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2010-2011 WSOP Circuit Tour Kicks Off at Horseshoe Council Bluffs in Iowa

Sunday, August 22nd, 2010

2010-2011 World Series of Poker Circuit
Horseshoe Council Bluffs
August 20-21
Ring Event # 1
No-Limit Hold’em
Buy-In: $300 + $45
Number of Entries: 300
Total Prize Money: $85,050

Final Results:

1. Jeffrey Epstein Omaha, NE $20,411

2. Anthony Bower Ankeny, IA $12,615

3. Robert Georato Naples, FL $9,153

4. Daniel Drake Omaha, NE $6,753

5. Scott Clark O’Fallon, IL $5,065

6. Daniel Walker Omaha, NE $3,860

7. Phil Mader Grand Island, NE $2,987

8. Jason Curless Overland Park, KS $2,347

9. Adam Hartle Sioux Falls, SD $1,873

10,Wayne Sahl Denison, LA $1,516

11.Douglas Codner Wood River, NE $1,516

12. Darrel Lottes York, NE $1,516

16.Bryan Barnell Lincoln, NE $1,038

17.Matthew Wells Rochester, MN $1,038

18.Kristopher Wilcox Concordia, KS $1,038

19.Shaun McBride Kansas City, MO $878

20.Nathan Nielsen Exira, IA $878

21.Andrew Raddeman Neillsville, WI $878

22.Christopher Hill La Vista, NE $753

23.James Haivala Spearfish, SD $753

24.Douglas Krause Wood River, NE $753

25.Ryan Forry Firth, NE $654

26.Richard Pressler Shawnee, KS $654

27.Michael Stovall Oxford, NC $654

28.John Beane Omaha, NE $577

29.Craig Spencer Sedalia, CO $577

30.Minh Diep Sioux City, IA $289

31.James Barnes Portsmouth, VA $288

Sports Center Owner Jeff Epstein Wins First Ring Event in 6-Hour Final Table

He Misses Royal Flush Draw on Final Hand, but Settles for Winning Straight

2010-2011 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Ring Event 1 Winner Jeff Epstein

2010-2011 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Ring Event 1 Winner Jeff Epstein

Council Bluffs, IA — The seventh season of the WSOP Circuit tour, revamped, improved, and pumped up with new and attractive added features, made its eagerly awaited first-stop debut here at Horseshoe Council Bluffs. And with the schedule moved up from February to August, even the weather was much better. This stop will be offering 33 events, including H.O.R.S.E. and Omaha tourneys.

Winner of the first ring event, after a six-hour final table, was Jeff Epstein of Omaha, who owns the Omaha Sports Academy, a youth basketball center. He’s won numerous small tournaments online, but this is his first live cash. On the final hand he flopped a draw to a royal flush, missed, but settled for a straight. The win brought him $20,411, along with a diamond-encrusted gold trophy ring. Epstein, who with his father also operates a paper recycling plant, began playing online five years ago.

Epstein, describing himself as a tight-aggressive player, said the final table was tough, with constant raising. “I just tried to keep my wits about me, played patiently and tried to get my money in at the right time,” he said. He also paid tribute to thd “great staff and great tournament.”

Major changes in the Circuit tour include:

Standardized structures and payouts for all events, with the main event buy-in lowered from $5,000 to a more affordable $1,500. (However, four of the 12 or more regional Circuit championships will have $10,000 buy-ins along with national TV coverage.)

A cumulative ranking system throughout the season, with points awarded for each open ring event.

A season-ending National Championship tournament for 100 players who automatically qualify via cumulative rankings or performance-based criteria. This tournament will be at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas prior to the WSOP and will have a $1 million prize pool with a WSOP gold bracelet for the winner. The “Casino Champion” points leader and championship event winner for each Circuit event earn seats. The other two ways to qualify are by making the final table at any of the four regional championships and by accumulating enough points at all the Circuit stops to be in the top 36.

This event drew 300 players who generated a prize pool of $85,050. Day one of this event ended with 27 players still left, and they returned the next day to play down to the final table. Leading in chips with 880,000 was Danny Walker.

