Fernando Galvan Wins WSOP Circuit Planet Hollywood for $247,160

November 21, 2017

The World Series of Poker Circuit handed out its second cash worth at least $240K in as many weeks when Fernando Galvan topped a field of 845 to win WSOP Circuit Planet Hollywood Main Event for $247,160.

Galvan's win comes on the heels of Dan Lowery winning $258,784 at WSOP Circuit Choctaw. The Circuit shows no signs of slowing down either as it heads right into its second Cherokee stop of the season, traditionally one of the biggest draws on the tour.

As for Galvan, his first Circuit ring pushed him to over $450,000 in cashes and he now finds himself with a boosted bankroll to pursue his goal of solidifying himself as a professional poker player.

Official Final Table Results

Planet Hollywood and the WSOP pumped up the guarantee this year from $750,000 to $1 million, and the 845 turnout allowed the event to blow past that number to nearly $1.3 million. The Las Vegas location may have contributed to a tougher field than most Circuit events, as a number of notable names showed up in the payout list. Among that number were Kevin Eyster, Jeremy Ausmus, Sean Yu, Jon Turner, Sorel Mizzi, Eric Baldwin and Ankush Mandavia.

Final Table Action

The final day began with Galvan in a promising position holding a wide chip lead with 12 players left. However, according to the live updates, everything went south from the outset. Galvan bled away chips and sank all the way to 16 big blinds after losing a flip with ace-king against the queens of Neil Scott at the unofficial final table.

Scott, a veteran Circuit grinder, would lose with aces against kings to go down in ninth, though.

Galvan would win a flip with eight players left to get back on the horse and then take on chip leader Ali Imsirovic in a big hand. Imsirovic raised to 175,000 on the button at 40,000/80,000/10,000 and Galvan called in the small blind. They checked to the river on a board of A♥Q♥5♦7♦J♥. Galvan bet 355,000 and Imsirovic raised to 1.2 million. Galvan called with K♥K♣, winning showdown against 10♦10♣ that Imsirovic turned into a bluff. That put Galvan back in command with 7.1 million.

After Mark Ioli busted out, Galvan opened with A♠A♥ and Melanie Banfield shoved on his left for just under 20 big blinds. She held A♦J♦ and flopped the nut flush on 10♦8♦2♦, but the 2♣ turn and A♣ river gave Galvan a winning boat and more than half of the total chips.

Corey Hochman came into the final day on fumes with eight big blinds but managed to survive thanks to a series of early doubles. He then played the role of executioner with five players left, knocking out Bruce Kramer with A♦Q♠ against A♣10♥ all in preflop.

Galvan then did the deed with aces again, opening and then snap-calling when Imsirovic shoved with Q♣J♣ for 14 big blinds. A queen appeared on the flop but no further help emerged for Imsirovic.

Chris Tham tried to stop Galvan's momentum, shoving 11 big blinds when Galvan raised in the small blind with 2♦2♣. Galvan opted to call the shove and was up against K♦3♣. The flip went his way as the board ran out dead for Tham.

That left Galvan heads up with Hochman, the two players on the opposite ends of the chip counts to start the day. As before, Galvan had a huge lead, this time about 6-1. Hochman could not keep the massive comeback alive, as he fell in short order after starting the match a little over 20 big blinds. Galvan picked up queens when Hochman had A♠3♦, the money went in preflop, and Hochman couldn't overcome the deficit.

_{Photo courtesy of WSOP}

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