2020 World Series of Poker Circuit Thunder Valley

$3,250 High Roller
Day: 1
Event Info

2020 World Series of Poker Circuit Thunder Valley

Final Results
Winner
JC Tran
Winning Hand
qq
Prize
$49,035
Event Info
Buy-in
$3,250
Prize Pool
$141,000
Entries
47
Level Info
Level
24
Blinds
10,000 / 25,000
Ante
25,000
Players Info - Day 1
Entries
43
Players Left
19

The WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley $3,250 High Roller Begins at 4 p.m.

WSOP Circuit Ring
WSOP Circuit Ring

The first of two 2020 stops at Thunder Valley Casino and Resort for the World Series of Poker Circuit is underway. The highest buy-in event of the series begins today, as the $3,250 High Roller gets underway at 4 p.m. in the Thunder Valley poker room, located just outside of Sacramento in Lincoln, California.

This two-day event kicks off this afternoon, with the blinds beginning at 100/100 and a big blind ante added at the start of Level 2. The field will play through 12 40-minute levels today, with 40,000 starting chips and unlimited re-entry available. Late registration and re-entry is available up until the beginning of Day 2 play, which begins at noon Friday.

Entrants will be battling for the WSOP Circuit ring and the first-place prize money. The January 2019 edition of this tournament saw the total prize pool grow to $222,000, with the eventual champion Steven Song taking home $75,480 for the grand prize.

Randy Lew finished runner-up to Song, bringing in a $46,702 payday.

Day 1 action will see short breaks implemented after every three levels, with the day coming to an end at the end of Level 12. The surviving players from Day 1a, as well as any last-minute late entries or re-entries, will come back to the Thunder Valley Poker Room for a noon restart for Day 2 on Friday.

Day 2 play will resume at Level 13, with the blinds/antes at 1000/2000/2000.

Follow along with the PokerNews live reporting team as the $3,250 High Roller commences!

Tags: Randy LewSteven Song

Michael Lin Kicks Off Stop w/ Victory in Event #1: $400 NLH Opener

Level 2 : 100/100, 100 ante
Michael Lin
Michael Lin

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

PlacePlayerHometownPrize
1Michael LinMission Viejo, California$70,181
2Josh PragerYuba City, California$43,374
3Jim FraserN/A$32,361
4Andre ParishanN/A$24,387
5Marco MaldonadoSan Antonio, Texas$18,564
6Mario SamaretaElk Grove, California$14,276
7Jeff LennonN/A$11,091
8Michael NeedleSanta Cruz, California$8,707
9Elliott LayusN/A$6,918

Tags: Michael Lin

Three-Way Pot Goes to Dunst

Level 2 : 100/100, 100 ante
Tony Dunst
Tony Dunst

Tony Dunst opened to 400 from middle position, Noel Rodriguez called from the hijack, and the big blind also called.

The three players went to the {6-Hearts}{5-Diamonds}{9-Diamonds} flop, the big blind checked, Dunst bet 500 and got two calls.

Action again checked to Dunst on the turn, and he bet 1,200 with the {10-Hearts} hitting the board. Both opponents again called.

The river came {4-Hearts}, the big blind checked for a third time, Dunst bet 4,500, and both opponents folded.

Player Chips Progress
Noel Rodriguez us
Noel Rodriguez
37,000
-3,000
-3,000
Tony Dunst us
Tony Dunst
35,000
4,000
4,000
WSOP 2X Winner
WPT 1X Winner

Tags: Noel RodriguezTony Dunst

Jesse Lonis Captures Gold Ring with Wife By His Side

Level 3 : 100/200, 200 ante
Jesse Lonis
Jesse Lonis

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 #2: $400 NLH Knockout One-Day, 195 runners created a $44,850 prize pool that was paid out to the top 30 players. Among those to get a piece of it were Ken Jorgensen (21st - $475), Alon Eldar (20th - $475), Arish Nat (12th - $744), Tyler Koher (8th - $1,134), Rian Mullins (5th - $2,577), and Kelly Giannetti (3rd - $4,805).

In the end, 24-year-old Jesse Lonis of Little Falls, New York beat Patrick Testoni in heads-up play to win the title, $11,062 first-place prize, and his first gold ring.

“I have come close to winning a few times, but this is my first straight up victory, so it was nice to finally get the victory and a ring,” he said after the victory with his wife nearby. “The other players were great, but I started to feel very confident once we got down to four-handed because of my big chip lead that made able to put a lot of pressure on.”

Lonis, who plays poker for a living, added: “I am just doing the tournament grind and it is tough to win, but when you seal them it’s nice.”

Final Table Results

PlacePlayerHometownPrize
1Jesse LonisMedford, Oregon$11,062
2Patrick TestoniSanta Cruz, California$6,835
3Kelly GiannettiDavis, California$4,805
4James MendozaGlendale, California$3,448
5Rian MullinsEvanston, Illinois$2,577
6Soutong SaeturnN/A$1,892
7Benson XuN/A$1,448
8Tyler KoherN/A$1,134
9Haixia ZhangLos Gatos, California$908

Tags: Jesse Lonis

David Valdez Claims Second WSOPC Thunder Valley Gold Ring

Level 4 : 100/200, 200 ante
David Valdez
David Valdez

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 #3: $400 Pot-Limit Omaha, 67 runners created a $22,110 prize pool that was reserved for the top 11 finishers. Among those to go deep but fall shy of making the final table were Alfredo Girabaldi (11th - $432) and Willie Smith (10th - $532). At the final table, Jared Minghini (8th - $703), Anthony Trifiletti (5th - $1,469), and Chet Sickle (3rd - $2,918) all bowed out before the title came down to Brendon Thomson and David Valdez.

