72-Year-Old Retired Dentist Elik Vodovoz Turns $220 Satellite Seat Into $294K
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The 2019 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit Horseshoe Hammond wrapped up on Monday with the completion of the Chicagoland’s $1,700 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event, a tournament that attracted 1,050 entrants and generated a $1,590,750 prize pool.
In a field chock full of young guns, it was 72-year-old retired dentist Elik Vodovoz turning a $220 satellite seat into a $294,290 payday, his first WSOPC gold ring, and a seat into the 2019 Global Casino Championship.
“Frankly, I really like playing poker,” said Vodovoz, originally from Ukraine. “I just have fun playing. My son is also playing and he told me ‘You’re playing well. Take your time and in the future, you will win something.’ Well, the future came early.”
It was far and away the largest score in Vodovoz’s career; in fact, he’s used to playing much smaller buy-ins.
WSOPC Horseshoe Hammond Main Event Final Table Results
| Position | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elik Vodovoz | Skokie, Illinois | $294,290 |
| 2 | Derek Hanauer | Chicago, Illinois | $181,950 |
| 3 | Brekstyn Schutten | Grand Rapids, Michigan | $135,214 |
| 4 | Peter Kelly | South Bend, Indiana | $101,649 |
| 5 | Amelito Umbao | West Chicago, Illinois | $77,295 |
| 6 | Adam Greenberg | Long Grove, Illinois | $59,462 |
| 7 | John Lizzio | Chicago, Illinois | $46,275 |
| 8 | Soctty Mio | Farmington Hills, Michigan | $36,428 |
| 9 | Even Scherer | Deerfield, Illinois | $29,015 |
The top 108 Main Event finishers made the money including Josh Reichard (15th - $19,057), MSPT champ Sean Munjal (20th - $13,076), Maurice Hawkins (21st - $13,076), Mark Brazis (56th - $4,470), Kevin Eyster (64th - $4,088), Alex Winter (82nd - $3,452), and Blake Battaglia (108th - $2,927).
WSOPC Horseshoe Hammond Main Event Final Table Action
According to updates from the event, Vodovoz got off to a quick start at the final table dispatching Evan Scherer in ninth place. It happened when Scherer jammed a six-high flop holding pocket tens and Vodovoz called with a set of fours and held.
With six players left, Vodovoz won a monster when he got it in with pocket kings against Brek Schutten’s queens and Adam Greenberg’s Big Slick. The kings held and Vodovoz doubled through Schutten while sending Greenberg to the rail.
With four players remaining, Peter Kelly got his short stack in with ace-deuce but failed to get there against Vodovoz’s pocket fives, and then Vodovoz had pocket nines hold against Schutten’s ace-queen to send the latter out the door in third place for $135,214.
Vodovoz took a big chip lead into heads-up play against Derek Hanauer and in the final hand of the tournament, the former held nines against the latter’s tens. Unfortunately for Hanauer, a nine spiked on the river and Hanauer had to settle for second place and $181,950 for his efforts.
WSOPC Horseshoe Hammond Side Event News
Ty Reiman is no stranger to poker. Ever since he finished runner-up to Harrison Gimbel in the 2010 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure for $1.75 million, he’s been a force in poker. Since becoming an HPT champ in 2007, Reiman has amassed more than $3.2 million in poker tournaments.
However, one thing he didn’t have was a piece of WSOP hardware. That changed at the Horseshoe Hammond stop when he topped a field of 165-entries to win Event #8: $600 NLH 6-Max for $23,792 and his first gold ring. Reiman, who doesn’t travel as much for poker, currently resides in Chicago, so he didn’t have to go far for the win.
Likewise, poker veteran Scott Bohlman navigated a 46-entry field to win Event #12: $1,125 Heads-Up NLH for $15,641 and his first gold ring. He did so by defeating Nebraska farmer Phil Mader in the best-of-three finale even after losing the first match.
“I’m playing the same poker I’ve been playing for twenty years,” said Bohlman, who last summer won a WSOP gold bracelet. “I don’t play a lot of tournaments. There’s only one happy winner, but this time that’s me.”
Here’s a look at all those who won rings at the Horseshoe Hammond stop.
WSOPC Horseshoe Hammond Ring Winners
| Event | Winner | Entries | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Event #1: $400 No-Limit Hold'em $500K GTD | Mike Sabbia | 2,595 | $118,887 |
| Event #2: $250 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack | Edward Rowsey | 556 | $23,339 |
| Event #3: Seniors | Simon Philip | N/A | $21,347 |
| Event #4: $600 No-Limit Hold'em w/ big blind ante | Boulos Estafanous | 207 | $27,719 |
| Event #5: $600 Pot-Limit Omaha | Michael Perrone | 149 | $21,485 |
| Event #6: $400 Monster Stack | Jason Crews | 503 | $35,698 |
| Event #7: $400 Omaha Eight or Better | Jim Davis | 132 | $12,197 |
| Event #8: $600 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Max | Ty Reiman | 165 | $23,792 |
| Event #9: $400 Dealer's Choice | Cory Chaput | 63 | $7,276 |
| Event #10: $1,125 No-Limit Hold'em w/ big-blind ante | Bryant Miller | 111 | $33,300 |
| Event #11: $250 Multi-Bag Bonus NLH | Ed Dixon | 1,332 | $40,244 |
| Event #12: $1,125 Heads Up No-Limit Hold'em | Scott Bohlman | 46 | $15,641 |
| Event #13: $1,700 Main Event | Elik Vodovoz | 1,050 | $294,290 |
| Event #14: $400 NLH Bounty | Hamid Izadi | 347 | $18,380 |
The next WSOPC stop is already underway at the Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens, California. PokerNews will bring you a recap of the stop’s $1,700 Main Event upon its completion.
Photos courtesy of WSOP Circuit.
PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.