Here were the starting chip counts:

Seat
1. Jeff Epstein 377,000
2. Scott Clark 249,000
3. Adam Hartle 71,000
4. Dan Drake 294,000
5. Jason Curless 171,000
6. Danny Walker 880,000
7. Rob Georato 507,000
8. Phil Mader 193,000
9. Tony Bower 238,000

Action began with blinds of 3,000-6,000 and 2,000 antes, playing hour levels. After 45 minutes, there were three all-in survivals with everyone still around. The players then took a short break, returning to blinds of 8,000-16,000 and 3,000 antes.

Ninth Place: A half hour later we lost our first player. Adam Hartle was all in from the big blind with Ah-2h. He paired his deuce on a flop of 10-2-3, but he couldn’t catch Walker’s pocket 6s and went out ninth, which paid $1,873. Hartle, 27, is from Sioux Falls, South Dakota and is employed as a server at the Olive Garden restaurant. He started playing with friends six years ago and this is his poker highlight.

Eighth Place: Walker quickly knocked out a second player when his pocket kings held up against Jason Curless’ Ac-Kc. With a board of 9-5-10-Q, Curless needed an ace or an inside-straight jack to survive, but a river trey ended his chances. Eighth paid $2,347. Curless is 36 and a data analyst hailing from Overland Park, Kansas. He started playing 15 years ago.

Seventh Place: Soon after, with blinds now at 10,000-20,000 and 3,000 antes, a short-chipped Phil Mader was all in with A-2, dominated by Scott “Scotty” Clark’s A-K. Mader was drawing dead when the board showed 5-J-9-K, pairing Clark’s king. Going out seventh, Mader took home $2,987. Mader is 48, a farmer from Grand Island, Nebraska, who’s played 30 years. He has a cash in the 2009 WSOP main event.

Sixth Place: Walker, starting as chip leader, had been losing pots since his first two knock-outs, and was now down to 150,000. After Epstein pushed in, he called with A-Q, only to see Epstein turn up A-K. In a replay of the hand that busted Mader, Walker was also drawing dead after the board showed 2-2-6-K, and settled for $3,860 for sixth. Walker, the most credentialed player at the table, is a 25-year-old pro from Omaha who learned the game from a book 18 years ago. He has a win in a $500 no-limit Circuit event here and a second in a $300 no-limit tournament. along with a cash in a WSOP razz event, and a Bellagio victory. His biggest cash-out was $94,810 for a win at Commerce Casino’s L.A/. Poker Classic.

Fifth Place: With two minutes left at this level, Clark was all in from the big blind with Ah-7d, up against Tony Bower’s suited A-K. Amazingly, for the third time in a row, A-K did the trick when each time a king on fourth street left a player drawing dead after it paired his opponent! This time the board showed 8-8-K-4, with a meaningless river 5. Clark, 45, is an “unemployable” full-time player, formerly in construction, who also does poker writing. He’s from O’Fallon, Illinois and has played 25 years. Fifth paid him $5,065.

Players now went on dinner break. At this point. Bower held the lead with about 950,000, followed by Epstein with just over 900,000, and trailed by Dan Drake with around 600,000 and Rob Georato with 540,000. Blinds now were 12,000-24,000 with 4,000 antes. Action tightened and all four were still in action when blinds went to 15,000-30,000 with 4,000 antes.

Fourth Place: Half-way through the level, we finally lost another player. Drake raised from the button to 75,000, Georato made it 180,000 to go from the small blind, and Drake moved in for 220,000 more. Georato had A-J, Drake had K-10, and he departed in fourth place after the board came all rags with 7-7-3-8-6. Drake, nicknamed “Dapperdanl,” is a 54-year-old purchasing agent from Omaha with 36 years of poker experience, starting in family games.

Third Place: With blinds at 20,000-40,000 with 5,000 antes, the pot of the night came down. Epstein and Georato went head-to-head, each pushing in about 1.2 million in chips, Epstein slightly more. Epstein had pocket 10s, Georato Ad-Qd. A flop of 7-9-7 with two diamonds gave Georato a nut flush draw. Then an offsuit 10 and jack were dealt. Georato missed his flush and went out third while Epstein raked in a huge pot with a set of 10s. Third place paid $9,153. Georato, 41, is a teacher from Naples, Florida who began playing as a teenager. He has a half-dozen WSOP cashes, the largest being $38,600 for finishing 195th in the 2008 main event. He also enjoys travel.

