With the blinds so small and the field so large, it is hard to catch any significant hands. While this hand isn't necissarily significant, we happened upon it and thought it'd do just fine for our first hand write-up of the day.
Chris Tryba was in the big blind and checked his option after three players had limped in front of him. Action checked to the button on a flop, and he promptly bet 275. Tryba and the under-the-gun player called while a middle position player got out of the way. Three players then watched as the dealer burned and turned the . Once again action checked to the button, who bet 425. Tryba was the only player to call and it was heads-up to the river, which came the . "Ace high," Tryba said after it went check-check. Unfortunately for him, the button flipped over for a rivered pair of threes to take down the small pot.
As you can see, Kyle Cartwright has had quite the WSOPC, taking home two gold rings. Barring some amazing performance in the Main Event by another player, Cartwright will emerge as the "Casino Champion" and earn himself a spot in the National Championship.
While many players are here to have a good time, others are looking to accumulate points for the WSOPC National Leaderboard in the hope of qualifying for the $1 million National Championship in May. One such player is circuit regular Joel Merwick, who currently sits in ninth-place on the leaderboard. If the circuit were to end today, Merwick would be in; however, we're just a little over halfway done with the 2010/2011 schedule, so there are still plenty of opportunities for others to catch up. With that in mind, Merwick is here looking to add to his 105 points.
While the field is predominantly male, two females stick out among the masses and should be considered very dangerous players. Coincidentally, both made deep runs in the World Series of Poker Ladies Event last June. Out of 1,054 entrants, Traci Brown took 11th place for $10,833, while La Sengphet finished in seventh for $22,728.
Not recent enough for you? Each has put up an impressive result quite recently. Brown finished runner-up at the WSOP-C Choctaw Main Event less than a month ago for $143,462, while Sengphet took down a $555 preliminary event here in Tunica just two days ago. She topped a field of 284 for $32,394.
On our initial walkthrough we noticed a couple of WSOPC regulars.
Mark "Pegasus" Smith is no stranger to the WSOPC. In fact, he is currently tied with Men "The Master" Nguyen for most WSOPC rings with four. Smith almost made it five last month in Durant, Oklahoma when he finished second in Event #32: $345 at the WSOPC-Choctaw. While there was no official desgination, Smith is recognized as the 2009/2010 WSOPC Player of the Year.
On the other side of the room sits Kenny "Badhat" Piel. Nicknamed "Badhat" because of his signature hat and corresponding business, Piel has eight circuit cashes totaling $28,734. His most recent cash came back in October at the WSOPC-Southern Indiana stop. Piel has homefield advantage on his side as he currently resides in Tunica.
Only time will tell if either of these circuit regulars will break through and make a run at the WSOPC gold ring.
flop, and he promptly bet 275. Tryba and the under-the-gun player called while a middle position player got out of the way. Three players then watched as the dealer burned and turned the 
. Once again action checked to the button, who bet 425. Tryba was the only player to call and it was heads-up to the river, which came the 
. "Ace high," Tryba said after it went check-check. Unfortunately for him, the button flipped over 
for a rivered pair of threes to take down the small pot.