Ari Engel Wins Sixth World Series of Poker Circuit Gold Ring

Ari Engel

The 2013/2014 World Series of Poker Circuit season kicked off at Foxwoods Casino last week, and already a big story has emerged. Ari Engel won his sixth gold ring in Event #9 $580 No-Limit Hold’em after topping a field of 235 players, including up-and-coming star Aaron Massey heads up, to win the $29,634 first-place prize.

Engel and Massey began the final table second and third in chips respectively, while Chris Rizzo, who was runner-up in Event #4 $365 No-Limit Hold’em just a few days earlier, held the chip lead. Rizzo was looking to overtake Ryan Methia in the Foxwoods Casino Championship race, but despite his big chip stack, he was unable to do so as he exited in fifth place for $7,408. Not long after, Massey was heads up against his friend Engel, albeit at a slight chip disadvantage.

The heads-up match last nearly an hour. Engel, who notched 14 cashes and won two rings on the circuit last season to finish atop the National Championship leader board, slowly chipped away at Massey’s stack during the match. Eventually he was able to seal the deal to capture his sixth gold ring while denying Massey of his third – though he gave him his third WSOP Circuit runner-up finish.

“Aaron is an incredible player and I have an incredible amount of respect for his game," said Engel, who is now tied with Alex Masek at six WSOP-C rings. "Also, I want to thank my parents for their continued support.”

“I won two events last year and this is a great start,” Engel said of catching seven-time ring winner Chris Reslock. “I definitely think I have a shot.”

2013/2014WSOP Circuit Foxwoods Event #9 Final Table Results

Ari Engel Wins Sixth World Series of Poker Circuit Gold Ring 101
Massey and Engel before heads-up play began. (Photo c/o WSOP.com)

PlacePlayerPrize
1stAri Engel$29,634
2ndAaron Massey$18,313
3rdBedda Nakhoul$13,336
4thVictor Usatii$9,850
5thChris Rizzo$7,408
6thDeon Nossel$5,654
7thSteven Brackesy$4,374
8thFred Alesi$3,438
9thSpyro Mitrokostas$2,743

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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