Main Event
Day 1b Started
2011-12 World Series of Poker Circuit - Horseshoe Hammond
Main Event
Day: 1b
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2011-12 World Series of Poker Circuit - Horseshoe Hammond
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$2,349,825
Entries
1,615
Level
35
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
30,000
Welcome to the Main Event Part Deux
![[user196975]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
Day 1b of the WSOPC Hammond Main Event is set to start after a record setting field from Day 1a. The first of two starting flights already drew a record 912 entrants, surpassing the 872 entrants from the 2010 Main Event, and just 184 players survived. Any player that went bust yesterday is able to re-enter today and try their luck again.
The Circuit stop has already seen a 3,000 player field in Event 1 ($340 No Limit Hold'em) that generated a prizepool of $873,291. 2008 November Niner Dennis Phillips won his first WSOP jewelry and $55,000 winning the event just one day prior to the Main Event. Unfortunately, Phillips had to be rushed to the hospital shortly after claiming his ring with a burst appendix. He underwent surgery and is expected to make a full recovery.
Paul Bianchi ended Day 1a as the chipleader with a staggering 358,000 - almost a full 100,000 more than Tom Luce in second place with 263,500. Notables Eric Crain, Dwyte Pilgrim, Chad Brown, Josh Brikis, Mohsin Charania and Kenny Nguyen also remain in the field.
We expect to see another large field today and be sure to follow all the WSOPC action live on Pokernews.com.
Day 1b About to Start
The Day 1b players are finding their seats with 492 entrants on the board already. Cards to be in the air soon.
Level: 1
Blinds: 25/50
Ante: 0
Cards Are In The Air
Level 1
: 25/50, 0 ante
Cards are in the air and action is underway. We'll let you know who we spot in the field shortly.
Welcome Back the Re-Entries
Just as we expected, many of the Day 1a eliminations have returned to action today. Pretty much everybody on this list is looking to improve upon their performance yesterday.
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Aaron Bieck Outlast 3,000 Players to Win Event #1
Level 1
: 25/50, 0 ante
Event #1 Breaks Attendance Record
The WSOP Circuit Hammond is notorious for drawing large fields. With a huge player base to draw from throughout the Midwest, the stop has been among the most successful every year. Historically, the first event of the stop has kicked off with a bang. In 2009, Event #1 drew 1,412 players, and almost 200 entries more in 2010. This year, those numbers were blown out of the water when an astonishing 3,001 players forked over the $350 buy-in for a shot at a gold ring.
The event was a reentry, meaning players who busted on Day 1a were allowed to buy in again on Day 1b, and after three long days of play, Aaron Bieck (25) emerged victorious and laid claim to the $124,438 first-place prize. Bieck, who resides in Plymouth, Wisconsin, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2008 with a degree in finance and had the following to say after winning the largest WSOP Circuit event in history:
“Amazing. I’ve only played like 10 live tournaments so to take one down with 3,000 runners is something very special. It’s the first live tournament I’ve ever won and it’s very important that it was a WSOP Circuit event. To win something that big, that prestigious. To have the opportunity to even play in a tournament that big, and to take it down — it’s amazing.”
Regarding his plans for the money, Bieck explained: “I don’t exactly know what I’m going to do with it. Like everything else, like poker, you analyze it, you make a decision and you take things as they come.”
WSOP Circuit Hammond Ring Event #1 No-Limit Hold’em
| Buy-in | Entrants | Prize Pool |
|---|---|---|
| $300+$50 | 3,001 | $873,291 |
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aaron Bieck | Plymouth, WI | $124,438 |
| 2 | David Schonback | Geneva, IL | $76,911 |
| 3 | Jeffrey Manza | Naperville, IL | $58,982 |
| 4 | Peter Nigh | St. Louis, MO | $45,691 |
| 5 | Javier Figueroa | Chicago, IL | $35,875 |
| 6 | Jason Zeller | Peoria, IL | $28,129 |
| 7 | Daniel Acevedo | Belvidere, IL | $22,208 |
| 8 | Leo Whitt | Louisville, KY | $17,649 |
| 9 | Jenchwen Chang | Atlantic City, NJ | $14,200 |
Notables In the Field
| Player | Chips | Progress |
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And a Few More Stragglers
| Player | Chips | Progress |
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Playing for the National Championship
Level 1
: 25/50, 0 ante
The player who performs best overall through all the ring events here in Hammond will be awarded the coveted WSOP Circuit Hammond Casino Champion title. Whoever earns that distinction, along with the eventual winner of this Main Event, will automatically qualify for the Second Annual $1 Million National Championship. That event is limited to 100 players, and so far only four have qualified:
National Championship Qualifiers
| Player | Qualified |
|---|---|
| David Nicholson | Horseshoe Bossier City Main Event Winner |
| Chris Gamboa | Horseshoe Bossier City Casino Champion |
| Robert Castoire | Horseshoe Southern Indiana Main Event Winner |
| Mark “Pegasus” Smith | Horseshoe Southern Indiana Casino Champion |