Adeeb Al Nazer Claims Gold In Event #9: $600 NLH
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 #9: $600 NLH, 328 runners created a $168,920 prize pool that was paid out to the top 51 players. Among those to cash but fall short of the final table were Asaf Ben Shushan (10th- $2,580), Braxton Dunaway (12th - $2,580), Simon Webster (14th - $2,132), Melissa Bryne (20th - $1,541) and Jonathan Tamayo (23rd - $1,349).
In the end, it was Illinois native Adeeb Al Nazer who collected every chip in play to win his first gold ring along with a $36,423 payday.
“I love the fact that it was fast-paced. I wish we had like a lot more tournaments that are like that,” stated Al-nazer.
Although it encompassed a sizable field and granted slightly above-average starting stacks, whittled all the way down to a final table on Day 1. Al-nazer bagged as the outright chip leader, closely followed by KC McKeown.
Day 2 was set as a final-table finale with nine players still in the hunt. What could have been a drawn-out battle, turned out to be the exact opposite.
Beginning at 2:00 p.m., the second day quickly began as a constant stream of action and bust outs. It seemed as though the players were in all-out sprint to the finish line. And just like that, in an absolute flash, Al-nazer had vacuumed up every chip in play.
“I cannot believe that the final table like got done within an hour and I love it. I love fast poker,” Al-nazer expressed. “It’s been a great journey and I loved every bit of it.”
The 33-year-old narrowly missed out on a Circuit title when he went on an incredible run in the multi-flight re-entry in 2017 at Choctaw Durant. There, he finished as the runner-up among 5,280 entries for $146,789.
“That one was a lot more work. I mean, I was exhausted by the fourth day… and we played for hours on the fourth day. I think I played 14 hours on the very last day,” Al-nazer mentioned, touching on the stark difference to his recent tournament experience.
Although the payout was significantly less, a first-place, gold-ring triumph with the WSOP is a milestone Al-nazer will never forget.
“It means a whole lot, actually. I have a lot of cashes and stuff like that, but I don’t have any rings or bracelets or anything,” said Al-nazer. “I’m so happy that I finally got one… This will definitely be a memory that I’ll have forever. There is no price I could sell on this ring.”
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adeeb Al Nazer | Mansfield, TX | $36,423 |
| 2 | Steve Belland | Bagley, MN | $22,509 |
| 3 | KC McKeown | Dallas, TX | $16,179 |
| 4 | Steven McCartney | Columbia, SC | $11,822 |
| 5 | Dave Tobin | Lubbock, TX | $8,783 |
| 6 | Cody Coffman | Tulsa, OK | $6,637 |
| 7 | Daniel Watkinsl | Waco, TX | $5,103 |
| 8 | Jesus Gonzalez | Eagle Pass, TX | $3,993 |
| 9 | Jason Hill | New Braunfels, TX | $3,180 |