2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Foxwoods

Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info

2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Foxwoods

Final Results
Winner
Justin Carey
Winning Hand
a8
Prize
$143,293
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,700
Prize Pool
$709,020
Entries
468
Level Info
Level
33
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
200,000

WSOP Circuit Foxwoods $1,700 Main Event Set to Begin at Noon

The 2019/20 season of the World Series of Poker Circuit rolls on with Event #10: $1,700 Main Event at Foxwoods (Connecticut). What has already been a busy circuit stop will culminate with the Main Event, which will be played over a total of four days.

Last year, this Main Event at Foxwoods was won by Gordon Wilcox. The Boston native navigated a field of 519 entries to take home a first-place prize totaling $169,052.

The structure for the Foxwoods Main Event follows the pattern of many other WSOPc stops. There will be two starting days, Flight A and Flight B. Both begin at noon local time, with Flight A beginning today. Players have the option of one re-entry per flight, equaling a maximum of four entries. Day 1 will consist of 15 levels of play, lasting 40 minutes each. There is a 15-minute break every three levels with a 75-minute dinner break after level 9. Registration is open until the start of level 13 (approximately 9:45 p.m.).

PokerNews live reporting team will be on hand to bring you all of the action for this important WSOP Circuit Main Event. In the meantime, here's a look at all those who've captured gold rings thus far at the WSOP Circuit Foxwoods stop.

TournamentEntriesPrize PoolWinnerPrize
Event #1: $400 NLH207$68,310Andrew Heckman$16,566
Event #2: $600 NLH 6-Handed92$47,380Andrew Lauer$14,058
Event #3: $600 NLH1,754$903,310Bob Ricciuti$134,413
Event #4: $400 NLH Turbo322$106,260Max Wiosna$23,664
Event #5: $600 NLH156$80,340Michael Zaino$21,050
Event #6: $400 NLH One-Day237$78,210Luke Graham$18,364
Event #7: $400 Omaha Hi/Lo 8 or Better124$40,920Darrell Lee$11,143
$250 Seniors Event464$92,800Scott Robbins$18,811

Andrew Heckman Wins Event #1: $400 NLH for His Second Gold Ring

Level 1 : 100/100, 0 ante
Andrew Heckman
Andrew Heckman

While PokerNews is only live reporting the High Roller and Main Event tournaments at the World Series of Poker Circuit Foxwoods stop, there have been plenty of other side events playing out all week long.

One of them was Event #1: $400 No-Limit Hold’em, a tournament that attracted 207 runners and created a $68,310 prize pool. One player that made a deep run was famed poker lawyer and frequent PokerNews contributor Maurice “Mac” VerStandig of the VerStandig Law Firm. He wound up taking fifth place for $3,812.

In the end, it was 24-year-old Andrew Heckman who emerged victorious to win the tournament for $16,566 and his second gold ring.

“It feels really good because I told this kid I wasn’t gonna duplicate my other ring, just to give me more motivation to win that one – and that was two years ago,” said an elated Heckman, after explaining that his first ring was stolen.

“I’m definitely a better tournament player than cash, but I play cash a lot. It feels good to win tournaments,” said Heckman, who learned to play from his dad. “He was really good. He won tournaments all the time. I used to stay up long nights and watch him when I was a kid before school and stuff. He’d tell me ‘go to bed’ and this and that.”

Final Table Results

PlacePlayerHometownPrize
1Andrew HeckmanW. Bridgewater, Massachusetts$16,566
2Joseph TaylorRedford, Michigan$10,239
3David ErbanN/A$7,221
4Michael BohmerwaldStamford, Connecticut$5,198
5Maurice "Mac" VerstandigGaithersburg, Maryland$3,812
6Bruno KreuschdesouzaRevere, Massachusetts$2,855
7Matthew ZolaRiverside, Connecticut$2,186
8David ValoneNew Haven, Connecticut$1,708
9Aleksey FilatovNorwood, Massachusetts$1,374

Tags: Andrew Heckman

Ostapchenko Looking to Follow Up on Parx Success

Level 3 : 100/200, 200 ante
Andrew Ostapchenko in Vegas WSOP action.
Andrew Ostapchenko in Vegas WSOP action.

Earlier this week, Andrew Ostapchenko struck it big at Parx Casino in Philadelphia.

He was there for the Parx Big Stax XXX and played the Big Stax 1100, an $1,100 buy-in tournament that drew 455 entries.

Ostapchenko came out on top of that field to win a $97,220 first-place prize. It was his first recorded live victory and second-biggest career cash after scoring over $200k in the 2017 WSOP Main Event.

Ostapchenko has made the journey to Foxwoods and is looking to keep the ball rolling with a deep run, and if he has his way, another victory.

Tags: Andrew Ostapchenko

Andrew Lauer Wins WSOPC Foxwoods Event #2 for His 3rd Gold Ring

Level 4 : 100/200, 200 ante
Andrew Lauer
Andrew Lauer

While PokerNews is only live reporting the High Roller and Main Event tournaments at the World Series of Poker Circuit Foxwoods stop, there have been plenty of other side events playing out all week long.

