, a tournament that attracted 1,044 entries. After three days of play, UK pro John Eames, who was playing in his first-ever WSOP Circuit event, emerged victorious to capture the $289,706 first-place prize, the gold championship ring, and a seat into the season-ending National Championship.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Eames | Southport, UK | $289,706 |
| 2 | Matt Berkey | Las Vegas, NV | $179,119 |
| 3 | Ping Liu | Chicago, IL | $133,110 |
| 4 | Dustin Johns | Nappanee, IN | $100,067 |
| 5 | Brad Libson | Annapolis, MD | $76,092 |
| 6 | Corey Emery | Simi Valley, CA | $58,537 |
| 7 | Johnny Neckar | Mountain View, CA | $45,555 |
| 8 | Quang Ngo | Lawrence, KS | $35,861 |
| 9 | Michael Skomac | Henderson, NV | $25,864 |
Notable finishes: Chris Lindh (10th - $23,020), Jeff Fielder (12th - $23,020), Dan O’Brien (40th - $5,403), Scott Davies (42nd - $5,403), Eric Baldwin (59t - $4,400), Scott Epstein (76th - $3,696), Joseph Cheong (95th - $3,132)
According to WSOP.com, it took 69 hands before the first elimination of the final table occurred. It happened in Level 30 (30,000/60,000/10,000) when Brad Libson raised and Michael Skomac three-bet all in. Libson called with the K♦K♥, which was well out in front of Skomac’s J♣J♦. The board ran out dry for Skomac, and he hit the rail in ninth place for $28,564.
Then, on Hand #84 in Quang Ngo shoved all in from the button for 705,000, and Eames moved all in over the top for 2.6 million from the small blind. Johnny Neckar then call off for 1.4 million from the big and the cards were turned up.
Eames: A♥5♦
Ngo: A♣8♠
Neckar: A♠K♦
Everyone held an ace, which mean Neckar was best with his king kicker; however, his lead was short lived when the 7♣7♦5♣ flop delivered Eames two pair. Neither the 3♠ turn nor 7♠ river changed a thing, and Ngo and Necker were eliminated in eighth and seventh place, respectively.
After the eliminations of Corey Emery (6th - $53,537), Libson (5th - $76,092), and Dustin Johns (4th - $100,067), Chicago’s Ping Liu followed them out the door in fourth. It happened on Hand #164 when he four-bet shoved for 4 million with the 3♠3♦ only to run into the Q♥Q♠ of Eames. The 9♠3♥2♠ flop actually gave Liu a set, but the Q♦ spiked on the turn to give Eames a bigger one. The 9♣ river failed to help Liu, and he had to settle for third place while Eames went on to face Day 1 chip leader Matt Berkey in heads-up play.
It took nearly two hours and 82 hands, but on Hand #246 of the final table Eames raised to 325,000, Berkey called to see a flop of 8♦7♣7♠. Berkey checked, Eames bet 350,000, and Berkey check-raised to 850,000. Eames responded by moving all in and Berkey called off his remaining 3 million or so.
Berkey: 9♦6♥
Eames: Q♥Q♦
Berkey flopped an open-ended straight draw, which he needed to hit to overcome the two pair of Eames. That proved easier said than done though as the 4♦ bricked on the turn followed by the A♠ on the river. Berkey took home $179,119 for his runner-up finish while Eames received the ring, a seat into the National Championship, and the $289,706 first-place prize.
The 2014/2015 WSOP Circuit will continue at Harrah’s Cherokee in North Carolina from Nov. 27 to Dec. 8.
*Photos and data courtesy of the WSOP.
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PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.
