Jordan "scarface_79" Smith has been spotted in the field today. If you don't know Smith's name, or are currently suffering from Tip of the Tongue Syndrome after reading that sentence, then here are some facts about the Texan.
Smith has over $2.2 million in career online tournament winnings. He has over $1.9 million in career live tournaments. He won a World Series of Poker bracelet in 2009, besting a 1,695-player field in a $2,000 no-limit hold'em event. After winning his bracelet, he then bubbled the Main Event final table when Darvin Moon - the eventual runner-up - cracked his aces with a set of eights.
Smith is a bit quiet at the tables, and it's easy to overlook him for just another grinder, but he has one of the most impressive poker résumés in the room today.
Ross Bybee, winner of Event #2. Picture courtesy of WSOP.
For the past week, the 2012/2013 World Series of Poker Circuit presented by Southern Comfort 100 Proof has been taking place at the Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant, Oklahoma. The stop, which is in its third year, features 12 ring events, many of which are in the books, and will culminate this weekend with the $1,675 Main Event. There are sure to be some interesting storylines that emerge out of that tournament, and we thought we’d set the stage by taking a look at some of the Choctaw Durant winners thus far.
The stop kicked off with a $580 No-Limit Hold’em Re-Entry tournament that featured four startign days. That meant players had the option of re-entering up to four times! The tournament had a $500,000 guaranteed prizepool, which was smashed as 2,209 players turned out and created a $1,104,500 prize pool—the fourth largest turnout in WSOP Circuit history.
Flight 1A drew an impressive 576 entrants, and later that night another 354 players took to the felt for Flight 1B, which began at 5 p.m. On Saturday, Flight 1C attracted a massive 745 players, while Flight 1D later that night drew 534 players. That brought the total to the aforementioned 2,209, 225 of which would earn a payday and position themselves for a run at the $168,433.
The field was so large that an extra day had to be added to the schedule, but after more than 30 hours of tournament play, 37-year-old poker pro Ross Bybee of McKinney, Texas emerged victorious after defeating Michael Downing in heads-up play.
“[It feels] amazing; spectacular; wonderful. Everything you can think of and then some,” Bybee told WSOP officials after the win. “I have no trophies. I’ve won a lot of events and I’ve gotten little tokens, but this is my first real trophy. For it to be a ring means a lot.”
“Poker is what I’ve wanted to do for a long time and anything to get my name out there makes it all the better,” Bybee concluded.
WSOP Circuit Choctaw Durant Ring Event #2 No-Limit Hold’em Re-Entry
Doug "Rico" Carli raised to 525 from under the gun, Abraham Araya - the defending champion - called on his direct left, and a third player called near the button. The flop fell , Carli and Araya checked, and the player in position fired 700. Only Araya called.
The turn was the , Araya checked again, and the player tossed out two yellow T1,000 chips. Araya again called.
The completed the board, both players checked, and Araya's opponent announced, "Pair of fours."
In a hand from the last level, an under-the-gun player limped and Justin "Choctaw" Kruger raised to 400 from middle position with . Three players called, the flop fell with two diamonds, and Kruger continued for 650 after the initial limper checked. Two folded ensured, and then the limper check-raised to 2,000.
Kruger called, and then made his flush when the turned. The limper proceeded to lead out for 3,100, Kruger tank-called, and the completed the board on the river. The limper then shoved for approximately 10,500, and Kruger snap-called. His flush was good and the man known as "Choctaw" chipped up to 35,000.
Here’s how Skillbet.com does it. You and your opponent sit at two identical tables. You both are dealt the same hand and play against the same five computer players. If you win $45 with your and your opponent only wins $35 with his , then you outplayed him by $10 on that hand. If on the next hand, you fold but your opponent plays, then you watch him play in real-time hoping he loses because every dollar he loses is a dollar you win!
The additional skill added to the game makes it a game of skill and 100% legal in the following states:
Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Click on this banner above to play Lacey Jones (SkillBet.com’s beautiful poker pro and spokesperson). She will explain how to play and then you can play 20 hands of SkillBet.com winning up to $12 with no deposit! (even if she crushes you, you still get $3!)
![[user101598]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
, Carli and Araya checked, and the player in position fired 700. Only Araya called.
, Araya checked again, and the player tossed out two yellow T1,000 chips. Araya again called.
completed the board, both players checked, and Araya's opponent announced, "Pair of fours."
for aces up, and won the pot.
with two diamonds, and Kruger continued for 650 after the initial limper checked. Two folded ensured, and then the limper check-raised to 2,000.
turned. The limper proceeded to lead out for 3,100, Kruger tank-called, and the 
completed the board on the river. The limper then shoved for approximately 10,500, and Kruger snap-called. His flush was good and the man known as "Choctaw" chipped up to 35,000.