Second Place: Heads-up, Epstein enjoyed close to a 6-1 chip lead over his final opponent. On the last hand, Epstein held Kc-Jc to Kh-10h for Bower. A flop of Ks-10c-Qc gave Epstein a paired king and a draw to a royal flush. He bet 80,000 and Bower moved in with kings and 10s. Then Epstein pulled ahead when a 9h on the turn gave him a straight. Bower could still win by making a full house or split if a jack a\gave him the same straight, but a 6d ended the evening. For second, Bower took home $12,615. Bower is a 29-year-old engineer from Des Moines, Iowa who started playing in home games nine years ago. He has a Prairie Meadows win to his credit.

2010-2011 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Event Schedule

2010-2011 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Ring Event #1 Results

–Max Shapiro

Director of Poker Operations for Harrah’s Entertainment – Jack Effel
Horseshoe Council Bluffs Poker Room Manager – Gary Margetson
Tournament Director – Jimmy Sommerfeld

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2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit – Championship Event Final Results

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

2009-2010 World Series of Poker Circuit
Horseshoe Council Bluffs
March 1
Event #22
No-Limit Hold’em Championship
Buy-In: $5,000 + $150
Number of Entries: 46
Total Prize Money: $212,100

Final Results:

Place Name Hometown Prize

1. Jovan Sudar Omaha, NE $95,455

2. Jerry Walter Granville, IL $53,025

3. Derek Masek Lincoln, NE $31,815

4. Jack Do Dakota Dunes, SD $21,210

5. Mike Sortino Omaha, NE $10,605

Confidence Drives Jovan Sudar to Win The Council Bluffs Circuit Championship

He Predicts His First Tournament Win Before Start and Even when Low-Chipped

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Championship Event Winner Jovan Sudar

Council Bluffs, IA — Before the start of the $5,000 WSOP Circuit championship at Horseshoe Council Bluffs, Jovan Sudar confidently predicted he would win. Even when he was low-stacked with 18 players left, his confidence never lessened. He began building his way back, amassed a tremendous chip lead at the final table, lost it briefly and then roared back to score a resounding win. First place officially paid $95,455, though a couple of deals between the final 10 players lessened his actual payout. It was still his largest tournament cash ever. Victory also brought him the diamond-and-gold trophy ring and a $10,000 buy-in to this year’s WSOP main event.

Sudar, 27, was born in the former country of Yugoslavia and came to Omaha 12 years ago. He is both a senior leasing agent for the Biltmore apartment complex in that city as well as a pro player. He has numerous cashes and final tables, his prior biggest cashes being $29,190 for sixth in a Bellagio Cup/WPT event, and $27,315 for second in a Doyle Brunson/WPT tourney. But it is his first tournament win. “I’ve been close so many times,“ he exclaimed jubilantly. This thing is off my back now.” Sudar, who plays mainly tournaments, also plays $25-$50 no-limit at the Bellagio, regularly tangling with the biggest names in poker.

He plays strictly no-limit hold’em because he feels it takes the most skill of any game: maybe 85 percent skill to 15 percent luck. His edge, he said, comes from his ability to read players, play position and knowing when he’s beat. He also had wins here in $500 and $100 buy-in satellites. This event had 46 players and a $212,100 prize pool. Day one ended at 2:30 a.m. The 10 remaining players returned for final-day action with, Derek Masek in front with 166,700 chips. Bernard Lee, who had led the field for much of day one, ran into bad luck in late going and now had a little more than half average. We also had a husband and wife pairing, Jerry and Kathy Walter, both winning their seats via satellites.

Here were the chip counts for the final 10:

Seat Name Chip Count

1. Jerry Walter 138,600

2. Jack Do 75,100

3. Mike Sortino 159,300

4, Bernard Lee 54,200

5. Jeff Banghart 45,400

6. Jeff Bryan 103,200

7. Phil Mader 98,300

8. Derek Masek 166,700

9. Jovan Sudar 63,600

10.Kathy Walter 15,000

Before action began, the 10 agreed to each take $3,000 off first place and $2,000 off second. They later made a second deal for higher unofficial payouts: $6,399 for ninth, $8,532 for eighth, $10,665 for seventh and $12,798 for sixth. Play started with 200 antes and blinds of 1,000-2,000, a full hour on the clock.. The first called all-in didn’t come until the next level, with 300 antes, 1,200-2,400 blinds. Lee had pocket jacks, hit a spade flush and doubled up against A-K.