Eventually the latter prevailed to claim his second career WSOPC gold ring.

“It is sweet, it always feels good to win something. I kind of sucked out at the end there, but sometimes you need that,” he said after winning the tournament, which was originally scheduled for two days but played out in one. His previous ring came as Thunder Valley last year when he took down the $400 Monster Stack for $40,411.

“The money was a bit more the first time I won, but the feeling is still the same, it is always fun to win,” he added.

Final Table Results

PlacePlayerHometownPrize
1David ValdezVacaville, California$7,021
2Brendon ThomsonSacramento, California$4,339
3Chet SickleManteca, California$2,918
4Benjamin PrimusCenter Moriches, New York$2,033
5Anthony TrifilettiLivermore, California$1,469
6Russell GarrettRedding, California$1,104
7Richard St. PeterSusonville, California$862
8Jared MinghiniN/A$703
9Carlos ZapataChile$597

Tags: David Valdez

Hu Hauls in a Big One

Level 4 : 100/200, 200 ante
Qi Hu
Qi Hu

Details leading up to the river are unknown, Qi Hu just took down one of the bigger pots of Day 1 in a hand against Joshua Shaw.

With {j-Diamonds}{3-Spades}{k-Diamonds}{2-Diamonds}{7-Hearts} showing on the river, Hu bet 12,000 from middle position, and got a call from Shaw in the hijack. Shaw saw the bad news when Hu turned over {a-Diamonds}{7-Diamonds}, good for the nut flush and the win.

Player Chips Progress
Qi Hu ca
Qi Hu
64,000
28,000
28,000
Joshua Shaw us
Joshua Shaw
26,000
-9,000
-9,000

Tags: Joshua ShawQi Hu

Jimmy Wester Victorious in Event #4: $400 NLH Double Stack

Level 5 : 200/300, 300 ante
Jimmy Wester
Jimmy Wester

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.

For instance, Event #4: $400 NLH Double Stack was a one-day tournament featuring 20-minute levels. It attracted 125 runners, which offered up a $41,250 prize pool, and the top 19 got paid including Gerald Watts (16th - $610), Ryan Awwad (13th - $684), Jason Tang (8th - $1,156), Sam Cosby (5th - $2,520), and Marcus Laffen (3rd - $4,832).

In the end, Jimmy Wester bested Bruce Powell in heads-up play to win the title for $11,241 and his first gold ring.

“It feels great to get the win, I am happy it is over,” said Webster, who played three hours at the final table and ten overall. “There were a lot of good players at the final table, so I am happy to be able to win. I also came in fairly short and was one of the short stacks for a long time, but won a few pots here and there, grinding it out and managed to pull it off.”

Final Table Results

PlacePlayerHometownPrize
1Jimmy WesterFairfield, California$11,241
2Bruce PowellTracy, California$6,945
3Marcus LaffenCupertino, California$4,832
4Cory CookBay Point, California$3,445
5Sam CosbyPortland, Oregon$2,520
6Anthony BloeschWalnut Creek, California$1,892
7Salas AlamHayward, California$1,459
8Jason TangEl Cajon, California$1,156
9Benjamin HeinrichsChico, California$943

Tags: Jimmy Wester

McDermott Shoves on Hu

Level 6 : 200/400, 400 ante
Tim McDermott
Tim McDermott

Qi Hu raised to 800 under the gun and Ray Villaman called from the button. Tim McDermott then three-bet to 4,000 from the big blind and Hu responded with a four-bet to 10,000. Villaman thought for about a minute before folding and McDermott called.

The {3-Spades}{q-Clubs}{8-Diamonds} flop saw both players check and the dealer burned and turned the {j-Diamonds}.

McDermott paused for a few beats before moving all in for 24,700 and Hu ditched his hand.

Player Chips Progress
Qi Hu ca
Qi Hu
60,000
-11,000
-11,000
Tim McDermott us
Tim McDermott
45,000
10,000
10,000

Tags: Qi HuTim McDermott

Ante Up World Champion Josh Prager Ships First Circuit Ring at Thunder Valley

Level 6 : 200/400, 400 ante
Josh Prager
Josh Prager

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 #6: $400 NLH 6-Handed (One Day), 129 runners created a $42,570 prize pool that was paid out to the top 20 players. Among those to cash were Survivor alum Shirin Oskooi (19th - $595), Adam Dunkle (15th - $698), David Valdez (13th - $698), Jimmy Wester (7th - $1,351), and Alan Mulleady (3rd - $4,819).

In the end, Thunder Valley regular Josh Prager, a 46-year-old poker pro from Oakland, beat Eyyal Altar in heads-up play to win a $11,440 top prize and his first gold ring.

“I don’t know how I won, honestly. At one point I had 15,000 chips and ended up with 1.9 million. I am not really sure what my opponents were doing, I was not playing that well”, said Prager. “The times you have success you don’t deserve it, and the times fail you don’t deserve that either. Over a decade you got what you deserve, but I am happy I won today.”

You might recall that Prager had quite a bit of success last year. First, he won the LAPC One Million for $227,775 in February and then in late July came to Thunder Valley and took down the $1,650 Ante Up World Championship Main Event for $116,434.

As a result, he was a featured guest on the LFG Podcast, which you can listen to here.

Final Table Results

PlacePlayerHometownPrize
1Josh PragerYuba City, California$11,440
2Eyyal AltarSherman Oaks, California$7,069
3Alan MulleadyMeridian, Idaho$4,819
4Rafael GonzalezModesto, California$3,370
5Jerome WilliamsLodi, California$2,419
6James ThompsonParker, Colorado$1,783
7Jimmy WesterFairfield, California$1,351
8Bryan SharpTucson, Arizona$1,351
9David MannFresno, California$1,053

Tags: Josh Prager