Richard Chance Wins First Ring In Event #3: $400 NLH Monster Stack
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 #3: $400 NLH Monster Stack, 604 runners created a $199,320 prize pool that was paid out to the top 92 players. Among those to cash but fall short of the final table were Miguel Hernandez (10th- $2,832), Jonathan Bloyen (12th - $2,832), Dwight Farrell (14th - $2,308), Donald Howell (18th - $1,906), and Todd Nichols (21st - $1,597).
In the end, it was Oklahoma native Richard Chance who collected every chip in play to capture his first gold ring along with a $37,764 payday.
The signature WSOP tournament took two full days to reach a champion, culminating with a heads-up match between Chance and three-time gold ring winner La Sengphet. Sengphet had numerous friends on the rail cheering her on.
“I mean, she’s pretty well known in the community I guess, around here,” Chance deduced during the finale. “Yeah, it was nerve-wracking, man. But, what can you do? Just play the cards. I tried not to worry about them.”
Although Chance could feel the room pulling for his adversary, the New Mexico native kept his focus and played his game. Chance has only recently begun to participate in tournament poker. With three min cashes already to his name, he was determined to close one out and aware of what it truly takes.
“It seemed like min cashing was as far as I could get,” stated Chance. “Honestly, it just comes down to, you got to get hot and just winning flips. Today it just seemed like I won almost every flip. They finally went my way. I felt like I played well too. I made some really good calls. It was just a good day, man.”
Winning flips was certainly a key factor in Chance’s ascension to the winner’s circle. However, the climactic hand was won by him making an incredible call. On a ten-high flop including two diamonds, Chance hit middle pair with an eight in his hand. He was faced with a bet from Sengphet but stuck around. “I thought she was trying to rep the ten and I just didn’t believe her,” mentioned Chance.
A big face card hit on the turn and another ten on the river. With a completed board, Sengphet put on the ultimate pressure by moving all in. Chance barely had her covered, so a call would essentially mean his tournament life, or hers.
“Yeah, I was super nervous,” Chance revealed. “When the king came, it also made possible straight draws. That other ten felt like such a brick to me. So, I really just sat on it for a minute and I convinced myself to make the call, and I did.”
It turned out to be a $37,764 call as Chance’s eights were good to take down the final pot. Not too bad for a recreational player in his seventh-ever live tournament. After his win, Chance was asked whether he will continue to pursue competitive poker.
“This probably helps. My bankroll just exploded,” Chance said with a smile. “I have so much fun doing this. All this does is fuel the fire. I already loved it and love coming to these and playing in these tournaments.”
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richard Chance | Wilburton, OK | $37,764 |
| 2 | La Sengphet | Carroliton, TX | $23,338 |
| 3 | Jonathan Wang | San Francisco, CA | $17,153 |
| 4 | Steve Hiltz | Dallas, TX | $12,764 |
| 5 | Jeffrey Turton | Durham, NC | $9,617 |
| 6 | Michael Perrone | Chicago, IL | $7,338 |
| 7 | Christopher Smith | Plano, TX | $5,671 |
| 8 | Cory Glass | Georgetown, TX | $4,440 |
| 9 | Hunter Barnett | Dixon, MO | $3,523 |