Main Event
Day 1 Started
2010-11 World Series of Poker Circuit - Horseshoe Southern Indiana
Main Event
Day: 1
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2010-11 World Series of Poker Circuit - Horseshoe Southern Indiana
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$416,160
Entries
289
Level
25
Blinds
10,000 / 20,000
Ante
3,000
Welcome to the Main Event!
This past summer World Series of Poker officials announced a series of changes for the WSOP Circuit’s seventh season including: more television coverage, standardized structures, a cumulative points system, and four Super-Regional tournaments. In addition, a season-ending National Championship tournament for 100 players who automatically qualify via cumulative rankings or performance-based criteria was established. This tournament, which will be played at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, features a $1,000,000 prize pool, awards a WSOP Gold Bracelet, and will be broadcast on national television.
Ty Stewart, Vice President of the WSOP, explained the need for change: "We recognized the WSOP Circuit Events needed a shot in the arm, and we believe we’ve responded with steroids. The new model is exactly what the WSOP is all about, giving poker players of all bankrolls the chance to compete for the kind of fame, fortune and respect that comes only with a WSOP bracelet and a national television audience.“
The 2010/2011 WSOPC opened last month in Council Bluffs, Iowa with Blair Hinkle taking down the Main events for $88,555 and becoming the first National qualifier. Today, the Midwest again finds itself the home to the WSOPC. Since October 2, the Horseshoe Southern Indiana casino, located in Elizabeth, Indiana, just 23 miles southwest of Louisville, Kentucky, has played host to the second of the WSOPC’s 13 stops.
Up until this point, nine ring events have been played at the WSOPC Southern Indiana. Some of the events played thus far, along with the winners, include:
Event #1: $350 No Limit Hold’em—Samuel Serdar ($47,171)
Event #2: $550 No Limit Hold’em—Ghansham Punjabi ($25,545)
Event #3: $350 Six-Handed NLH—Timothy McCarthy ($15,897)
Event #4: $350 NLH Shootout—Kevin Manley ($9,566)
Event #5: $350 H.O.R.S.E.—Scott Clark ($9,313)
Event #6: $350 PLO/PLH—Shiva Dudani ($9,226)
Event #7: $350 No Limit Hold’em—Jeffrey Baker ($24,190)
Today, the $1,600 buy-in Main Event begins and will award the winner first place prize money, a coveted diamond-encrusted gold Circuit Event ring and an automatic entry to the $1 million WSOPC National Championship that will take place in May, 2011 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. In addition, a second National Championship entry will be awarded to the player earning the most points throughout all ten ring events at the Horseshoe.
Last year, it was Gabriel Cook, a 33-year-old high school special education teacher from Terre Haute, Indiana, who became the Circuit champion at Horseshoe Southern Indiana and took home the $92,430 first-place prize. This year, there is a mix of amateurs and pros looking to duplicate Cook’s success. T.J. Cloutier and Mark “Poker Ho” Kroon have both been spotted at the Horseshoe, while Dwyte Pilgrim, perhaps the circuit’s biggest success and fresh off his World Poker Tour victory, is also in attendance. Pilgrim is currently ranked on the top ten of the WSOPC National Leaderboard and is in contention in almost every Player of the Year race. With a strong performance here, Pilgrim may be able to pull away from the pack. Below is a look at the top ten players on the WSOPC National Leaderboard heading into today’s Main Event:
1. Shiva Dudani . . . 125 points (one ring, two cashes)
2. Blair Hinkle . . . 100 points (one ring, one cash)*
3. Robert Georato . . . 90 points (one ring, three cashes)*
4. Jeffrey Epstein . . . 87.5 points (one ring, two cashes)
5. Steven Weixel . . . 77.5 points (one ring, three cashes)
6. Scott Clark . . . 75 points (one ring, two cashes)
7. Joel Merwick . . . 72.5 points (four cashes)
8. Matthew Lawrence . . . 65 points (two cashes)
9. Brett Schwertley . . . 65 points (four cashes)
10. Dwyte Pilgrim . . . 60 points (one cash)
*Players have already qualified for National Championship
As you can see, there is plenty at stake in today’s tournament. Action is set to begin at noon, so stay tuned to PokerNews for up-to-the-minute coverage of the WSOPC Horseshoe Southern Indiana Main Event!
Level: 1
Blinds: 25/50
Ante: 0
Shuffle Up and Deal
The cards are in the air here at the WSOPC Southern Indiana with 246 players currently seated. That number is just shy of the Main Event total at the WSOPC Council Bluffs last month. With registration open for another three hours, it is almost a certainly that number will be surpassed.
Kroon Loses a Tiny One
Mark "Poker Ho" Kroon raised to 125 from middle position and received a call from the player in the big blind. Both players checked the 
flop and the 
hit the turn.
The big blind checked over to Kroon who bet 300. The big blind called as the 
fell on the river. Once again, both players checked. The big blind turned over 
for an ace high. "You're good," Kroon said in resignation as he slid his cards into the muck. It was a small hit to Kroon's stack but it is still quite early.
Notables Side by Side
Over at the far side of the room, two notable names have been seated right next to each other. Ari Engel, who has seven WSOPC cashes totaling $144,725, is directly to the right of Drazen Ilich, who has five WSOPC cashes for $68,044.
Ilich is fresh of his win in Event #17 Six-Handed NLH at the WSOPC Council Bluffs stop. This was preceded by a victory at the same location back in 2009 in a $1,070 No Limit Hold'em event.
Both players are experienced with the circuit and have had their fair share of success. With two powerhosues at the same table, it may be a matter of time before the fireworks ignite.
Level: 2
Blinds: 50/100
Ante: 0
Friedman Folds Flop
After a player opened to 325 from early position, Adam Friedman called from middle position. If you remember back to the coverage of the 2005 World Series of Poker Main Event, you'll remember Friedman. He was one of the big stacks in the tournament, but saw it all fall apart as his finished in 43rd place for over $235,000. After seeing the flop here, Friedman folded to a continuation bet of 625 from his opponent and lost the pot.
Kroon Takes a Bigger Hit
Mark "Poker Ho" Kroon was under the gun and raised to 275. Action folded to the blinds, who both made the call. The flop came down 
and the small blind wasted little time in betting 750. The big blind folded and Kroon raised to 1,775. The small blind thought for a moment before making the call.
The 
on the turn inspired the small blind to fire out 2,000 and this time Kroon just called. When the 
fell on the river, the small blind again bet 2,000. Kroon seemed tortured by the bet and began to talk to his opponent. "Will you show if I fold?" he asked. His opponent did not respond and Kroon eventually mucked. He is now down to around 15,000.
The Champ Has Arrived
It only took one level for Dwyte Pilgrim to make his way down to the tournament and plop in his seat. Pilgrim took some time to wish good luck to many of his friends and fellow players on his way in and plenty of others had their eyes on him. Pilgrim's a pretty notable face on the WSOP Circuit and now he's even more of a face with his recent World Poker Tour success. Will this Circuit stop mean another gold ring for Pilgrim? Stick around and find out!