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

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

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

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