2011-12 World Series of Poker Circuit Event - Harrah's New Orleans

Main Event
Day: 3
Event Info

2011-12 World Series of Poker Circuit Event - Harrah's New Orleans

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a5
Prize
$171,400
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,600
Prize Pool
$998,770
Entries
694
Level Info
Level
32
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
10,000

National Championship Qualifiers

Level 26 : 12,000/24,000, 3,000 ante

The race for the WSOP Circuit Harrah’s New Orleans Casino Champion is undetermined, but will likely come down between Jacob Naquin and Dominic Gabaldon, both of whom have had success in the preliminary events. Whoever captures that title, along with the eventual winner of the Main Event, will automatically qualify for the Second Annual $1 Million National Championship. Here's a look at the players who have qualified:

National Championship Qualifiers

PlayerQualified
David NicholsonHorseshoe Bossier City Main Event Winner
Chris GamboaHorseshoe Bossier City Casino Champion
Robert CastoireHorseshoe Southern Indiana Main Event Winner
Mark “Pegasus” SmithHorseshoe Southern Indiana Casino Champion
Bob ChowHorseshoe Hammond Main Event Winner
Drazen IlichHorseshoe Hammond Casino Champion
Gene DudekIP Biloxi Casino Champion
Jerry MonroeIP Biloxi Main Event Winner
Michael RosenbachLake Tahoe Casino Champ
Bryan SchultzLake Tahoe Main Event Champion
Tuan PhanHarrah’s AC Main Event Winner
Hao LeHarrah’s AC Casino Champ
Freddy DeebBicycle Casino Main Event Winner
Huy QuachBicycle Casino Champ
Raja KattamuriChoctaw Casino Champ
Abraham ArayaChoctaw Main Event Champion
Gary BoldenCaesars Palace Casino Champ
Kevin CalenzoCaesars Palace Main Event Winner
Matthew WeberHarrah’s Tunica Casino Champ
Kurt JewellHarrah’s Tunica Main Event Winner
Charles FlettPalm Beach Casino Champ
James HarndenPalm Beach Main Event Winner
Tuan PhanHarrah’s AC Main Event Winner
Hao LeHarrah’s AC Casino Champ
Joseph KuetherHarrah’s Rincon Main Event Winner
Jonas MackoffHarrah’s Rincon Casino Champ
Scott StankoCouncil Bluffs Main Event Winner
Michael NellisCouncil Bluffs Casino Champ
Nikolas StoneHarrah’s St. Louis Casino Champ
Tripp KirkHarrah’s St. Louis Main Event Winner
Kevin McColganHarrah’s Philadelphia Casino Champ
Christopher BonnHarrah’s Philadelphia Main Event Winner

Nguyen Moves Up the Board

Level 26 : 12,000/24,000, 3,000 ante
Andrew Nguyen picked up a much needed pot.
Andrew Nguyen picked up a much needed pot.

On the first hand back from break Andrew Nguyen opened for 50,000 on the button and Michael Hallen called from the big blind. The flop came {7-Spades} {8-Spades} {10-Hearts}, Hallen checked and Nguyen bet 68,000. Hallen called to see the {A-Diamonds} come on the turn and checked again. Nguyen bet 145,000 and Hallen called after some thought. The river brought the {6-Spades} and bother players checked.

Nguyen tabled {A-Spades} {8-Hearts} and Hallen mucked, sending Nguyen the pot and pushing him over 1,000,000.

Tags: Andrew NguyenMichael Hallen

Level: 26

Blinds: 12,000/24,000

Ante: 3,000

Lowery's Ice Cold Stare

Level 25 : 10,000/20,000, 3,000 ante
Daniel Lowery stares down Smith into folding.
Daniel Lowery stares down Smith into folding.

Shane Smith opened for 50,000 in the cutoff and Daniel Lowery popped it to 140,000 from the button. The blinds released and Smith called after some consideration. The flop came {A-Hearts} {J-Hearts} {7-Clubs}, Smith checked and Lowery cut out 160,000 to push into the middle.

Smith went deep into the tank, so deep that the rest of the field went on break while this hand continued to play out. Lowery kept an ice cold stare on Smith the whole time he was in the tank. After a good while Smith said, "If you've got ace-king you would have busted me," as he folded pocket queens face up.

Tags: Daniel LoweryShane Smith

Blake Barousse Eliminated in 13th Place ($12,535)

Level 25 : 10,000/20,000, 3,000 ante
Blake Barousse
Blake Barousse

Action folded around to Justin Truesdell in the small blind and he simply moved all in and put the pressure on short-stacked Blake “blakeb0921” Barousse. The latter made the call and tabled {A-Diamonds}{10-Diamonds}, which was ahead of Truesdell's {Q-Hearts}{3-Spades}.

Any excitement Barousse may have felt was short lived when the dealer put out the {Q-Spades}{5-Spades}{8-Hearts} on the flop, giving Truesdell a pair of queens and the lead. Neither the {6-Spades} turn nor {5-Diamonds} river helped Barousse and he finished in 13th place for $12,535.

Tags: Blake “blakeb0921” Barousse