Level: 2
Blinds: 50/100
Ante: 0
2011-12 World Series of Poker Circuit Event - Harrah's Tunica
Main Event
Day: 1
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2011-12 World Series of Poker Circuit Event - Harrah's Tunica
Prize Pool
$941,385
Entries
647
Level
29
Blinds
25,000 / 50,000
Ante
5,000
WSOP Circuit Flashback: Sam Barnhart Wins the 2010/2011 Harrah's Tunica Main Event
Level 2
: 50/100, 0 ante
Last year, Sam Barnhart won this very event, which kicked off a remarkable year that included winning the WSOP Circuit National Championship and then a 17th-place finish in the WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas. Barnhart won over $800,000 in a few month's time, and he is back in action today looking for a title defense.
In homage of Barnhart's victory, we thought we'd take a look back at his win by reprinting the winner's interview he granted PokerNews after last year's WSOP Circuit Harrah's Tunica win. To view the interview in its entirety, click here.
Big win, how do you feel?
Yes, words can’t describe it. The feeling is cloud nine. It’s the greatest thing for any poker player in their plans to win one of these. I mean this is the highlight of what tournaments are all about, and what poker is all about.
We hear you got in on a satellite. What can you tell us about that?
It was the greatest experience and one of the freakiest stories. I had packed up, checked out of the hotel, was on my way home, and in a split moment decided to drop by the poker room, and Teresa [who works there] had a $180 satellite going. I had $300 left and decided to get into that, and ended up winning the single-table satellite. From there, I parlayed it in to where I am today.*
*Barnhart won $148,612 for his Main Event win
Did your Main Event go smoothly? Was it an easy ride?
No, absolutely not. I grinded it, I mean I really grinded it. I picked my spots and I was all-in probably ten times. I was down to around 4,000-5,000, but you know I was here last year when [Paul] Wasicka won. I played in that event and he was down to 5,000 in chips, so I kept telling myself, “You can do it, you can do it.” All through the tournament I kept saying this is my tournament. You have to have that confidence and willpower in order to achieve it.
When you entered the final table you entered sixth in chips behind players like Kurt Jewell and John Nguyen, what was it like playing against them?
They’re great players and they’ve got some nice records. You’re absolutely right, I was pretty low-stacked, but when I came in I talked to some friends and decided to pick my spots and hope to run good and play big pots with them, because when you’re low on chips like that you really can’t afford to play poker really. They were tough because they had the big stacks and were running over us, but you pick your spots, have patience, and usually it’ll come. I think that is the biggest mistake poker players make today is that they don’t have the patience and they think that they have to double up.
How’re you feeling about locking up a spot in the National Championship?
That is an opportunity that is a part of any poker player’s dreams. Just like it is winning one of these rings. Yeah, maybe you’re going to be a little intimidated dealing with some of the top players that have had some extreme successes, but it’s an opportunity I think that any poker player would love to have
A Few More Notables
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
20,000 | |
|
|
20,000 | |
|
|
20,000 | |
|
|
20,000 | |
|
|
20,000 |
Say Cheese!
Make It Happen Captain
Level 2
: 50/100, 0 ante
With about 1,800 in the pot and a board reading 
, "Captain" Tom Franklin checked from the small blind and an under-the-gun player checked behind. The UTG player confidently rolled over 
, but Franklin proudly showed 
for a pair of aces and the win.
That pot put Franklin back up to the starting stack of 20,000.
Paul "Bicycle" Sokoloff Wins WSOP Circuit Event #2
Level 2
: 50/100, 0 ante
The Main Event may be the only tournament we're live reporting, but there has been plenty of action throughout the week; as such, we thought we'd sprinkle in some preliminary results from the WSOP Circuit Harrah's Tunica.
WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Tunica Ring Event #2 No-Limit Hold'em
| Buy-in | Entrants | Prize Pool |
|---|---|---|
| $300+$45 | 701 | $203,991 |
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul Sokoloff | Toronto, ON | $41,544 |
| 2 | Terry Griffith | Magnolia, AR | $25,705 |
| 3 | Jerry Ard | Monticello, MS | $18,854 |
| 4 | Gary Lambert | Quincy, IL | $14,021 |
| 5 | Andrew Bucaric | Brentwood, TN | $10,568 |
| 6 | Jeffrey Overton | Hamilton, AL | $8,071 |
| 7 | Bradford Albrinck | Cincinnati, OH | $6,245 |
| 8 | Jayaram Kottimugalur | Columbus, IN | $4,896 |
| 9 | Randy Ritterbush | Forsyth, MO | $3,887 |
Level: 3
Blinds: 75/150
Ante: 0
Overpair vs. Overpair
Level 3
: 75/150, 0 ante
Shaun Johnston opened for 400 and the player in the small blind called. The flop came 
, the small blind bet 700 and Johnston called. The turn brought the 
, the small blind checked and Johnston bet 1,100. The small blind check-raised to 2,500 and Johnston called. The river was the 
and the small blind bet 3,100. Johnston thought for a moment and tossed in a call.
The small blind turned over 
and Johnston sighed as he turned over pocket jacks.
Chang Headed in the Right Direction
An under-the-gun player limped and inspired the hijack and button to do the same. Matthew Chang then decided to exercise his option from the big blind with a raise to 600, which all three limpers called. When the flop came down 
, action checked to the player on the button and he fired out 1,200.
Chang responded with a check-raise to 2,500, which cleared the field, including the button. With that, Chang is up to 25K.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
25,000
5,000
|
5,000 |
National Championship Qualifiers Thus Far
Level 3
: 75/150, 0 ante
With several events yet to be determined, the race for the WSOP Harrah’s Tunica 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. That event is limited to 100 players, and so far only a handful of players 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 |
| Bob Chow | Horseshoe Hammond Main Event Winner |
| Drazen Ilich | Horseshoe Hammond Casino Champion |
| Gene Dudek | IP Biloxi Casino Champion |
| Jerry Monroe | IP Biloxi Main Event Winner |
| Michael Rosenbach | Lake Tahoe Casino Champ |
| Bryan Schultz | Lake Tahoe Main Event Champion |
| Tuan Phan | Harrah’s AC Main Event Winner |
| Hao Le | Harrah’s AC Casino Champ |
| Freddy Deeb | Bicycle Casino Main Event Winner |
| Huy Quach | Bicycle Casino Champ |
| Raja Kattamuri | Choctaw Casino Champ |
| Abraham Araya | Choctaw Main Event Champion |
| Gary Bolden | Caesars Palace Casino Champ |
| Kevin Calenzo | Caesars Palace Main Event Winner |