Brandon Nicholson Turns Day 2 Short Stack Into Gold
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 #9: $400 H.O.R.S.E, 86 runners created a $28,380 prize pool that was paid out to the top 13 players. Among those to cash but fall short of the official final table were Franki Hendrickson (10th- $734), John Ma (11th - $657), Ryan Paluf (12th - $657) and Iyam Casement (13th - $618).
In the end, it was Indiana native Brandon Nicholson who rode the pony to his first gold ring along with a $8,593 payday.
“I’m a hobbyist player,” stated Nicholson, “I only play poker once a year so I took this week off from work to come play because I love playing mixed games and the only time you can play this game is when the Circuit is in town.”
A total of 19 players returned for Day 2 action with Nicholson coming into the day second from the bottom with only 22,000, and he debated on whether he should even return with such a short stack.
“I went back home to Fort Wayne last night and almost didn’t come back,” said Nicholson, “I only had two big blinds to play but I came back to run it up and it was a great decision.”
Nicholson did just that as he ran his 22,000 up to 407,000 to take the chip lead into the final table that also featured 12-time ring winner Josh Reichard who sat second in chips with 195,000.
From there, Nicholson continued to build his stack without relinquishing his chip lead once to win his first career Circuit ring.
“I went on what you call a heater,” Nicholson said with a smile on his face, “I mean, to play heads-up against a guy who has won 12-rings was just unreal and I feel extremely lucky to have won this ring. I know a lot of my friends are going to be jealous.”
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brandon Nicholson | Fort Wayne, IN | $8,593 |
| 2 | Josh Reichard | Janesville, WI | $5,311 |
| 3 | Pawel Andrzejewski | Des Plaines, IL | $3,560 |
| 4 | Sachin Bhargava | Chicago, IL | $2,475 |
| 5 | James Davis | Chicago, IL | $1,788 |
| 6 | Charles Marty | Lincoln, NE | $1,343 |
| 7 | Ryan Scully | Oswego, IL | $1,051 |
| 8 | George Mesi | Buffalo Grove, IL | $859 |
| 9 | Randall Ristich | Phoenix, AZ | $734 |