Sam Murphy Wins Debut Ring In Event #1: $400 NLH Turbo

While PokerNews is here offering live updates from the Main Event, we’d be remiss if we didn’t tell you about the full schedule of side events that have been playing out over the past week at the World Series of Poker Circuit Choctaw Durant.

In Event #1: $400 NLH Turbo, 261 runners created a $86,130 prize pool that was paid out to the top 41 players. Among those to cash but fall short of the final table were Robert James (10th- $1,399), Carson Wieland (14th - $1,168), Jim Carroll (16th - $995), and James Robinson (19th - $886).

In the end, it was Texas native Sam Murphy who collected every chip in play to capture his first ring along with a $19,167 payday.

Murphy won his debut gold ring by taking down the first event on the new year calendar which took nearly 12 hours to complete.

“I’ve had some bigger wins. But, I think this is like eight-in-a-row cashes for me. That’s the biggest thing for me,” mentioned Murphy.

Murphy owns a construction company as well as works with some housing development in southern Texas. Even with a full-time business, the poker hobbyist finds pockets of time to hit the felt. In fact, Murphy has amassed nearly $300,000 in total career earnings.

Although the $19k was not his largest score to date, Murphy was glad to get his first ring, as he regularly attends the WSOP Circuit when it comes to Choctaw

“I’m going to come back for the Main [Event],” stated Murphy. “I’m playing golf the next week or so because the weather is going to be good. I might try to come back up, but I’m really thinking about just the Main.”

Final Table Results

Place	Player	Hometown	Prize
1	Sam Murphy	Cedar Hill, TX	$19,167
2	Ronald Neuman	Piedmont, OK	$11,849
3	Dell Taylor	Canton, GA	$8,509
4	Shawn Rice	Lubbock, TX	$6,219
5	Robert Conner	Austin, TX	$4,627
6	Scot Push	Glen Ellyn, IL	$3,507
7	Shawn Sparks	Yukon, OK	$2,708
8	Matthew Wang	San Francisco, CA	$2,131
9	William Fisher	Broken Arrow, OK	$1,709