Matthew Lawrence qualified for the World Series of Poker National Championship through an “At-large bid” after his impressive and consistent performance throughout the 2010/2011 season. He managed to notch 10 cashes worth $52,781, with his largest single cash ($29,092) coming from a fourth-place finish in the Horseshoe Council Bluffs $1,600 Main Event back in August of last year.
Lawrence narrowly missed his second Main Event final table when he finished in 11th place. Interestingly, fellow National Championship final table member La Sengphet bubbled that final table in 10th place while Sam Barnhart, who is also here today, ended up winning that event.
Lawrence starts today’s final table with 140,000, which accounts for 7% of the chips in play. With only two short-stacked players behind him, Lawrence will have to fight if he hopes to claim the National Championship.
With the television crew all in place and player introductions made, the cards are now in the air for the final table of the WSOP-Circuit National Championship!
On the very first hand of the final table, La Sengphet raised from under the gun to 10,500. Action folded over a couple seats to Matthew Lawrence. He reraised to 28,000. In the next seat on the other side of the dealer sat Charles "Woody" Moore. Starting the final table with 65,500, the shortest stack on the felt, Moore mulled it over and then made the call. Action moved back to Sengphet and she called as well.
The flop came down and Sengphet checked to Lawrence. He also checked and action was on Moore. The man who won the WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Southern Indiana Main Event moved all in for 37,000. Sengphet folded, but Lawrence started to tank, not letting Moore get away with this one easily. Eventually, Lawrence slid out the chips for the call and the hands were tabled.
Moore showed the for just ace high, a surprising and bold move to put his tournament life on the line. Lawrence was amazed he held the best hand with the .
The turn brought the and gave Moore a few more outs to a wheel. The river was dealt with the and Moore jumped back with excitement as his cheering section let out a roar. Moore won the hand with an ace from space and more than doubled up. He's up to 170,000 now while Lawrence was kicked back to 74,500.
Action folded around to James Anderson on the button. The WSOP Circuit Midwest Regional Champion raised to 11,500. Matthew Lawrence moved all in from the small blind for just under 70,000, having been knocked back thanks to an ace from space against Charles "Woody" Moore on the first hand of play. Action got back to Anderson and he quickly called to put Lawrence at risk.
Lawrence tabled the , but was behind the for Anderson. The flop came down and Lawrence began shaking hands with the table. His cheering section also began to pack up their stuff, but then the fell on the turn and gave him some life with a gutshot straight draw. It wasn't in the cards for Lawrence though as the fell on the river to keep Anderson's set of jacks as the winning hand.
Lawrence finished in ninth place for $30,000 and the field is down to eight.
Jonathan Poche entered his first pot of the day with a raise to 11,000 from middle position.
La Sengphet made the call from two seats over as a flop was dropped by the dealer. Poche contemplated for a few moments before cutting out a bet of 16,500 which was met by a call from Sengphet as the landed on the turn.
Poche continued his aggression with a bet of 33,500 which Sengphet swiftly called as the completed the board on the river. Poche checked, as did Sengphet who turned over her to force a fold from Poche.
As Sengphet raked in the pot to send her to 290,000, Poche took a dive to roughly 465,000 in chips.
Action folded around to the WSOP Circuit Caesars Las Vegas Casino Champion Adam Hui. He raised to 10,500. WSOP Circuit Harrah's New Orleans Main Event champion Jonathan Poche reraised from the big blind to 28,000. Hui called and the two went to a flop.
The flop came down and Poche fired 33,500. Hui tanked for quite some time and then raised to 67,000, the minimum he could raise. Poche wasted little time in moving all in and Hui quickly called with the . His two pair wasn't good though as Poche tabled the to have Hui in a world of hurt.
The turn and river both blanked off and Hui couldn't find miracle runner-runner. He was eliminated in eighth place for $35,000 while Poche increased his chip lead in a big way.
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and Sengphet checked to Lawrence. He also checked and action was on Moore. The man who won the WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Southern Indiana Main Event moved all in for 37,000. Sengphet folded, but Lawrence started to tank, not letting Moore get away with this one easily. Eventually, Lawrence slid out the chips for the call and the hands were tabled.
for just ace high, a surprising and bold move to put his tournament life on the line. Lawrence was amazed he held the best hand with the 
.
and gave Moore a few more outs to a wheel. The river was dealt with the 
and Moore jumped back with excitement as his cheering section let out a roar. Moore won the hand with an ace from space and more than doubled up. He's up to 170,000 now while Lawrence was kicked back to 74,500.
flop, Barnhart pushed out a bet which was enough to force a fold from Ilich.
, but was behind the 
for Anderson. The flop came down 
and Lawrence began shaking hands with the table. His cheering section also began to pack up their stuff, but then the 
fell on the turn and gave him some life with a gutshot straight draw. It wasn't in the cards for Lawrence though as the 
flop was dropped by the dealer. Poche contemplated for a few moments before cutting out a bet of 16,500 which was met by a call from Sengphet as the 
landed on the turn.
completed the board on the river. Poche checked, as did Sengphet who turned over her 
