Charles Sylvestre Wins World Series of Poker Circuit Casino du Lac-Leamy for $122,435
The ninth stop on the 2013/2014 World Series of Poker Circuit schedule wrapped up its $1,675 Main Event on Friday night at the Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. The tournament attracted 371 entries and created a prize pool of $556,500. After a long week of play, Charles Sylvestre, who won a WSOP bracelet this summer, emerged victorious to capture the $122,435 first-place prize and secure a spot in the season-ending National Championship.
"After my unexpected WSOP bracelet this summer, to come back here to Lac-Leamy, my hometown, and ship the ring... I can't ask for better," Sylvestre told WSOP officials after the win. "It's an amazing feeling." On a side note, it's worth noting that all the Main Event dealers donated 100 percent of their tips to the One Drop charity.
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Charles Sylvestre | Saint-Bruno, QC | $122,435 |
| 2nd | John Nelson | Curtice, OH | $75,656 |
| 3rd | Dinara Khaziyeva | Montreal, Canada | $55,283 |
| 4th | Sol Bergren | Saskatoon, SK | $41,047 |
| 5th | Mike Leah | Toronto, ON | $30,953 |
| 6th | Justin Dean | Pembroke, Canada | $23,690 |
| 7th | Bryan Moon | Chicago, IL | $18,398 |
| 8th | Adam Podstawka | Hamilton, ON | $14,491 |
| 9th | Ioannis Pentefountas | Rosemere, QC | $11,575 |
According to the WSOP live blog, the first elimination of the final table came in Level 25 (12,000/24,000/4,000) when Mike Leah opened for 53,000 under the gun and Ioannis Pentefountas moved all in for 62,000 from the small blind. John Nelson called from the big, Leah put in the additional 9,000, and the two active players checked it down as the board ran out Q♦J♦10♦J♣5♥. Pentefountas showed the 5♣3♠ for a rivered pair of fives, but it was no good as Leah held the 6♠6♦. Nelson mucked his hand and Pentefountas was sent to the rail in ninth place for $14,491.
After Adam Podstawka fell in eighth place, Bryan Moon, who was fresh off a 10th-place finish in the Horseshoe Hammond Main Event, followed him out the door in seventh. It happened in Level 26 (15,000/30,000/5,000) when Moon got his last 175,000 in preflop against Sylvestre.
Sylvestre: K♠4♥
Moon: 8♥7♥
According to the PokerNews Odds Calculator, it was a flip with Sylvestre having a 51.88% chance of winning the hand and Moon a 47.39% chance. The Q♣3♥3♦ flop failed to help Moon, and his survival chances dropped to 26.97%. The 9♦ turn knocked it down even further to 13.64%, meaning he needed either a seven or an eight on the river to stay alive. Unfortunately for him, he’d be left wanting as the J♠ blanked. Moon took home $18,398 for his seventh-place finish.
Justin Dean fell a short time later in sixth place, and then it was time for Leah to go. It happened when Nelson opened for 60,000 only to have Leah three-bet to 145,000. Action folded back to Nelson, he four-bet to 240,000, and Leah moved all in. Nelson snap-called with the A♥A♣, which of course had Leah’s A♠K♥ in a world of hurt. Leah needed some big-time help, but it wasn’t in the cards as the board ran out a dry 7♦Q♥4♣5♦K♠.
In Level 27 (20,000/40,000/5,000), Sol Bergren and Dinara Khaziyeva were eliminated in fourth and third place, respectively. As far as Khaziyeva was concerned, she opened for 80,000 from the button and was met by a three-bet to 200,000 from Nelson. Khaziyeva pushed back with a four-bet to 380,000 and then called off when Nelson moved all in.
Khaziyeva: 10♠10♦
Nelson: A♥Q♠
Khaziyeva got it in good, and she looked primed for a double after the 9♠4♥2♦ flop and K♦ turn both missed Nelson. All Khaziyeva had to do was survive the river, but that proved easier said than done as the A♠ spiked! Nelson paired his ace and Khaziyeva was sent to the rail in third place for $55,283.
Nelson began heads-up play with a more than 2-1 chip lead, but that didn’t stop Sylvestre, who doubled in Level 28 (25,000/50,000/5,000) to take the chip lead. In what was ultimately the final hand, Sylvestre raised to 100,000 and Nelson called, which brought about a flop of J♦9♠2♣. Nelson check-called a bet of 100,000, the 5♣ turned, and both players checked. When the 2♥ completed the board on the river, Nelson bet 225,000 and Sylvestre raised to 600,000. Nelson responded by moving all in and Sylvestre snap-called. Nelson showed the 6♠3♠ for a failed bluff, and Sylvestre’s 2♣4♣ earned him the victory and accompanying $122,435 first-place prize.
The 2013/2014 WSOP Circuit continues at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City from Nov. 29 through Dec. 9. Of course you can find a recap from that Main Event upon its completion right here on PokerNews.com
*Photos courtesy of WSOP.com.
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PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.
