Brek Schutten Wins WSOP Circuit Hammond Main Event
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World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner Brek Schutten is now a World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) ring winner.
The talented poker pro from Michigan conquered the $1,700 buy-in WSOP Circuit Main Event in Hammond, Indiana for $185,594. That brings his career live tournament cashes up to $6.2 million, according to The Hendon Mob, fourth all-time in his home state. Ryan Riess, the 2013 world champion leads the way with $16.8 million in cashes.
Schutten Takes it Down
The Main Event attracted a field of 622 entrants in the $1 million guaranteed tournament at Horseshoe Hammond, a popular card room in the Chicagoland area. Schutten entered Day 2 with a difficult decision to make that didn't involve facing an all-in bet for his tournament life. His wife was ill and he pondered not even showing up to play. But he came to the conclusion that playing was the right move.
Schutten would make plenty of correct moves before the final table even began. He had approximately 40% of all chips in play with six remaining players. His opponents knew rallying to win would be difficult, especially considering the chip leader was the most accomplished tournament player at the table.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brek Schutten | $185,594 |
| 2 | Brian Craig | $123,721 |
| 3 | Merritt Kuhn | $84,267 |
| 4 | Brian Landon | $58,631 |
| 5 | Natan Lidukhover | $41,691 |
| 6 | Andrew Brinkley | $39,315 |
| 7 | Arnestos Armonas | $22,551 |
| 8 | Sung Kim | $17,172 |
| 9 | Jorge Galarza | $13,391 |
Andrew Brinkley would go out in sixth place ($39,315), followed by Natan Lidukhover in fifth place ($41,691). Brian Landon was the fourth-place finisher ($58,631), and Merritt Kuhn busted in third place ($84,267).
Schutten held a sizable chip advantage over Brian Craig when heads-up play began. But both players had over 30 big blinds. The match didn't last long after Schutten's bigger pocket pair held up against a smaller pocket pair, sending Craig home as the runner-up for $123,721.
Schutten had two previous live tournament wins, both of which went for over $1 million. He won his WSOP bracelet last year in the $25,000 High Roller for $1,405,641, and took down the $3,500 World Poker Tour (WPT) Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown for $1,261,095 in 2021. And now he's a WSOP Circuit ring winner.
