Michael Lin Kicks Off Stop w/ Victory in Event #1: $400 NLH Opener
PokerNews is in town to live report both the $3,250 High Roller and $1,700 Main Event here at the World Series of Poker Circuit Thunder Valley, but that is just one of the gold ring events that will have played out by the end of the series.
In Event #1: $400 NLH Opener, 1,319 entrants created a $435,270 prize pool that was paid out to the top 197 players. Among those to go deep and cash were Gregory Fils (20th - $3,046), Catherine Whidden (12th - $5,547), Jeff Lennon (7th - $11,091), Marco Maldonado (5th - $18,564), and Jim Fraser (3rd - $32,361).
In the end, Michael Lin beat out Thunder Valley juggernaut Josh Prager to win the title for $70,181 and his first gold ring.
“This is my dream and I have worked so hard for this; I have won other events before but WSOP is the pinnacle,” Lin told WSOP officials. “I was really short Day 1 and had less than 80,000 [chips] so I thought I was going home the first day, but the rest is history.”
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Lin | Mission Viejo, California | $70,181 |
| 2 | Josh Prager | Yuba City, California | $43,374 |
| 3 | Jim Fraser | N/A | $32,361 |
| 4 | Andre Parishan | N/A | $24,387 |
| 5 | Marco Maldonado | San Antonio, Texas | $18,564 |
| 6 | Mario Samareta | Elk Grove, California | $14,276 |
| 7 | Jeff Lennon | N/A | $11,091 |
| 8 | Michael Needle | Santa Cruz, California | $8,707 |
| 9 | Elliott Layus | N/A | $6,918 |