Last Thursday, the 2011-2012 World Series of Poker Circuit kicked off at Harrah’s St. Louis, and soon hosted the largest tournament in Missouri’s history.
The tournament was Event #4: $355 No-Limit Hold’em Re-Entry, which attracted 1,066 players and created a prize pool of $310,206. That number was up considerably from 843 entries the year prior, and saw Roy Riley defeat Javier Zarco in heads-up action.
In the final hand, Zarco, a 27-year-old student from Madrid, Spain, studying in the U.S., moved all in with on an flop. Riley made the call with a pair of sevens and held as the appeared on the turn followed by the on the river.
Zarco finished as runner-up for $35,327, while Riley became the champ and took down the $57,139 top prize. “I have the perfect life right now,” the 26-year-old physical education teacher and star of NBC’s Ironman World Championship reality show said after his win. “This was a great victory.”
WSOP Circuit Harrah’s St. Louis Ring Event #4: No-Limit Hold’em Re-entry
Buy-in
Entrants
Prize Pool
$300+$55
1,066
$310,206
Place
Player
Hometown
Prize
1
Roy Riley
Savoy, IL
$57,139
2
Javier Zarco
Godfrey, IL
$35,327
3
Tripp Kirk
Atlanta, GA
$26,253
4
Douglas Campbell
Highland, IL
$19,736
5
Aaron Wilson
Ballwin, MO
$15,007
6
Matt Lawrence
Tulsa, OK
$11,545
7
William Diepenbrock
Columbia, IL
$8,985
8
Bradley Lipsey
Franklin, TN
$7,073
9
Matthew Clerk
De Soto, IL
$5,634
For a look at the final table recap, visit WSOP.com.
Ryan Eriquezzo just stopped by the media desk still steaming from his bad beat. He informed us he held pocket aces and flopped a set. There were two hearts on the board and he beat all the way to the river. The river was a third heart and his opponent chased him all the way down holding .
A player in the hijack opened for 450, which was called by Nadya Magnus from the button and the small blind. When the flop fell , it went check-check to Magnus, who bet 800. The small blind quickly folded and was followed by the hijack.
It wasn't much of a hand, but a good excuse for us to let yow know that Magnus, who you may recall from a certain poker television show a couple years ago, is up to 28,000.
With several events yet to be determined, the race for the WSOP Circuit Harrah’s St. Louis Casino Champion is undecided. Whoever captures that title, along with the eventual winner of the Main Event, will automatically qualify for the Second Annual $1 Million National Championship. Here's a look at the players who have qualified:
Action folded around to Seneca Easley in the cutoff and he opened for 500, which received a lone call in the form of the button. The flop saw Easley lead out for 700, which the button quickly popped to 1,600. Easley snap-called and then led out for 2,400 on the turn. The button eyed him curiously before putting out three T5,000 chips, enough to cover Easley. The WSOP Circuit ring winner quickly called off for about 10,000 total and the cards were turned up:
Showdown
Easley |
Button |
Easley held top pair and a flush draw, but needed a spade that didn't pair the board to win. The on the river did give Easley a flush, but it also improved the button to a full house. With that, Easley exited the tournament area.
Ever since we met Abraham Araya when he won the WSOPC Choctaw Main Event this season we've been typing his name wrong every time. The blogging team here at Pokernews are all HUGE "Game of Thrones" fans and we keep typing his name as Arya. Much like youngest Stark girl, Araya can't be found in the tournament room and we have to assume he's lost to us.
While we're live blogging the Main Event here at Harrah's St. Louis, we can't help but notice Event #10 $1,090 No Limit Hold'em, which is taking place right in front of our work area. That event started yesterday with 229 players, creating a prize pool of $222, 130, but recommenced with jut 22 players.
Now, that field has been reduced to the final table which includes such players as Amanda Musumeci, AP Phahurat and Kyle Cartwright. The latter of the three is going for his fourth WSOP Circuit gold ring, his last coming at this stop last year when he won the Main Event!