Regional Championship
Day 4 Completed
2010-11 World Series of Poker Circuit Event - Rincon
Regional Championship
Day: 4
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 4
2010-11 World Series of Poker Circuit Event - Rincon
Buy-in
$10,000
Prize Pool
$950,600
Entries
98
Level
26
Blinds
12,000 / 24,000
Ante
4,000
Congratulations to Ali Eslami, WSOP-C West Regional Champion ($282,242)!
Level 26
: 12,000/24,000, 4,000 ante
Ali Eslami came into Day 2 as the chip leader of this tournament. It was also his birthday. From there, Eslami was able to ride the big stack to the final table and eventually grab the best birthday present of all with a victory and $282,242 in first-place prize money!
When the final table began, Eslami was fourth in chips. He was able to build his stack steadily throughout the day and pick off players left and right. In fact, Eslami eliminated Dwyte Pilgrim in seventh place, Dana Kellstrom in sixth place, David Peters in fifth place and Steve Brecher in fourth place en route to getting heads up with young gun Tim West.
West was coming off a big week, having won the Wynn Classic Main Event just a few days prior for over $300,000, so momentum was clearly on his side. Eslami proved to be his kryptonite, eventually finishing off West with a big all-in battle. The two got all the money in preflop with Eslami dominating West's 
with the 
. He was able to hold from there and claim the title.
In one of the interviews he did with the production team after winning, Eslami said that he really, really felt this one was his all along, but kept his confidence to himself so it didn't come off the wrong way. He also made sure to thank Jerry Buss, the owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, for all the support he gave him throughout the event and for being the one who told Eslami to come down and play this event.
Eslami also thanked Chad Brown for being such a great tournament mentor to him and friend. Eslami is known for his prowess in high-stakes cash games and admitted that tournaments aren't his thing just yet. This is actually his first-ever tournament win and it's surely a big one. Brown's lessons must working, because Eslami seemed to flow through this final table effortlessly. He also wished Brown the absolute best in his fight against cancer and hopes that he comes out on top.
Final Table Payouts
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ali Eslami | $282,242 |
| 2 | Tim West | $174,443 |
| 3 | D.J. Blanchard | $124,204 |
| 4 | Steve Brecher | $90,223 |
| 5 | David Peters | $68,834 |
| 6 | Dana Kellstrom | $50,445 |
| 7 | Dwyte Pilgrim | $38,808 |
| 8 | Dylan Wilkerson | $30,397 |
| 9 | Miller Dao | $24,235 |
Congratulations to Eslami for taking home the title from this tournament in an extremely tough field. He earned the gold and diamond encrusted WSOP Circuit ring, $282,242 in prize money and the right to be called champion! We'll surely be looking out for him at the National Championship in Las Vegas at the end of May.
That wraps up our coverage from Rincon, but you can be sure to check out everything we have to offer at PokerNews.com on a regular basis. We'll definitely be at the next WSOP Circuit event, so be sure to follow along with our coverage then!
Tim West Eliminated in 2nd Place ($174,443)
Level 26
: 12,000/24,000, 4,000 ante
Out of the blue, all of the money went into the middle and it's all over. From the button, Tim West raised to 62,000. Ali Eslami thought for a little bit before reraising to 138,000. West moved all in for around one million and Eslami made the call.
Eslami tabled the to have West's in a world of hurt. West was the player with the shorter stack and he would need a lot of help in order to survive this one and double up.
The flop came down 
and didn't do any good for West. He was now looking for runner-runner queens as his only hope to win the hand and double up. The turn brought the 
and it was paint, but not the paint West needed to still have a sweat. He was drawing dead and the player dealt the river the 
to officially end things.
West didn't go home empty handed, as he'll take home $174,443 for his runner-up finish. Just a few days ago, West won the Wynn Poker Classic in Las Vegas for $318,738. That puts his career winnings for the last week at nearly $500,000, which isn't too shabby at all.
Cocktails!
Level 26
: 12,000/24,000, 4,000 ante
From the button, Tim West raised and Ali Eslami called. The flop came down 
and Eslami checked. West bet 80,000 and Eslami made the call.
The turn brought the 
and both players checked. The river card was the 
and Eslami bet 150,000. West quickly announced a call, but mucked his hand when Eslami tabled the 
.
Eslami won the pot and West immediately called for cocktails.
An End to the Rush
![[user66118]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
Level 26
: 12,000/24,000, 4,000 ante
"You're on a little rush here," Eslami said during the deal, referring to the fact that West has won the last four pots preflop. "A couple of walks, a couple of raises..." Eslami said.
When the cards came out, West tried for five in a row with a raise to 62,000 from the button. Eslami three-bet to 135,000 total. West called to see a flop.
The dealer fanned out 
, and both men checked to the 
turn. Eslami retook control again with a bet of 180,000, and West pondered and folded.
Updated Chip Counts
Only about 100,000 chips have changed hands in the first 90 minutes of heads-up play.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
1,490,000 | -208,000 |
|
1,450,000 | 208,000 |
Top Pair for West
Level 26
: 12,000/24,000, 4,000 ante
From the button, Ali Eslami raised to 50,000. Tim West called from the big blind and the flop came down 
. West checked the flop and so did Eslami, bringing them to the 
on the turn.
West checked again and Eslami fired a delayed continuation bet worth 67,000. West made the call.
The river completed the board with the 
and both players checked. West tabled top pair with the 
and Eslami mucked.
Level: 26
Blinds: 12,000/24,000
Ante: 4,000
Back and Forth We Go
Level 25
: 10,000/20,000, 3,000 ante
There has been virtually no movement in the chip stacks since heads-up play began, and we're hunkered down for a potentially long fight here. A moment ago, we picked up the most notable pot that's happened in about a half hour:
Ali Eslami raised to 45,000 from the button, and Tim West flicked the calling chips into the pot to see a flop.
It came 
, and it check-checked to the 
turn. West took the lead now with 65,000 of his own chips, and Eslami made a deliberate call to see the final card. It was the , and West grabbed a bet to force Eslami into a 165,000-chip decision. That decision took a few minutes, but Eslami eventually settled on a fold to let West take it.
During the next shuffle, the two men bantered back and forth a bit, as they've been doing throughout this match.
"I'm on tilt now," Eslami said flatly.
"Wait, you're on tilt? Why are you on tilt?" West asked.
"I'm just kidding," Eslami answered, looking up to smirk. "I don't tilt. You probably knew that already too."
West Value Bets the River
Level 25
: 10,000/20,000, 3,000 ante
Tim West had the button and raised to 50,000. Ali Eslami made the call and the flop came down . Eslami checked and West bet 40,000. Eslami called.
The turn card was the to pair the board with bullets. Eslami checked and West checked.
The completed the board on the river and after Eslami checked, West bet 90,000. Eslami thought about it for a bit and then made the call. West turned over the 
for tens and aces. Eslami couldn't beat it and mucked his hand.