Break Time
Level 12
: 800/1,600, 1,600 ante
The remaining players are now on their third 15-minute break of the night.
2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Cherokee
$1,700 Main Event
Day: 1a
Seymour With Another Nut Flush
Level 12
: 800/1,600, 1,600 ante
The board read 
. Richard Seymour bet 15,000 and his opponent called after some moments of stewing it over.
Seymour again showed the goods as he turned over the 
for the nut flush and collected the nice pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
170,000 | 72,000 |
Leif Force Wins Monster Stack for $97,676 & Third Gold Ring
Level 12
: 800/1,600, 1,600 ante
The PokerNews live reporting team is currently in North Carolina to live report the Main Event here at the World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah’s Cherokee, but that is just one of the gold ring events that will have played out by the end of the series.
In Event #7: $400 Monster Stack, 1,193 runners created a $633,930 prize pool that was paid out to the top 277 places. Among those to make a deep run and cash were Marvin Rettenmaier (4th - $33,842), Austin Reilly (9th - $9,547), Eric Salazar (15th - $6,203), Justin Harvell (22nd - $4,126), David Jackson (24th - $3,531), and Alan Sacks (39th - $1,739).
In the end, longtime poker pro Leif Force, 36, bested Matt Ernst in heads-up play to win the tournament for $97,676 and his third gold ring, which compliments the bracelet he won in the 2012 WSOP Event #3: $3,000 Heads-Up NLH/PLO for $207,708. He also finished 11th in the 2006 WSOP Main Event for more than $1.1 million and 21st in 2014 for $286,900.
“It feels so great. I’m so excited about it,” said Force, who was at one point down to just a fifth of a big blind.
“I lost tens versus ace-ten to get down to 10,000 in chips when the big blind was 50,000. I had just gotten through the blinds, so I waited maybe four hands and went all in and doubled up the next four hands in a row and was up to 500,000 right away,” explained Force.
He added: “I don’t really go for any milestones. I love to play. I’ve been playing since when I was home schooled. I learned math through poker. I was playing blackjack at age two.”
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leif Force | Tallahassee, Florida | $97,676 |
| 2 | Matthew Ernst | Lexington, Kentucky | $60,377 |
| 3 | Chris Carey | Efland, North Carolina | $44,973 |
| 4 | Marvin Rettenmaier | Leonberg, Germany | $33,842 |
| 5 | Robert George | Decatur, Georgia | $25,729 |
| 6 | Louis George | Suwanee, Georgia | $19,765 |
| 7 | Henry Mcardle | Phoenix, Arizona | $16,072 |
| 8 | Gina Ham | Alpharetta, Georgia | $12,039 |
| 9 | Austin Reilly | Gulf Shores, Alabama | $9,547 |
Level: 12
Blinds: 800/1,600
Ante: 1,600
All-Time Ring Winner Maurice Hawkins Offers Up Constructive Criticism
Level 11
: 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
Maurice Hawkins, who is in action today, is a polarizing figure in the poker world. He's got fans but he's also got his fair share of haters. You see, he's not one to shy away from speaking his mind, and when the 13-time World Series of Poker Circuit ring winner recently reached out to PokerNews to air some grievances, we listened.
Hawkins is the latest grinder to join the chorus of players frustrated by changes that have affected the game over the years — changes like paying more of the field, the rise of re-entry events, and extended late registration, just to name a few.
"It's the poker scene as a whole, but mainly it's on the WSOP Circuit," Hawkins says with reference to his stomping ground. "They've incorporated unlimited re-entries, and while that may be good to get the numbers up, for the longevity of poker it's terrible. Over a couple of years, a player isn't going to be around for more than 2-3 years max, because he's just never going to turn a profit except here and there."
For more on what Hawkins had to say check out this feature article on PokerNews.
Chip Counts
Level 11
: 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
215,000 | 150,000 |
|
135,000 | 30,000 |
|
107,000 | 69,000 |
|
|
98,000 | 31,000 |
|
92,000 | 53,000 |
|
90,000 | 17,000 |
|
84,000 | -60,000 |
|
75,000 | 9,000 |
|
|
55,000 | -17,000 |
|
51,000 | -4,000 |
|
42,000 | 10,000 |
|
40,000 | -16,000 |
|
35,000 | 13,000 |
|
28,000 | 28,000 |
|
25,000 | -5,000 |
Moses Raises Out Albrinck
Level 11
: 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
The flop read 
and Brad Albrinck bet 3,200. David Moses quickly raised it up to 10,300, which put Albrinck to the test.
After about 15 seconds he gave it up and Moses collected the pot as he answered a question from the table regarding his signature grinch hat. 'Tis the holidays!
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
138,000 | 28,000 |
|
77,000 | 6,000 |
Day 1a Action
Level: 11
Blinds: 600/1,200
Ante: 1,200
The "Flu Game' of Poker
Level 10
: 500/1,000, 1,000 ante
According to fellow player Aaron Massey, Steve Karp had a serious case of the flu earlier today and was not planning to play in the Main Event today. But just like Michael Jordan in the 1997 NBA finals (as Massey alluded to), Karp has indeed made his way to the felt despite the ailment.
He is hoping to make a deep run in the tournament to create the legend of poker's version of the "Flu Game."
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
34,000 | 34,000 |