The 2008 Horseshoe Hammond WSOP Circuit Events began on October 24th. The first event was a $300 buy-in No Limit Holdem tournament which attracted a total of 1,187 entrants which created a prize pool worth $345,417.
Perry Ernest of Naperville, Illinois took down the first event by defeating David Lindquist heads up for the victory. Ernest won a total of $70,597 for his first place finish. Lindquist of Benson Harbor, Michigan received a total of $70,597 for his runner up finish.
To view a complete list of results for Event #1 of the 2008 Horseshoe Hammond World Series of Poker Circuit Event, click on the link below:
2008 Horseshoe Hammond WSOP Circuit – Event #1 Results
Hammond Circuit Opener Draws 1,187 as Financial Adviser Perry Ernest Wins It
Turning Point Comes When He’s All In with 8′s Against Queens and Makes a Miracle Straight
Hammond, IN — The WSOP Circuit tour arrived at Horseshoe Casino Hammond for the first time ever, and it was a memorable debut as 1.187 entrants — one of the largest turnouts in Circuit history — filled the 78 tables in the Venue showroom and spilled over into the downstairs poker room. The opening event, $300 no-limit hold’em, generated a prize pool of $345,417, with $70,597of it (along with an eye-catching gold and diamond trophy ring and a buy-in to the $5,150 main event), going to the winner, financial adviser Perry Ernest from Naperville, Illinois.
The numbers are not that surprising, since Horseshoe Casino Hammond is only 20 minutes from downtown Chicago. But opening day also drew entrants from as far away as the Dominican Republic, British Columbia, and California. Players arriving at this enormous, dry-docked riverboat casino were treated to an impressive sight. Horseshoe Casino Hammond is a brand-new facility that recently re-opened after a $500 million renovation and expansion. (The opening date was an auspicious one, 08/08/08, since the Chinese consider 8 a lucky number.) As one company executive expressed it, not only is Horseshoe Casino Hammond the number one casino in the region, it can also compete with anything on the Las Vegas strip. And the poker room, which only saw brief action when this facility first opened as the Empress Casino 12 years ago, is back in full swing with 34 tables, offering all games, all limits, and a private high-limit room, “Benny’s Back Room,” named in honor of Benny Binion.
Ernest, 46, has only been playing poker three years and until recently was mostly a cash-game player, favoring $10-$20 and $2-$5 no-limit hold’em. He heaped praise on his wife, Opella, not only for making sacrifices and taking care of the kids so he could play, but also encouraging him and urging him to try tournaments. In the last few months he also had a couple of $4,400 wins in weekly tournaments at Hollywood Casino.
The key hand for him tonight came with four players left when he was all in with pocket 8s against pocket queens, He got away when a board of J-7-J-10-9 gave him a miracle straight, and not long after he took the chip lead which he held until the end. He says he has no particular style of play except to be controlled and pay respect to his opponents. He found the skill level at the final table excellent, and felt that Matthew Dunn, who finished third, was the best
Ernest has been a financial adviser with Met Life for 10 years. So, what would his financial advice be in these difficult times? “If you’re young, hang in. If you’re older, be conservative.”
To read the complete tournament report for Event #1 of the 2008 Horseshoe Hammond WSOP Circuit Event, click on the link below:
2008 Horseshoe Hammond WSOP Circuit – Event #1 Tournament Report
