Level: 5
Blinds: 200/300
Ante: 300
2020 World Series of Poker Circuit Horseshoe Hammond
$2,200 High Roller
Day: 1
Capretta Hits the River, Gets Paid
Level 4
: 100/200, 200 ante
Facing an early-position limp, a call from Chad Holloway in middle position, and a call from the hijack, Tim Capretta raised to 1,100 from the cutoff. David McDermott called on the button, and the three players who were already in the pot all called, creating a five-way pot.
Action checked to Capretta on the 
flop, Capretta bet 2,000, and only McDermott called.
Capretta bet 3,000 on the 
turn, and McDermott called.
Capretta bet 6,000 on the 
river, McDermott called, and Capretta rolled over the winner with 
.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
53,500 | 25,500 |
|
26,000 | |
|
19,200 |
60k for McVay
Level 4
: 100/200, 200 ante
Facing an under-the-gun open to 600 and an early-position call, Bryce McVay three-bet to 2,500 from the button.
The big blind cold called, and the under-the-gun player four-bet to 7,500. The early-position player folded, McVay called, and the big blind folded.
The under-the-gun player continued for 7,000 on the 
flop, and McVay called.
Both players checked the 
turn.
Facing a check on the river, McVay bet 12,500, and got a fold from his opponent.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
61,000 | 61,000 |
Lena Zhao Wins Event #2 for First Ring
Level 4
: 100/200, 200 ante
While PokerNews is here offering live updates from the High Roller and 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 Horseshoe Hammond.
In Event #2: $250 NLH Double Stack, 541 runners create a $108,200 prize pool that was paid out to the top 82 players. Among those to cash but fall short of the official final table were Eric Mardsen (10th- $1,584), Isidro Sandoval (12th - $1,584), Dimitre Dimitrov (17th - $1,067), Guillermo Vargas (19th - $893), Robert Richmond (22nd - $759) and Josh Reichard (40th - $417).
In the end, it was Illinois native Lena Zhao who collected every chip in play to win her first gold ring along with a $21,031 payday.
This two-day tournament was a true grind, with play continuing for a little over 10 hours and Zhao didn't let the length wear her down.
Zhao came into the final day with the chip lead but went to the final table as one of the shortest stacks with only 820,00, but after a long grind at the final table couple, she got the hands she had been waiting for to seal the deal.
“I work a full-time job so I don’t get to play as much as I want to,” Zhao continued, “I only get to play the events that come through here so it feels so good to win my first ring.”
Zhao has a pretty rough work schedule but intends to continue the Circuit stop at Hammond and earn some points towards the 2020 Global Casino Championship.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lena Zhao | Chicago, IL | $21,031 |
| 2 | Patrick Novak | Chicago, IL | $13,005 |
| 3 | Andres Garcia | Skokie, IL | $9,565 |
| 4 | Ryan Marin | Elgin, IL | $7,122 |
| 5 | John Allen | Romeoville, IL | $5,370 |
| 6 | Raynanza Duke | Louisville, KY | $4,099 |
| 7 | Melissa Bartelme | Muskego, WI | $3,170 |
| 8 | Scott Weitzenfeld | Arlington Heights, IL | $2,483 |
| 9 | Frank Cerminara | Kenosha, WI | $1,970 |
More Day 1 Photos
Level: 4
Blinds: 100/200
Ante: 200
Break Time
Level 3
: 100/200, 200 ante
Players are now on a 15-minute break.
Andriamahefa Gets Top Pair Paid
Level 3
: 100/200, 200 ante
With 
showing on the board, Kevin Andriamahefa made a bet for 4,000 from the small blind.
Andriamahefa's opponent, on the button, made the call, and saw the bad news when Andriamahefa showed down 
.
The pair of kings was good enough to take down the pot, chipping Andriamahefa up to 35,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
35,000 |
Brachowski Up Big
Level 3
: 100/200, 200 ante
Tom Brachowski bet 9,000 into a 20,000 pot, with the board showing 
.
Brachowski was in middle position, and the bet sent his button opponent into the tank.
The button eventually folded, and with that pot Brachowski has already more than doubled the starting stack on Level 3.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
72,000 | 42,000 |
Three-Way Pot Goes to Capretta
Level 3
: 100/200, 200 ante
Dan Bunce opened to 600 from the hijack, the small blind called, and Tim Capretta called in the big blind.
All three players checked the 
flop.
The small blind checked the 
turn, Capretta bet 1,000, and both opponents folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
30,500 | 500 |
|
|
28,000 | -4,000 |