2009/2010 World Series of Poker Circuit
Harrah’s Tunica
Event #19
No-Limit Hold’em
Buy-In: $5000(+150)
Total Entries: 96
Total Prize Pool: $449,750
February 8-February 10, 2010
Final Results:
Finish Name City State Country Prize
1 Paul Wasicka Las Vegas NV USA $139,422
2 Larry Gurney Kingston TN USA $94,448
3 Richard Robb Seneca SC USA $62,965
4 Shane Zell Memphis TN USA $44,975
5 Carter Phillips Charlotte NC USA $35,980
6 Dwyte Pilgrim Brooklyn NY USA $26,985
7 Matthew Stout Galloway NJ USA $17,990
8 Jason Thornhill Spring TX USA $14,616
9 Jerry Saucier Helena AL USA $12,368
2006 World Series of Poker Main Event runner up finds some closure in Main Event championship ring win
At 28, Paul Wasicka admits that he was a bit affected by his huge success at the 2006 World Series of Poker Main Event.
“It’s weird experiencing that much success that young in your career,” he said. “It toys with you a bit, you lose motivation and question why you’re playing.”
Wasicka looked to Sam, a mindset coach who consults with players and mixed martial artists. “I want to give Sam credit, he’s done wonders for my game both on and off the felt.”
Freshly signed on with newly-launched Victory Poker, a rejuvenated Wasicka hit the road and says he has been living out of his suitcase following various tournament circuits over the last few months.
Wasicka’s path led him to the mid south for the Harrah’s Tunica Circuit Main Event.
He started the second day of the $5,150 buy-in event seventh in chips with 35 remaining players and had the chip lead going into the final table.
Name Hometown Seat Chip Count
Larry Gurney Kingston, TN 1 137,500
Shane Zell Memphis, TN 2 336,500
Jerry Saucier Helena, AL 3 77,000
Robert Thornhill Spring, TX 4 53,000
Matt “allinat320” Stout Las Vegas, NV 5 102,500
Paul Wasicka “kwickfish” Las Vegas, NV 6 454,000
Carter Phillips Charlotte, NC 7 200,000
Dwyte Pilgrim Brooklyn, NY 8 322,000
Richard Robb Seneca, SC 9 224,500
Ninth Place
The Championship Event final table began shortly after noon with blinds and antes at 2,500/5,000/500.
For the most of the first level, chips gravitated to the larger stacks and to those min-raising pre and post flop in position.
On a 2d-Kd-8d flop, Jerry Saucier made a move for the pot. He moved his remaining 70,000 to the pot with A-J.
The 2009 EPT Barcelona Main Event champion, Carter Phillips snapped-called with pocket kings for the flopped set. A river ace was not enough for Saucier and he was the first elimination of the day.
Saucier is a 68-year-old retiree from Helena, Alabama. He pocketed $12,368 for ninth place.
Eighth Place
After Larry Gurney limped-in pre-flop from middle position, Robert Thornhill moved his short stack all-in. Gurney put in the all-in re-raise, causing the other limpers to fold. Thornhill turned over pocket eights, but saw that he was far behind after Gurney showed pocket kings. A king on the flop all-but ended it for Thornhill before a three and queen of clubs hit the turn and river. Eighth paid $14,617.
Seventh Place
Around 1:18 pm Buenos Aries time, Blinds and antes crept up to 3,000/6,000/1,000 before Matt Stout got his few remaining chips all-in UTG with Ah-10d. Wasicka, Stout’s road partner to Tunica raised to isolate the all-in with A-K. A king on the board ended Stout’s ring bid. The online pro earned $17,990.
Sixth Place
Just before the first break of the day, Gurney and Dwyte Pilgrim saw a flop of 3h-9h-Qc. Gurney got it all-in after flopping middle pair with Ad-9d. Pilgrim made the call with As-Qs. Pilgrim was looking good after a 10d hit the turn, but the river came 9c and Gurney doubled up. The two-outer left Pilgrim at about 50,000 in chips.
The beat was upsetting to the usually jovial Pilgrim and he walked off somberly at the break. After the players returned, the 2009 Rincon Circuit Event Champion moved his remaining chips all-in with Qh-9s and got a call from Richard Robb who showed pocket aces.
“I believe I can win this hand you all, I really do,” said Dwyte half jokingly/ half faithfully.
Pilgrim laughed with the rest of everyone at the final table when the flop came Ad-As-7d. Quads held for Robb to end Pilgrim’s tournament run. Sixth place paid $26,985.
Fifth Place
Carter Phillips got his remaining chips all-in with pocket sixes from the button pre-flop. Gurney made the call, turning over pocket jacks. The turn came 2d-4h-3h to give Phillips a few more outs but jacks held through the river, sending Phillips to the payout table to collect $35,980.
Fourth Place
Wasicka continued to chip up, losing very few hands after the flop. With a new level of blinds, Shane Zell moved all-in for his remaining 100,000 chips. After asking for a count, Wasicka made the call. Both had suited A-10.
It was a freeroll for “Quickfish” after the flop came Kc-Qc-4s. The turn came 3c to give Wasicka the flush to end Zell’s run. The 35-year old supervisor from nearby Memphis earned $44,975.
Play was now down to three with half the nearly two million chips in play in Wasicka’s possession.
Third Place
Just a few hands after Zell’s elimination, Gurney raised from the button to 30,000 with Ad-9s. Robb moved all-in afterward with As-Jh. The 9h-10s-8h flop gave Gurney middle pair but gave open straight possibilities to Robb. A heart on the turn put nine more outs there for Robb, but he missed them all with a two of clubs on the river. Third place paid $62,965.
Heads up play began four hours into the final table. With blinds and antes at 5,000/10,000/2,000,
Wasicka’s and Gurney’s comparable stacks set the stage for what could have been a long night, but after winning a 270,000 pot, the game started to go Wasicka’s way.
He eventually built up more than a 5-1 chip lead. Shortly after the next level, both players saw a flop of 8s-9h-6c. Gurney moved all-in for his remaining 300,000 with pocket fours. For the tournament win, Wasicka called with 8d-9d.
It was still a bit suspenseful even after a benign 2d hit the turn but it was all over after a 5c on the river.
The 2006 Main Event runner-up had come to the mid-south and staked his claim as the new reigning WSOP Harrah’s Tunica Circuit Event Champion.
“Other the heads-up championship, this was my first major tournament win,” said Wasicka. “This is something that I’ve been searching for, for a very long time.”
“This is just awesome, it was always about the money but now it was about just taking one down.”
Wasicka admits that he was a bit affected by his huge success at the ’06 Main Event.
“It’s weird experiencing that much success that young in your career,” he said. “It toys with you a bit, you lose motivation and question why you’re playing.”
Wasicka looked to Sam, a mindset coach who consults with players and mixed martial artists. “I want to give Sam credit, he’s done wonders for my game both on and off the felt.”
Freshly signed on with newly launched Victory Poker, A rejuvenated Wasicka said that he has been living out of a suitcase, following various tournaments and that he won’t be off the grind anytime soon.
After his Circuit Event win, Wasicka said that he is heading back to the road.
“Its not going to stop for the next month, heading to LA now and then I’m going to hit the Circuits “
Event #19 concludes the Circuit stop at Harrah’s Tunica. The next Circuit Event begins February 18th at Horseshoe Council Bluffs.
2010 Harrah’s Tunica WSOP Circuit Championship Event 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
