The Bernard Lee Poker Show 11-31: 2019 WSOP Bally’s Circuit Champ, Asher Conniff

April 10, 2019

Bernard Lee Contributor

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In this episode of The Bernard Lee Poker Show on the PokerNews Podcast Network, Bernard Lee interviews the 2019 World Series of Poker Bally’s Las Vegas Circuit Main Event Champion, Asher Conniff. Having outlasted a field of 607 entries, Asher captured not only the WSOP Circuit ring, but also nearly $200,000. With his victory, the New York native earns a seat into the 2019 Global Casino Championship, which will be held at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, North Carolina.

During the show, Asher also discusses his breakout victory in 2015 when he captured the World Poker Tour Borgata Spring Open Championship for almost $1 million.

Show Time Stamps

0:00	Welcome to The Bernard Lee Poker Show as this week’s guest will be the 2019 WSOP Bally’s Las Vegas Circuit Main Event Champion, Asher Conniff.
0:50	Nick Burris captured the WSOP Horseshoe Council Bluffs Circuit Main Event just outside of Omaha, Nebraska for $99,267 over a field of 273 entries and has earned a seat into the 2019 WSOP Global Casino Championship. Heads-up, Nick beat Blair Hinkle, who had won the WSOP Horseshoe Council Bluffs Circuit Main Event three times (2010, 2013 and 2014).
3:00	Inaugural Global Poker Awards were held last week and Bernard discusses some of the notable winners, including some former guests John Cynn, Maria Ho, Alex Foxen, Justin Bonomo, Sarah Herring, Drew Amato and Tana Karn, CEO of RunGoodPoker Series.
5:25	RunGood Gear Ad
6:08	Bernard welcomes Asher Conniff to the show.
6:34	Asher joins the show.
7:03	A New York native, Asher explains why he went to Las Vegas to play in the WSOP Circuit. “Interestingly enough I had already been in (Las) Vegas for about six weeks. There was an amazing slate of tournaments happening out here.”
8:26	Asher recalls his first event in Las Vegas during this stretch where he finished runner-up during the $2,200 High Roller Event at the WSOP Circuit at the Rio All Suite-Hotel and Casino for $59,718. “It’s really nice to get that result, especially in that field. There’s a lot of good players.”
11:06	Asher explains how he was one of the last players to register for the WSOP Bally’s Circuit Main Event, primarily because he watched all the March Madness games on that day.
12:21	Asher praises the WSOP Circuit Main Event structure as the starting stack was increased this season from 20,000 to 30,000 chips.
13:27	Asher describes the field in the WSOP Circuit in Las Vegas. “I find the fields in places like Las Vegas end up being more polarized… There’s a bunch of really good players in the field and the other end of it is that there are a lot of really recreational players.”
15:23	Asher recalls Day 2 of WSOP Ball’s Circuit Main Event. “Right after we broke the money, I lost almost all of my chips. I actually had 59,000 chips at 12,000 big blind…From there, I had just one of those hours where I was just winning every single hand and ended with 1.7 million at 16,000 big blind.”
21:45	Asher discusses how he prepared for Day 3 of WSOP Bally’s Circuit Main Event where he was chip leader.
24:23	Asher discusses how the dynamic of fellow competitor Stanley Lee, trying to win Casino Champion, affected the playing dynamic (Ultimately, Stanley finished in 9th place in the WSOP Bally’s Circuit Main Event and won the Casino Champion). “I definitely had a game plan to put him in tough spots and put the pressure on him.”
26:46	Asher recalls the WSOP Bally’s Circuit Main Event final table, including his three handed and heads-up play.
31:48	Asher describes how satisfying it was to win the WSOP Bally’s Circuit Main Event. “It’s incredibly satisfying. I try to always appreciate my results no matter where they are, so if I get 2nd or 3rd or 4th (place), I try not to be down about it and appreciate the money and the result for what it is.”
33:26	Share My Pair Ad
33:57	Bernard continues his interview with the 2019 WSOP Bally’s Las Vegas Circuit Main Event Champion, Asher Conniff.
34:36	Asher recalls how he received his seat into the 2015 WPT Borgata Spring Open Main Event which was a $15,000 buy-in. “I wasn’t at all considering playing (this event) leading into the series.”
36:09	Asher remembers how he accidentally registered for the WPT Main Event satellite, instead of an online high roller event, which is similar to Chris Moneymaker for the 2003 WSOP Main Event. After winning the satellite, Asher couldn’t go on a previously scheduled family trip to Europe.
42:03	Asher discusses how incredible it was to win such a prestigious WPT event. “For the first week there, I don’t think my feet hit the ground… It didn’t even feel like it was real life. It felt like I was living some movie role or dream.”
45:28	Asher discusses playing tournaments that were lifelong dreams such as WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star, but still enjoys playing in the smaller buy-in events.
49:15	Asher explains successfully playing in large field events.
51:10	Asher reveals his schedule for the 2019 WSOP.

Let us know what you think of the show - tweet about the podcast using #BernardLeePokerShow, and be sure to follow @BernardLeePoker on Twitter or Instagram.

You can follow Asher Conniff on Twitter @misterashmoney.

The Bernard Lee Poker Show is now available on iTunes.

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