2009/2010 World Series of Poker Circuit
Harrah’s Tunica
Event #10
No-Limit Hold’em
Buy-In: $400 (+40)
Total Entries: 242
Total Prize Pool: $88,496
January 29-30, 2010
Final Results:
Finish Name City State Country Prize
1 Luther Lewis Goodlettsville TN USA $22,604
2 Jeter Brock Birmingham AL USA $13,823
3 Mike Ashar Vermilion OH USA $9,805
4 Ray Hall Huntsville Al USA $7,000
5 Zack Lawmaster Tulsa OK USA $5,602
6 Thomas Culberson Biloxi MS USA $4,204
7 Scott Standridge Ft. Smith AR USA $2,805
8 Michael Wolf Quinlan TX USA $2,274
9 Terry Alvert New Baden IL USA $1,929
10 James Gardner Shorewood ILL USA $1,690
11 Keith Woernle Montgomery AL USA $1,690
12 Ricky Fryer Orange Grove TX USA $1,690
13 Patrick Fogleman Springfield IL USA $1,389
14 Aaron Lasater Atlanta GA USA $1,389
15 Charles Lineberry San Antonio TX USA $1,389
16 Chris Nash Dallas TX USA $1,159
17 Brian Unkenholz Bartlesville OK USA $1,159
18 Darren Dwyer Salem IL USA $1,159
19 Jennifer Kasten Star City IN USA $1,009
20 Mark Mueller Columbia MO USA $1,009
21 Michael Sabbia Overland Park IL USA $1,009
22 Bradley Fowler Salem SC USA $903
23 Matthew Wright Rosebush MI USA $903
24 Gary Greenlee Muncee IN USA $903
“Nice Guy” Finishes First
Country musician and local favorite, Luther Lewis wins Circuit Event #10 at Harrah’s Tunica
TUNICA, MS – As tournament director Kevin Ferguson announced the name of the player in seat nine, a sudden burst of applause and cheering burst out in the event center at Harrah’s Tunica.
The unexpected barrage of loud whistling, clapping and shouts of encouragement from the room when Luther Lewis’ name was read was in stark contrast to the standard obligatory hand clapping.
Lewis, a 39-year old country singer and songwriter was probably the most surprised, seemingly taken aback from the crowd support.
“Lewis is the nicest player in this room,” said Rose Cooney, who plays regularly with Lewis at the Horseshoe in Tunica and says she’s never seen him berate a player after taking a bad beat or even go on tilt.
“And he’s polite to the ladies.”
In addition to home court advantage, Lewis had something else going for him heading into the final table of the $440 buy-in no-limit hold’em event, the chip lead.
Name Hometown Seat Chip Count
Ray Hall Huntsville, AL 1 380,000
Mike Wolf Quinlan, TX 2 240,000
Matt Culberson Biloxi, MS 3 215,000
Jeter Brock Birmingham, AL 4 356,000
Zack Lawmaster Tulsa, OK 5 310,000
Mike Ashar Vermillion, OH 6 143,000
Scott Standridge Fort Smith, AR 7 143,000
Nathan Burdette Birmingham, AL 8 247,000
Luther Lewis Goodlettsville, TN 9 480,000
Ninth Place
The final table got underway at 3:20 pm after Terry Alvert was eliminated. With blinds and antes at 5,000/10,000/2,000, the first hand of final table action saw Matt “Cub” Culberson and Mike Wolf all in pre-flop. Culberson was ahead with A-7 off against Wolf’s Jh-10c. Culberson flopped top pair and maintained his lead through the river. Wolf earned $2,274 for ninth.
Eighth Place
Shortly after, Ray Hall moved all-in with pocket queens pre-flop and Scott Standridge called with pocket sixes. The Jack high board was no help to Standridge, sending him the payout table to collect $2,805.
Seventh Place
After Nathan Burdette raised to 45,000 in late position, Culberson re-raised all-in with pocket 10’s for his remaining 90k. Burdette called with Kh-Ks. The board improved neither player’s hand, ending Culberson’s tournament run. Culberson picked up $4,204 for his efforts.
Sixth Place
A few hands later, Jeter Brock made it 75,000 to go from the button while Zack Lawmaster moved in the rest of his chips from the small blind with Ac-6c. Brock called with 5c-5s and won the coin flip after no aces or sixes appeared on the board. Lawmaster, a poker dealer from Tulsa, OK earned $5,602 for sixth place.
Fifth Place
With blinds at 8,000/16,000/3,000, the remaining five players struck a deal. While the details were not disclosed, they decided to play it out for the ring. In the very next hand, Burdette ran his Ac-3h into Luther Lewis’ pocket aces. The queen high board was no help to either player, ending Burdette’s ring bid. Fifth place officially paid $5,602.
Fourth Place
The fourth place finisher was Ray Hall. All-in pre-flop, his pocket 9’s could not improve against Mike Ashar’s pocket jacks on an ace-high board. Hall took home an official $7,000 payout.
Third Place
Lewis played conservatively throughout the final table and maintained his tight play down to the end, at one point folding pocket nines all-in pre-flop to 62-year old attorney Mike Ashar, who showed A-5 off.
Lewis’ patience eventually paid off after calling an all-in from Ashar, who had pocket 7’s. Lewis turned over pocket jacks, which held through the river on a 10-high board. Ashar officially earned $9,805 for third.
Second Place
At a decisive chip disadvantage to Lewis, Brock called his heads-up opponent aside. After a couple of minutes of discussion, the tournament was over with Brock taking home an official payout of $13,823 and Lewis the official $22,604 first place prize and the Circuit Event gold ring.
“This is amazing man, I can’t believe it,” said Lewis, whose musical stylings can be heard at his website www.lutherlewis.net.
When asked about nice guys finishing last: “Well, I guess I’ve proved today that it’s not always true,” replied Lewis, smiling.
Still to come are 9 more events and daily single-day non-ring $125 and $230 buy-in events which begin at 4 pm and 7pm. The WSOP Circuit at Harrah’s Tunica runs through February 10th.
2010 Harrah’s Tunica WSOP Circuit Event #10 Final Results
2010 Harrah’s Tunica WSOP Circuit Events Schedule and Results
Ty Stewart – Director, Sponsorship and Licensing, WSOP
Craig Abrahams – Director, Broadcasting and New Media, WSOP
Seth Palansky – Communications Director, WSOP
Executive Staff, World Series of Poker Circuit – Harrah’s Tunica
Bill Wright – General Manager
Jimmy Sommerfeld –Tournament Director
Bill Bruce – Assistant Tournament Director
Patrick Collins – Public Relations Manager
