Previewing the 2012-2013 World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's Atlantic City

Brandon Fish

The seventh stop of the 2012/2013 World Series of Poker Circuit presented by Southern Comfort 100 Proof began at Harrah’s Atlantic City on November 29 and will run through December 10. This weekend, the East Coast stop will culminate with the $1,675 Main Event, which will see the winner earn a seat in the prestigious National Championship.

After Jacob Coker defeated 536 players in Event #1 $365 No-Limit Hold’em for $35,033, a hefty 858 players turned out for Event #2 NLHE Reentry, which featured two starting days, and awarded more than $50,000 to the winner. By 3:00 a.m. ET on the third day of the three-day event, the massive field had been whittled down to the final ten and the possibility of adding a fourth day was discussed; however, the players ultimately opted to play it out. Five hours later, 27-year-old pro Brandon Fish emerged victorious to capture the $50,862 first-place prize.

“You could tell a few (players) were getting tired and they weren’t used to playing (a lot) of hours,” Fish told WSOP officials after his win. “I think that’s one advantage I had. I’m used to putting in crazy hours and late nights. I’d say that helps.”

Fish, a WSOP Circuit regular with four final tables on his résumé including two in massive reentry tournaments, now has 14 cashes for nearly $100,000 in career earnings. “It feels amazing. This is something I’ve always wanted,” Fish said after capturing his first gold ring. “I don’t know what else to say. I’m speechless at the moment.”

It was also in Event #2 that Rex Clinkscales, who currently sits in third place on the WSOP Circuit National Leaderboard, moved into a tie for sixth for most WSOP Circuit cashes without a ring after finishing in 19th place for $2,175.

Here's a look at the WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Atlantic City events completed thus far:

WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Atlantic City Ring Event #1 No-Limit Hold’em

Buy-inEntrantsPrize Pool
$300+$65536$162,944

Previewing the 2012-2013 World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's Atlantic City 101
Jacob Coker, winner of Event #1.

PlacePlayerHometownPrize
1Jacob CokerPhiladelphia, PA$35,033
2Brian BendenWaldorf, MD$21,660
3Thomas CoanHauppauge, NY$15,823
4Harold SchmidtFalmouth, VA$11,730
5Chinmay PatelBrigantine, NJ$8,822
6Casey JarzabekSt. Catherines, ON, Canada$6,730
7Gennady FayerBaltimore, MD$5,206
8Samuel ScheideckerMarysville, WA$4,085
9Albert FramptonMaple Shade, NJ$3,251

WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Atlantic City Ring Event #2 No-Limit Hold’em

Buy-inEntrantsPrize Pool
$300+$65858$260,832

Previewing the 2012-2013 World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's Atlantic City 102
Brandon Fish, winner of Event #2.

PlacePlayerHometownPrize
1Brandon FishKearney, NE$50,862
2Reynaldo OngNescopeck, PA$31,430
3Jeffrey MillerNew Vernon, NJ$23,151
4Christopher LimBronx, NY$17,278
5Christopher CheungSpringfield, NJ$13,062
6Jenchwen ChangAtlantic City, NJ$10,003
7Kent DeMottLas Vegas, NV$7,757
8Andrew MachoverJericho, NY$6,090
9Jeffrey OliveVirginia Beach, VA$4,841

WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Atlantic City Ring Event #3 No-Limit Hold’em

Buy-inEntrantsPrize Pool
$500+$80197$98,254

Previewing the 2012-2013 World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's Atlantic City 103
Daniel Marcus, winner of Event #3.

PlacePlayerHometownPrize
1Daniel MarcusMerrick, NY$25,546
2Sanghoon OuhNew York, NY$15,781
3Aryeh CohenWaterbury, CT$11,394
4Paul SokoloffToronto, Ontario, Canada$8,368
5Christopher GrovePasadena, MD$6,252
6Michael SneidemanNewtown, CT$4,751
7Christine BrewerPort Monmouth, NJ$3,670
8Bill VargaParis, KY$2,882
9Sylvain FillionLachenale, Quebec, Canada$2,299

WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Atlantic City Ring Event #4 No-Limit Hold’em

Buy-inEntrantsPrize Pool
$300+$65422$128,288

Previewing the 2012-2013 World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's Atlantic City 104
Moshe Bernstein, winner of Event #4.

PlacePlayerHometownPrize
1Moshe BernsteinParksville, NY$28,223
2Salvatore BusaccaColts Neck, NJ$17,441
3Timothy WeslowOdenton, MD$12,744
4Ting HoIrvine, CA$9,463
5Jeff FielderDes Moines, IA$7,135
6Samuel TaylorNew York, NY$5,461
7Paul CheungBrooklyn, NY$4,241
8Doug CressiGlen Cove, NY$3,341
9Marc RemmesMontauk, NY$2,668

WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Atlantic City Ring Event #5 No-Limit Hold’em

Buy-inEntrantsPrize Pool
$500+$80260$129,675

Previewing the 2012-2013 World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's Atlantic City 105
Yury Parad, winner of Event #5.

PlacePlayerHometownPrize
1Yury ParadChicago, IL$31,770
2Kevin EliaBaltimore, MD$19,630
3Abraham ArayaCarrollton, TX$14,183
4Bruce SecorBrooklyn, NY$10,438
5Mukul PahujaHicksville, NY$7,819
6Randal SklarPeabody, MA$5,959
7Drennon RackleyDalton, GA$4,616
8Mickael ParisoElmwood Park, IL$3,635
9Paul HiskeyVienna, VA$2,907

WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Atlantic City Ring Event #6 Six-Handed NLHE

Buy-inEntrantsPrize Pool
$300+$65329$100,016

Previewing the 2012-2013 World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's Atlantic City 106
Alan Cutler, winner of Event #6.