One of them was Event #2: $600 NLH 6-Handed, a tournament that drew 92 entrants and created a $47,380 prize pool. Among those to get a piece of it but fall short of the final table were Allen Kessler (14th - $957), John Cautela (13th - $957), Mark Phillips (12th - $1,089), Dan Chalifour (11th - $1,089), and Robert Morton (10th - $1,302).

In the end, it was 29-year-old Andrew Lauer winning the tournament for $14,058 and his third gold ring.

“It feels amazing. I can only play a few events so when I came down I said the six-max is the one,” Lauer said after the win. “The third one was kind of elusive. I got heads-up down in Florida – didn’t get it. Made a couple other final tables – couldn’t get it. So, to actually get it feels amazing. Gotta keep going for more though – get four and five.”

It wasn’t easy for Lauer, who faced a tough final table including a long heads-up battle.

“When I came into the final table I didn’t love my seat. I had one of the chip leaders on my right and then I had, in my opinion, the best player at the table on my left - James Camby. So, I knew I was going to be handcuffed.”

Final Table Results

PlacePlayerHometownPrize
1Andrew LauerGranby, Connecticut$14,058
2Charles Alex BartonBoston, Massachusetts$8,690
3Steve WilliamsAthens, Texas$5,775
4James CampbellMarlborough, Massachusetts$3,975
5Matthew CooperWest Haven, Connecticut$2,838
6Dennis BrandSugar Land, Texas$2,108
7Roland IsraelashviliForest Hills, New York$1,620
8David LabriolaNaugatuck, Connecticut$1,620
9Vincent MoscatiVerplanck, New York$1,302

Tags: Andrew Lauer

Hawkins and Kessler Take a Seat

Level 5 : 200/300, 300 ante
Maurice Hawkins in summer WSOP action.
Maurice Hawkins in summer WSOP action.

A couple of well-known circuit regulars have taken a seat in Maurice Hawkins and Allen Kessler.

Hawkins sits atop the all-time ring leader list with 13 and almost $2.5 million in WSOP cashes.

Meanwhile, Kessler has three rings to his name and an impressive 160 total cashes in WSOP for just shy of two million.

Player Chips Progress
Maurice Hawkins us
Maurice Hawkins
30,000
15,000
15,000
Allen Kessler us
Allen Kessler
30,000
30,000
30,000

Tags: Allen KesslerMaurice Hawkins

Wang Turns Set of Aces to Crush Kings

Level 7 : 300/500, 500 ante
Michael Wang
Michael Wang

Action was already on the turn in a large pot of about 35,000 in the middle. Michael Wang and his opponent, Tsz Shing looked at a board of {3-Spades}{10-Clubs}{k-Diamonds}{a-Diamonds}. Both players checked tentatively. The river was the {5-Spades}. Shing moved all in and was instantly called by Wang.

Shing turned over {k-Spades}{k-Hearts} but Wang had that crushed as he revealed the {a-Spades}{a-Clubs} for a big set over set spot to give him the huge pot.

Player Chips Progress
Michael Wang us
Michael Wang
142,000
WSOP 2X Winner
Tsz Shing us
Tsz Shing
18,000
18,000
18,000

Tags: Michael Wang

Scott Robbins Wins WSOPC Foxwoods $250 Seniors Event for $18,811

Level 8 : 300/600, 600 ante
Scott Robbins
Scott Robbins

While PokerNews is only live reporting the High Roller and Main Event tournaments at the World Series of Poker Circuit Foxwoods stop, there have been plenty of other side events playing out all week long.

One of them was the $250 Seniors Event, a tournament that drew 464 entrants and created a $92,800 prize pool.

Among those to cash but fall short of making the final table were Merle Connors (11th - $1,373), Walter Kuhl (15th - $1,122), Scott Robinson (21st - $779), Kevin Rigney (25th - $575), Ed Maley (29th - $510), John Testa (31st - $454), Alexander Liao (35th - $417), Scott Baldyga (38th - $380), Pierre Saba (42nd - $380), Scott Solomon (49th - $361), William Cera (55th - $352), Alan Stuart (69th - $334), and Michael Muniz (70th - $334).

In the end, it was Scott Robbins coming out on top to win the $18,811 first-place prize and accompanying WSOP Circuit gold ring.

Final Table Results

PlacePlayerHometownPrize
1Scott RobbinsMillbury, Massachusetts$18,811
2Thomas DragoneTrumbull, Connecticut$11,628
3Malcolm MasonWaterbury, Connecticut$8,491
4Alfred BorgesTaunton, Massachusetts$6,283
5Scott InmanWallingford, Connecticut$4,705
6David StrainGranby, Connecticut$3,582
7Tedford ArmisteadActon, Massachusetts$2,756
8Richard DiotaleviMilford, Massachusetts$2,153
9James RaffertySalem, New Hampshire$1,738

Tags: Scott Robbins

Bob Ricciuti Claims Event #3: $600 NLH Title for $134,413

Level 10 : 500/1,000, 1,000 ante
Bob Ricciuti
Bob Ricciuti

While PokerNews is only live reporting the High Roller and Main Event tournaments at the World Series of Poker Circuit Foxwoods stop, there have been plenty of other side events playing out all week long.

