Welcome to the last stop of the World Series of Poker Circuit Season 9—Harrah’s New Orleans. Today’s $1,675 Main Event marks the third-to-last tournament of the season (there are two other preliminary events to be held on Sunday and Monday), so we’re expecting a large turnout that’ll include dozens of “point chasers” hoping to earn a coveted seat into the National Championship, which will take place here in NOLA beginning on Wednesday.
Since the WSOP Circuit’s inception in 2005, Harrah’s New Orleans has batted cleanup on the season schedule. Last year, the stop proved a tremendous success and crowned a bevy of notable champs including Yung Hwang, Loni Harwood, Jonathan Tamayo and Jacob Naquin. It also saw Justn Truesdell defeat Andrew Nguyen to emerge victorious over a 694-player field in the Main Event. That victory earned Truesdell $171,440 and a seat into the season-ending National Championship.
There’s no doubt the 2011/2012 Harrah’s New Orleans ended with a bang, but it could be overshadowed by this year’s spectacle thanks in no small part to some exciting preliminary event storylines. For instance, Event #1 $365 No-Limit Hold’em attracted 367 entrants and was won by Joseph McKeehen, who you may recall won the Caesars Atlantic City Main Event back in March. The 21-year-old pro from North Wales, Pennsylvania already had a seat in the National Championship, but now he’s got his second ring and the chance to add “Casino Champ” to his résumé.
Another great story to emerge was that off Ray Henson, a 35-year-old poker pro from Houston, Texas. Back in January at the Bicycle Casino stop, Henson took down Event #7 $1,125 No-Limit Hold’em for $42,390 and his first ring. Two months later at the WSOP Circuit Lodge Casino in Blackhawk, Colorado, he won his second ring in Event #8 $365 No-Limit Hold’em for $16,128. Then, less than a week ago, Henson captured number three here in Harrah’s New Orleans by winning Event #3 $365 Pot-Limit Omaha for $13,203.
Other ring winners from the past week include David Hobson, Troy Davis, Nancy Birnbaum and Daniel Lowery. The latter two are especially notable as Birnbaum’s win gave her a third ring, which ties the record for most by a female alongside La Sengphet, while Lowery, a longtime circuit grinder who final tabled last year’s Main Event here in NOLA, finally captured his first gold ring.
Needless to say, the stage is set for an exciting Main Event, which will see the winner awarded one of the two remaining seats into the National Championship, the other going to the eventual “Casino Champion.”
Day 1a of the Main Event is set to kick off at Noon CST, and it looks like the plan is to play 16 levels. Cards will be in the air soon, so stay tuned!
. Tahoe check-called a bet of 975 before both players checked the 
turn. When the 
peeled off on the river, Tahoe bet out 1,200 and Seat 5 opted to fold.