PlacePlayerHometownPrize
1Alan CutlerVernon Hills, IL$23,504
2Cuong PhungAtlantic City, NJ$14,532
3John HindsGreenville, North Carolina$10,555
4Benjamin GriseIndianapolis, IN$7,796
5Robert WillisBellmawr, NJ$5,853
6Josh BrikisPittsburgh, PA$4,464
7Ronald CitrenbaumSpringfield, NJ$3,458
8Wu ZhouState College, PA$2,718
9Jennifer SoNew Brunswick, NJ$2,169

WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Atlantic City Ring Event #7 No-Limit Hold’em

Buy-inEntrantsPrize Pool
$1,000+$125196$192,717

Previewing the 2012-2013 World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's Atlantic City 107
James Gilbert, winner of Event #7.

PlacePlayerHometownPrize
1James GilbertBensalem, PA$50,106
2Aaron MasseyChicago, IL$30,952
3Gino LevriniLas Vegas, NV$22,349
4Mitchell MartinBronx, NY$16,414
5Marc RemmesMontauk, NY$12,263
6Yossi AzulayChicago, IL$9,318
7Timothy FaroGlen Burnie, MD$7,198
8Jeuel CatoNewark, NJ$5,652
9Keith BlockPomona, NY$4,510

WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Atlantic City Ring Event #8 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo

Buy-inEntrantsPrize Pool
$300+$65164$49,856

Previewing the 2012-2013 World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's Atlantic City 108
\"Miami\" John Cernuto, winner of Event #8.

PlacePlayerHometownPrize
1“Miami” John CernutoLas Vegas, NV$13,461
2Ron FastPompton Plains, NJ$8,319
3Steven TollMedford, NJ$5,988
4Michael BrottmanHamilton Square, NJ$4,389
5Eric RivkinRedondo Beach, CA$3,274
6Robert KleinNiskayuna, NY$2,484
7Edward KayFarmington Hills, MI$1,917
8Robert ReardonNantucket, MA$1,504
9David CarvaraWestport, MA$1,200

WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Atlantic City Ring Event #9 Turbo NLHE

Buy-inEntrantsPrize Pool
$300+$65326$99,104

Previewing the 2012-2013 World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's Atlantic City 109
Kunal Shah, winner of Event #9.

PlacePlayerHometownPrize
1Kunal ShahBaltimore, MD$23,289
2Stephen HesseHouston, TX$14,400
3Marko DoljevicNew Hudson, MI$10,458
4William DavidsonProsperity, SC$7,725
5Randal SklarPeabody, MA$5,800
6Richard WardMax Meadows, VA$4,464
7Gregory BrietichCoraopolis, PA$3,426
8Daniel VehringGermany$2,694
9Sean KovalickGlen Burnie, MD$2,169

With several events yet to be determined, the race for the WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Atlantic City Champion is undetermined. 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:

National Championship Qualifiers

PlayerQualified
Cary MarshallHarveys Lake Tahoe Main Event Champion
Daniel GilmerHarveys Lake Tahoe Casino Champion
John CrncicRiver Rock (Vancouver) Main Event Winner
Sandra WongRiver Rock (Vancouver) Casino Champion
Josh WilliamsHorseshoe Horseshoe Hammond Main Event Winner
Mike LeahHorseshoe Hammond Casino Champion
Dan HeimillerHorseshoe Southern Indiana Main Event Winner
Jonathan TaylorHorseshoe Southern Indiana Casino Champion
Quan NguyenBossier City Casino Champion
Jeff GibralterBossier City Main Event Champion
Kyle CartwrightIP Biloxi Main Event Winner
Cory WoodIP Biloxi Casino Champion

In addition to the qualifiers, players who earn enough points on the National Leaderboard will be able to buy in to the National Championship:

Previewing the 2012-2013 World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's Atlantic City 110

WSOPC National Leaderboard Top Ten*

PlayerPointsRingsCashedEarnings
Charles “Woody” Moore15007$46,997
Caufman Talley142.525$82,963
Rex Clinkscales13505$33,324
Yossi Azulay132.5010$68,036
Ashly Butler112.514$25,415
Ari Engel10514$68,762
Aaron Massey10514$24,300
Blake Barousse102.523$59,916
John Dolan10014$63,916
Austin Buchanan92.505$40,964

*Leading up to the WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Atlantic City stop.

Here's a look at the remaining schedule for the 2012-13 WSOP Circuit:

DateEvent Location
Dec. 6-17, 2012Harrah’s Rincon
Jan. 3-14, 2013The Bicycle Casino (Los Angeles)
Jan. 10-21, 2013Choctaw Durant (Dallas/Oklahoma)
Jan. 24 - Feb. 4, 2013Harrah’s Tunica (Mississippi)
Feb. 7-18, 2013Caesars Palace (Las Vegas)
Feb. 14-25, 2013Palm Beach Kennel Club (Florida)
Feb. 28 - March 11, 2013Caesars Atlantic City
March 14-25, 2013Horseshoe Cleveland
March 27 - April 8, 2013Foxwoods (Connecticut)
April 4-15, 2012Harrah’s Cherokee (North Carolina)
April 11-April 22, 2013Horseshoe Council Bluffs (Iowa)
April 25 - May 6, 2013Harrah’s Philadelphia
May 9 - May 20, 2013Harrah’s New Orleans
May 21-23, 2013Harrah’s New Orleans (National Championship)

For more information on the 2012-13 WSOP Circuit season, visit WSOP.com. Also, be sure to follow our live updates from the WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Atlantic City in our Live Reporting Section.

*Photos courtesy of WSOP.com.

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Executive Editor U.S.

Executive Editor US, PokerNews Podcast co-host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.

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