One of them was Event #3: $600 NLH, a tournament that drew 1,754 entries over five starting flights and created a $903,310 prize pool.

Among those to finish in the top 264 and make the money were Mike Wang (14th - $9,846), Andrew Cooper (28th - $3,974), Benjamin Sears (37th - $2,529), Stephen Silverman (59th - $1,896), Daniel Weinman (80th - $1,535), Mike Azzaro (106th - $1,174), and Dan Barry (121st - $1,174).

In the end, local favorite Bob Ricciuti from Johnston, Rhode Island took it down in front of his big rail for $134,413 and his first gold ring.

“I have a reputation for being bitter because I’ve been around a long time and I’ve never gotten a big payday. People that know me know the real me. They’ll see you when you’re busting a tournament, and the whole world is looking at you at your weakest moment. So, it feels like vindication. It feels really nice,” said an emotional Ricciuti.

He added: “For the first couple of years I was playing professionally we were struggling. My daughter was young. But here I am 13 years later and I’m still grinding it out. I’m always fighting for my life – I’m fighting for my family.”

Final Table Results

PlacePlayerHometownPrize
1Robert RicciutiJohnston, Rhode Island$134,413
2Corbin AveryClaremont, New Hampshire$83,105
3Rafael PolancoN/A$63,683
4Albert ArcandBoston, Massachusetts$49,140
5Dennis GokmanJersey City, New Jersey$38,210
6Jovy OunthongdyEast Hartford, Connecticut$29,900
7John PhanSeattle, Washington$23,576
8Daniel LeeMedford, Massachusetts$18,789
9Steven WojcikN/A$15,215

Tags: Bob Ricciuti

Giulino Extracts All of Moscati's Chips

Level 10 : 500/1,000, 1,000 ante
Joseph Giulino
Joseph Giulino

The flop showed {j-Clubs}{8-Diamonds}{5-Hearts} and there was around 9,000 in the pot. Action checked to Joseph Giulino who bet 3,800 and a small blind opponent check-called. Vincent Moscati check-raised to a massive 25,000 and Giulino was the only person to call.

A {3-Hearts} fell as the turn card and Moscati moved all in for this remaining 6,300. Giulino snap-called and the two tabled their cards.

Vincent Moscati: {10-Diamonds}{9-Clubs}
Joseph Giulino: {q-Spades}{q-Clubs}

Moscati needed to hit to keep his hopes alive, but an {a-Diamonds} changed nothing, missing Moscati who was eliminated from the tournament to the likes of Giuilino and his pocket ladies.

Player Chips Progress
Joseph Giulino us
Joseph Giulino
152,000
89,000
89,000
Vincent Moscati us
Vincent Moscati
Busted

Tags: Joseph GiulinoVincent Moscati

Poker Dealer Max Wiosna Ships a Ring in Event #4: $400 NLH Turbo

Level 12 : 800/1,600, 1,600 ante
Max Wiosna
Max Wiosna

While PokerNews is only live reporting the High Roller and Main Event tournaments at the World Series of Poker Circuit Foxwoods stop, there have been plenty of other side events playing out all week long.

One of them was Event #4: $400 NLH Turbo, a tournament that drew 322 runners and created a $106,260 prize pool. Among those to finish in the top 49 and make the money were Jason Pardy (14th - $1,317), Cheryl Lanigan (22nd - $818), Steven Sanzaro (27th - $733), Mike Azzaro (33rd - $573), Roland Israelashvili (41st - $573), Hiroaki Harada (47th - $552).

In the end, it was 29-year-old poker dealer Max Wiosna of Vernon, Connecticut coming out on top to win $23,664 and his first gold ring.

“It’s kinda surreal. I work a lot at MGM Springfield, so I don’t get a lot of time to play,” explained Wiosna. “I just do it for fun. I used to try to have too much fun, and it kinda hurt my bankroll.”

He added: “I needed a job and the casino was opening up last August, so I just decided to take the class and see where it would go.”

Final Table Results

PlacePlayerHometownPrize
1Max WiosnaVernon, Connecticut$23,664
2Christopher LeachFairfax Station, Virginia$14,621
3Jason BlodgettManchester, New Hampshire$10,456
4Kirk SpanoMuskego, Wisconsin$7,598
5Matthew ZolaRiverside, Connecticut$5,610
6Hoby ShapiroWoodbury, New York$4,219
7David EspinolaDracut, Massachusetts$3,230
8Kevin SniffinRoxbury, Connecticut$2,508
9Michael CervoneMerrick, New York$2,010

Tags: Max Wiosna