Many may remember 25-year old Kurt Jewell for his victory in the $1,600 Main Event at the Horseshoe Hammond circuit stop back in October, for which he earned $242,909 and secured his spot in the National Championship. In February, Jewell final tabled another Main Event at Harrah’s Tunica, but had an epic meltdown when he busted in eighth place after holding nearly half the chips in play with nine left. Lucky for him, he managed to redeem himself in St. Louis by winning his second ring and $13,206 by taking down Event #3, which just so happened to be his first Omaha 8 tournament ever. “I was literally googling Omaha 8 to see what the optimal starting hands were and to get some tips,” Jewell said after the win.
WSOP Circuit St. Louis Ring Event #3 Omaha High Low Eight or Better
The tournament floor here at Harrah's St. Louis is basically located in two halves, one on either side of the giant bar that divides the gaming floor (yes, the tournament area has been incorporated right on the gaming floor). As it happens, the far side of the room, which is usually reserved for overflow, has been completely broken and all the remaining players are now playing in the the main area.
Ben Logan, a 26-year-old from Tiverton, Rhode Island, is nearly seven feet tall and once played D1 basketball at Brown University. While he was the 2002-2003 Lindys Sports pre-season rookie of the year, Logan adds another title to his resume, that of WSOP Circuit ring winner. He accomplished the feat after besting a field of 138 players in Event #4 $345 buy-in H.O.R.S.E., worth $10,755 and his first WSOP Circuit gold ring.
Three players paid 600 to see a flop of and action checked to Aaron Massey, who bet 1,200. He got one caller and the dealer burned and turned the . Massey's sole opponent once again check-called a bet, this time 2,500, and the was put out on the river, putting three diamonds on board.
The caller, who had 16,000 behind, proceeded to check to Massey who shoved forward 25,000! His opponent folded and Massey showed with no diamond.
A player in early position raised to 1,000 only to be reraised to 2,350 by Ari Engel on the button. The blind got out of the way and the early-position player made the call, leading to a flop.
The early-position player didn't take long before betting 3,200; on the contrary, Engel took his time before putting in a raise to 9,000. It was enough to get the job done as his opponent opted for a fold. Engel is sitting with right around 30,000.
Jean "Prince" Gaspard, who won the WSOP-Circuit New Orleans back in 2009, is among the big stacks with 86,000 after having busted two players thus far.
A player in middle position limped and action folded to the button who put in a raise. "Cowboy" John Land was in the small blind and pushed back to the tune of 3,400. Both the middle-position player and the button called as the flop came down .
Land was first to act and checked to the middle-position player, who moved all in for 8,850. The button wisely got out of the way and Land made the quick call:
Middle Position:
Land:
Land was ahead but needed to avoid a diamond. It quickly became a mute point as the hit the turn and left his opponent drawing dead. After the was put out on the river for good measure, Land collected the pot and increased his stack to 45,000.
and action checked to Aaron Massey, who bet 1,200. He got one caller and the dealer burned and turned the 
. Massey's sole opponent once again check-called a bet, this time 2,500, and the 
was put out on the river, putting three diamonds on board.
with no diamond.
flop.
.
hit the turn and left his opponent drawing dead. After the 
was put out on the river for good measure, Land collected the pot and increased his stack to 45,000.