Mihalache "Mike" Cean Victorious in WSOPC Bicycle Casino Opening Event
PokerNews is in town to live report both the Main Event and High Roller here at the World Series of Poker Circuit Bicycle Casino, but those are just two of the gold ring events that will have played out by the end of the series.
In Event #1: $400 No-Limit Hold’em, 284 entrants created a $93,720 prize pool that was paid out to the top 44 players. Among those to cash were Brian Li (10th - $1,430), Mike Shariati (15th - $1,180), Scotter Clark (16th - $995), David Yoon (26th - $675), Nathan Bjerno (27th - $675), Kevin Tatum (36th - $565), and Men Nguyen (41st - $555).
In the end, Romania’s Mihalache "Mike" Cean, a 60-year-old business owner who works on aircraft motors, came out on top to win $21,600 and his first gold ring in what was just the second tournament he’s ever played.
“My friend lives here… so I came to visit him, and he told me to come and play with him in the tournament, so that’s how I end up here yesterday,” said Cean, who has lived in Canada since 1992.
“Listen. Everybody got his own style of playing and when you lose everything is upside down… When you lucky and the cards come you win. That’s bottom line,” he added.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mihalache "Mike" Cean | Romania | $21,600 |
| 2 | Lang Lee | Alhambra, California | $13,340 |
| 3 | Albert Tsai | Huntington Beach, California | $9,460 |
| 4 | Massoumeh Kharazmi | N/A | $6,830 |
| 5 | Robert Salamone | Whittier, California | $5,020 |
| 6 | Rupesh Pattni | Duarte, California | $3,760 |
| 7 | Alan Myerson | Sherman Oaks, California | $2,865 |
| 8 | Marshall Valentine | Valley Village, California | $2,230 |
| 9 | Dave Banerjee | Los Angeles, California | $1,765 |