Kevin Johnson & Ben Thomas Lock Up Global Casino Championship Seats at WSOPC IP Biloxi
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The World Series of Poker Circuit wrapped up its latest stop at Mississippi’s IP Biloxi with the conclusion of the $1,700 Main Event, a tournament that drew 382 entries and created a $578,730 prize pool.
After three days of action, 27-year old Kevin Johnson prevailed to win $127,319, his first gold ring, and a seat into the season-ending Global Casino Championship.
“I felt pretty good coming into the final table,” Johnson told WSOP officials. “It was already the most I've ever won, so it was all a freeroll.”
Johnson also explained that before 2018, he had taken a nearly five-year break from the game.
''I've been traveling the Circuit most of this year,” he said. “I was playing in college in the early 2000's, and then I got a job and took a break. But I got back into it about a year ago. $10,000 of my win will go to the Main Event in Vegas.''
WSOPC IP Biloxi Final Table Results
| Position | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Johnson | Bartlett, TN | $127,319 |
| 2 | Luke Graham | Port St. Lucie, FL | $78,678 |
| 3 | Matthew Higgins | Gulfport, MS | $57,491 |
| 4 | Benjamin Thomas | Baton Rouge, LA | $42,687 |
| 5 | Timothy Conrow | Fredericksburg, VA | $32,189 |
| 6 | Johnny Landreth | Lanett, AL | $24,637 |
| 7 | Dave Alfa | Las Vegas, NV | $19,133 |
| 8 | Chris Matters | Lusby, MD | $15,070 |
| 9 | BJ McBrayer | Tuscaloosa, AL | $12,038 |
Others who cashed the Main Event were recent LFG Podcast guest Kao Saechao (10th - $9,746), Michael Lech (18th - $6,655), Blake Purvis (33rd - $3,212), Chris Conrad (41st - $2,626), and Dennis Brand (45th - $2,616).
Final Table Action
Another player at the final table was Ben Thomas, who had won a ring earlier in the series (more on that below). According to updates from the event, with four players left Johnson limped the small blind holding ace-ten and called when Thomas raised all in from the big holding king-three suited. Johnson flopped two pair and Thomas hit the rail in fourth place for $42,687.
Matt Higgins then bowed out in third place after his ace-eight failed to hold against Johnson’s queen-jack all in preflop. That set up a heads-up match between Johnson and Luke Graham with the former holding a more than 2:1 chip lead.
In the final hand of the tournament, Graham raised to 260,000 from the small blind and Johnson called to see a 5♣4♥7♥ flop. Johnson checked and Graham bet 325,000. Johnson check-raised all in and Graham snap-called off for 2.8 million.
Graham showed the 6♥5♥ for middle pair with an open-ended straight flush draw, while Johnson was out in front with the 10♥7♣ for top pair. Neither the 9♠ turn nor K♠ river helped Graham and he had to settle for second place and a $78,678 consolation prize.
Other IP Biloxi Ring Winners
Speaking of Thomas, he won the WSOPC IP Biloxi Casino Championship thanks to four cashes. First, he took down Event #4: $400 NLH for $12,659 and his first ring. Two days later, he placed third in Event #7: $400 NLH One-Day for $6,025, and the day after that took 13th in Event #8: $400 Monster Stack for $1,651. Toss in his fourth-place finish and it was more than enough to earn a seat into the Global Casino Championship.
Another big story coming out of the stop was Robert Matthews winning not one but two Seniors events. First, he topped a field of 135 entries to win the $250 Seniors I for $9,620 and his first gold ring. A week later, he was at it again when he bested a 136-entry field to win the $250 Seniors II for $7,615 and a second ring.
While they weren’t official gold ring events, meaning they didn’t count toward the Casino Championship leaderboard, Matthews going back-to-back was certainly newsworthy. Below is a look at all those who won tournaments at the WSOPC IP Biloxi:
WSOP Circuit IP Biloxi Ring Winners
| Event | Winner | Entries | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Event #1: $250 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack | Samuel Bowles | 266 | $13,035 |
| Event #2: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Multi-flight | Debra Irvine | 729 | $44,264 |
| Event #3: $400 No-Limit Hold'em (1 Day) | Paul Sokoloff | 109 | $10,791 |
| $250 SENIORS I | Robert Matthews | 135 | $9,620 |
| Event #4: $400 No-Limit Hold'em | Benjamin Thomas | 137 | $12,659 |
| Event #5: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Six-Max | Sley Sanchez | 146 | $13,731 |
| Event #6: $400 Pot-Limit Omaha | Matthew Silva | 75 | $8,416 |
| Event #7: $400 No-Limit Hold'em (1 Day) | Russell Sullivan | 152 | $13,539 |
| Event #8: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Monster Stack | Gavin Munroe | 352 | $26,278 |
| Event #9: $600 No-Limit Hold'em Big-Blind Ante | Scott Brewster | 150 | $21,629 |
| Event #10: $1,700 MAIN EVENT | Kevin Johnson | 382 | $127,319 |
| Event #11: $400 No-Limit Hold'em (1 Day) | David Valone | 133 | $12,287 |
| Event #12: $400 No-Limit Hold'em (1 Day) | Christopher Carey | 109 | $10,791 |
| $250 Seniors II | Robert Matthews | 136 | $7,615 |
| Event #13: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack | Eric Salazar | 153 | $3,632 |
The WSOP Circuit continues January 2-14 at Choctaw Durant followed by stops at Thunder Valley Casino Resort, Horseshoe Tunica, and Milwaukee’s Potawatomi Hotel & Casino.
Images courtesy of WSOP
PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.
