2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Thunder Valley

$1,700 Main Event
Day: 1b
Event Info

2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Thunder Valley

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
109
Prize
$130,667
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,700
Prize Pool
$627,210
Entries
414
Level Info
Level
31
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
120,000
Players Info - Day 1b
Entries
273
Players Left
65

A Couple More Familiar Faces

Level 2 : 100/100, 100 ante

Ian Steinman and Ryan Awwad have been seen throughout the Poker Room the last few days for both the High Roller event as well as Day 1a of the Main Event. After neither found a bag in yesterday's initial flight, they are both back at it today with the hopes of better fortunes as the day goes on.

Player Chips Progress
Ryan Awwad us
Ryan Awwad
30,000
Ian Steinman us
Ian Steinman
WSOP 1X Winner
30,000

Tags: Ian SteinmanRyan Awwad

Three-Way Pot in Early Action

Level 2 : 100/100, 100 ante

Imad Allahham opened to 300 in early position, Nicholaus Woodson made the call from the button, and the player in the small blind also called.

The small blind led out for 300 on the {6-Spades}{8-Clubs}{k-Clubs} flop, Allahham called, and Woodson raised to 1,500. The small blind called, Allahham folded, and the two remaining players proceeded to the {7-Hearts} turn.

The small blind check-called a 2,500 bet from Woodson on the turn, bringing the {9-Hearts} on the river. Both players checked, and the small blind player showed down {j-Clubs}{10-Clubs} for a rivered straight.

Player Chips Progress
Nicholaus Woodson us
Nicholaus Woodson
26,500

Tags: Imad AllahhamNicholaus Woodson

Action Preflop, Not So Much Post-

Level 2 : 100/100, 100 ante

The cutoff opened the action with a raise to 300 and was called by Joe Elpayaa, who was on the button. TC Wong was in the small blind and three-bet to 1,300. Both players called.

The flop came {6-Clubs}{k-Spades}{q-Clubs} and all three players checked. The turn {3-Hearts} and river {3-Spades} brought more of the same, with all three players checking through to showdown.

Wong tabled {j-Hearts}{j-Clubs} and both the cutoff and Elpayaa mucked, resulting in the pot being sent his way.

Player Chips Progress
TC Wong us
TC Wong
36,400
Joe Elpayaa us
Joe Elpayaa
30,300 300

Tags: Joe ElpayaaTC Wong

Elpayaa Joins the Party

Level 2 : 100/100, 100 ante
Joe Elpayaa
Joe Elpayaa

Joe Elpayaa has been spotted in the tournament area with a freshly-cut head of what is still extremely full of hair. Elpayaa has been spending some time in Central California as of late and found his way out for Day 1b action. With over $1.7 million in live earnings, he is sure to be a name to follow as the day goes on.

Player Chips Progress
Joe Elpayaa us
Joe Elpayaa
30,000 30,000

Tags: Joe Elpayaa

Varnell Chipping Up Early

Level 2 : 100/100, 100 ante
Craig Varnell
Craig Varnell

There was at least 2,500 in the pot on a board of {6-Diamonds}{7-Hearts}{a-Hearts}{3-Diamonds} as players in early- and middle position had checked to Craig Varnell, who was in the hijack. Varnell bet 1,800 and got a fold from the early-position player and a call from the player in middle position.

Action then went heads up to the river {k-Clubs}, where Varnell saw his now-only opponent check to him. He bet 3,200 and received another call.

Upon being called, Varnell confidently tabled {6-Clubs}{3-Clubs}, with his sixes up prompting a muck from his opponent as he saw the pot sent his way, bringing him over 50,000 early in the day.

Player Chips Progress
Craig Varnell us
Craig Varnell
WSOP 1X Winner
WPT 1X Winner
51,100 19,100

Tags: Craig Varnell

Cohen Enters the Field

Level 2 : 100/100, 100 ante
Jesse Cohen
Jesse Cohen

An unfamiliar face to the Thunder Valley Poker Room in Jesse Cohen has been spotted on Table 19. Though he now resides in Las Vegas, the Pennsylvania native with over $1.7 million in live earnings found his way to Sacramento after a quick trip to visit Yosemite National Park. Cohen has numerous WSOP and WSOP Circuit final tables, including a 51st place finish in the 2016 Main Event for $142,447 and a fourth place finish at the 2017 WSOP Circuit Global Casino Championship for $94,819.

Player Chips Progress
Jesse Cohen us
Jesse Cohen
30,000 30,000

Tags: Jesse Cohen

Level: 2

Blinds: 100/100

Ante: 100

Kowalk Finds a Double

Level 1 : 100/100, 0 ante

There was 13,500 in the pot on a board of {j-Clubs}{4-Spades}{3-Spades}{q-Spades} and Curtis Kowalk had checked from the small blind. His opponent was in the hijack and put him all in for his remaining 18,100. After about a minute, he dropped in his stack to call.

Curtis Kowalk: {j-Diamonds}{j-Spades}
Hijack: {8-Spades}{7-Spades}

Kowalk found his set of jacks behind his opponent's flush, facing the potential music that his hand would be no good. He began pushing back from the table in his seat as the river fell {2-Spades}. The dealer pulled down the jack from the runout, pointing to the deuce as she stated Kowalk's {j-Spades} was best with four other spades on board.

"Wow, I was looking for the board to pair," said Kowalk as he scooted forward with newfound life.

Player Chips Progress
Curtis Kowalk us
Curtis Kowalk
49,700

Hada Gets an Early KO

Level 1 : 100/100, 0 ante

The under-the-gun player had 1,200 in front of him and found preflop action back on him after Michael Hada had put in 4,000 from middle position and already been called by the small blind. He folded and action proceeded heads up.

The flop came {9-Spades}{9-Hearts}{9-Diamonds} and the small blind went all in. Hada quickly called.

Michael Hada: {k-Diamonds}{k-Spades}
Opponent: {q-Spades}{q-Hearts}

"Nice hand," said the small blind as the runout finished with the turn {6-Clubs} and river {a-Hearts}. "I almost made a nice laydown," he added as he got up from the table and left the tournament area. Meanwhile, Hada finds himself with over two starting stacks early in Day 1.

Player Chips Progress
Michael Hada us
Michael Hada
62,400

Tags: Michael Hada