2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Cherokee

$1,700 Main Event
Day: 1a
1a1b23
Event Info
2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Cherokee
Final Results
Winner
Erik Gorman
Winning Hand
aq
Prize
$260,480
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,700
Total Entries
1,000
Level Info
Level
33
Blinds
100,000 / 100,000
Ante
200,000
Players Info - Day 1a
Entries
381
Players Left
60
Players Left 1 / 1,000
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Leif Force Wins Monster Stack for $97,676 & Third Gold Ring

Level 12 : 800/1,600, 1,600 ante
Leif Force
Leif Force

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

PlacePlayerHometownPrize
1Leif ForceTallahassee, Florida$97,676
2Matthew ErnstLexington, Kentucky$60,377
3Chris CareyEfland, North Carolina$44,973
4Marvin RettenmaierLeonberg, Germany$33,842
5Robert GeorgeDecatur, Georgia$25,729
6Louis GeorgeSuwanee, Georgia$19,765
7Henry McardlePhoenix, Arizona$16,072
8Gina HamAlpharetta, Georgia$12,039
9Austin ReillyGulf Shores, Alabama$9,547

Tags: Leif Force

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.

Tags: Maurice Hawkins

Chip Counts

Level 11 : 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Maurice Hawkins us
Maurice Hawkins
215,000
150,000
150,000
Profile photo of Anes Kovacevic us
Anes Kovacevic
135,000
30,000
30,000
Profile photo of Richard Malone us
Richard Malone
107,000
69,000
69,000
Profile photo of Richard Seymour us
Richard Seymour
98,000
31,000
31,000
Profile photo of Ryan D'Angelo us
Ryan D'Angelo
92,000
53,000
53,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Tsu Huang us
Tsu Huang
90,000
17,000
17,000
Profile photo of James Gilbert us
James Gilbert
84,000
60,000
60,000
Profile photo of Aaron Massey us
Aaron Massey
75,000
9,000
9,000
Profile photo of Thong Ho us
Thong Ho
55,000
17,000
17,000
Profile photo of David Lindquist us
David Lindquist
51,000
4,000
4,000
Profile photo of Melisa Singh us
Melisa Singh
42,000
10,000
10,000
Profile photo of Adam Hendrix us
Adam Hendrix
40,000
16,000
16,000
Profile photo of Ryan Jones us
Ryan Jones
35,000
13,000
13,000
Profile photo of Blake Whittington us
Blake Whittington
28,000
28,000
28,000
Jaka Coaching
Profile photo of Irene Carey us
Irene Carey
25,000
5,000
5,000

Moses Raises Out Albrinck

Level 11 : 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
David Moses (at previous event)
David Moses (at previous event)

The flop read {3-Diamonds}{3-Spades}{4-Diamonds} 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
Profile photo of David Moses us
David Moses
138,000
28,000
28,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Brad Albrinck us
Brad Albrinck
77,000
6,000
6,000

Tags: Brad AlbrinckDavid Moses

Level: 11

Blinds: 600/1,200

Ante: 1,200

The "Flu Game' of Poker

Level 10 : 500/1,000, 1,000 ante
Steve Karp
Steve Karp

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
Profile photo of Steve Karp us
Steve Karp
34,000
34,000
34,000

Tags: Aaron MasseySteve Karp