2009/2010 World Series of Poker Circuit
Harrah’s Tunica
Event #16
No-Limit Hold’em
Buy-In: $400(+40)
Total Entries: 196
Total Prize Pool: $70,648
February 4-February 5, 2010
Final Results:
Finish Name City State Country Prize
1 John Land Dallas TX USA $18,579
2 Brian Niekerk Kingston TN USA $11,410
3 Terry Crosby Memphis TN USA $8,075
4 Shawn Johnston Robinsonville MS USA $5,765
5 Matthew Lawrence Tulsa OK USA $4,613
6 Wayne Philpot Sanford FL USA $3,462
7 Christopher Gray Atlanta GA USA $2,310
8 Scott Uithoven Belden MS USA $1,872
9 Gary Lucht Cissna Park IL USA $1,590
10 John Sarrica Altomonte Springs FL USA $1,392
11 James Quick Decatur TN USA $1,392
12 William Hedden Franklin NC USA $1,392
13 Curtis Smith Ringgold GA USA $1,144
14 Stanley Haythorne Toledo OH USA $1,144
15 Scott Monteath Eads TN USA $1,144
16 Brandon Garner Jackson TN USA $954
17 William Neal Murfreesboro TN USA $954
18 Micheal Woods Las Vegas NV USA $954
19 Peter Clive St. Charles MO USA $834
20 Mark Smith Georgetown KY USA $834
21 Chris Hight Charleston IL USA $834
John “Cowboy” Land Wrangles Circuit Event Win at Harrah’s Tunica
John Land is the winner of WSOP Circuit Event #16 at Harrah’s Tunica
TUNICA, MS – “Cowboy,” as he is known in poker circles, was primarily a cash game player, but started playing tournaments a few years ago. Land made his way through the 196 player field into a final corral of nine players.
Name Hometown Seat Chip Count
Scott Uithoven Belden, MS 1 125,000
Shaun Johnston Tunica, MS 2 141,000
Gary Lucht Cissna Park, IL 3 76,000
Terry Crosby Memphis, TN 4 227,000
Brian Niekerk Kingston, TN 5 146,000
Christopher Gray Atlanta, GA 6 168,000
Matt Lawrence Tulsa, OK 7 540,000
Wayne Philpot Sanford, FL 8 176,000
John “Cowboy” Lands Dallas, TX 9 373,000
Ninth Place
Final table play started shortly before 3:30 pm with blinds and antes at 5,000/10,000/2,000. UTG, Gary Lucht raised preflop to 30,000 with Ac-Qd. Wayne Philpot raised to 100,000 and Lucht moved all-in.
Philpot quickly called, turning over pocket aces. The board came Jh-7c-7h-8s-9c, resulting in a ninth place finish for Lucht. Lucht is a 62-year old farmer from Cissna Park, IL. He collected $1,590.
Eighth Place
Blinds and antes moved up to 8,000/16,000/3,000. A few hands into the level, Terry Crosby moved all-in from the big blind after Scott Uithoven limped-in from the button. Uithoven got in his remaining chips with Qc-10h. Crosby turned over Ac-Ks. The jack-high board helped neither player, sending Uithoven to the payout table in eighth place. Eighth paid $1,872.
Seventh Place
Christopher Gray was the sixth place finisher. The 42-year old landlord from Atlanta, GA earned $2,310 for his two-day run.
Sixth Place
Crosby made it 50,000 to go from the button before Philpot re-raised all-in. Crosby called, showing As-Ks while Philpot flipped over Jd-Qc. A 10-4-8 flop followed by a 10 and 3 on the turn and river ended Philpot’s tournament run. Sixth place paid $3,462.
Fifth Place
Soon after, Matt Lawrence was all-in from the big blind and got a call from Land from the small. Lawrence’s As-10s was unable improve over Land Ad-Kc on a jack-high board, busting Lawrence out in fifth. Lawrence is a 26-year old poker player from Tulsa, OK. He cashed in the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event and twice at Fiesta al Lago. He picked up $4,613 for fifth.
Fourth Place
With play down to four runners, the blinds and antes moved up to 10,000/20,000/3,000. Shaun Johnston moved his remaining chips all-in with Ah-Qs and got a call from Brian Niekerk, who turned over Ac-Ks. The board came ten high, missing both players and eliminating Johnston. Johnston is a poker tournament director from Tunica, MS. He collected $5,765 for fourth place.
Third Place
Terry Crosby was the third place finisher after Niekerk’s pocket nines held against his A-4 all-in. The retired pilot from Memphis, TN earned $8,075 for his third place finish.
Second Place
With seven men down, Cowboy was at substantial chip disadvantage in the one-on-one showdown against Niekerk, but was able to double-up through his opponent with pocket nines. The final hand of the night came with Niekerk all-in with Jc-6h vs. Land with pocket queens. The flop came 7h-Kd-5s.
Though it appeared it was all but over, Land refused a congratulatory handshake from Niekerk.
“Naw man, don’t jinx me,” he cautioned.
But after a deuce of diamonds on the turn, formalities were permitted and the two men shook hands as a benign 3c hit the river.
“Man, this is awesome, I can’t believe it,” said Land after his win.
Even though he’s from Dallas, TX and wears the defining wide-brimmed hat, the former construction company owner says that he didn’t get the name cowboy from tending cattle.
“I’m as GQ as they come,” said Land of his nickname. “This is just my good luck hat and people just started calling me cowboy.”
Still to come are 3 more events and single-day non-ring $125, $230 and $340 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 #16 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