10th place: It took nearly two hours to get down to nine. Phil Mader was crippled when Sudar made a king-high flush to Mader’s queen-high. On the following hand Mader’s last 17,000 went in. Sudar finished him off when his A-10 held up against Masek’s K-7.

9th place: A couple of deals later, Jeff Banghart left after pushing in with pocket 5s. Jack Do called with pocket 10s and filled when the board showed K-K-3-10.

8th place: Jeff Bryan went out next when he moved in with K-Q. Jerry Walter called with pocket 6s. Bryan paired his king when the flop came 2-6-K, but he was pretty much dead against Walter’s set of 6s.

7th place: We now saw three-way action. Kathy Walter, who had earlier survived with pocket aces, was all in again with A-7 against Mike Sortino’s A-10 and Sudar’s pocket 7s. The board came K-3-A-5-Q, and Sortino’s aces with a better kicker left Walter in seventh place.

6th Place: Lee was next out. He moved in with pocket 10s and found himself up against Sortino’s pocket kings. Nothing changed when the board came 3-Q-J-5-3, and we were now down to the official final table of five. Had no deal been made, Lee, whose numerous poker endeavors include his own radio show, writing for the Boston Herald and ESPN, and official spokesperson for the Foxwoods poker room, would have walked off empty-handed instead of getting an unofficial $12,798.

Here were the final table chip counts: :

Seat Name Chip Count

1. Jerry Walter 205,900

2. Jack Do 69,000

3. Mike Sortino 227,600

4. Derek Masek 194,200

5. Jovan Sudar 216,400

Play resumed with blinds of 2,000-4,000 and 400 antes. Do, lowest-chipped, soon doubled up when he made an ace-high flush to Masek’s 10-high flush. Players took a dinner break and returned to 500 antes and 2,500-5,000 blinds. Sudar had now increased his lead to a bit over 300,000.

5th place: Halfway through the level, Sortino moved in with 6d-6s, up against Jovan’s Qc-Qs. A board of Jd-3h-4d-Kd gave Sortino hopes for a diamond flush, but he missed and cashed fifth for an official $10,605. Sortino is from Omaha and is retired. He finished fourth in an earlier 6-handed no-limit event here.

On the next hand, Sudar raised to 80,000 with As-Jd, and Masek called all in with Kd-Qc. A flop of Ad-8d-10d also gave Masek hopes of a diamond flush (larger than Sudar’s.). This time a diamond turned and Masek doubled through.

Blinds were now 3,000-6,000 with the same antes. A very big hand came down when Walter raised with A-K, Do moved in for 140,000 with pocket 10s, and Walter called. They were close to even in chips. The board missed both players. Do doubled, and Walter was down to about 35,000. But he wasn’t ready to leave yet. He won one pot, then doubled up when his Q-10 made a straight on the river to outrun Masek’s trip 4s..

4th place: The biggest pot of the night now developed. After a raise by Do and then an all-in re-raise by Sudar, Do committed all his 260,000 chips holding pocket queens. Sudar had pocket kings and flopped a set when the cards came K-9-10. Two 6s then filled him as he took a huge lead. Meanwhile, Do, a nail technician from Dakota Dunes, Dakota, cashed fourth for an official $21,210

The three finalists returned from break to blinds of 3,000-6,000 and 1,000 antes. A rough count found Walter with about 120,000 chips, Masek 140,000 and Sudar, 690,000.

3rd place: Just 10 minutes into the new level, Masek went all in with pocket 10s, facing Sudar’s Kc-Qc. Sudar won the coin-toss match when the board came 9-6-Q-3-9 as his queens and 9s left Masek in third place, paying an official $31,815.

2nd place: Heads-up, Walter had under 100,000 to more than 800,000 for Sudar. Amazingly, Walter started playing catch-up, then doubled through twice, the second time with a full house, and pulled into the lead. Sudar got it back when he moved in with pocket kings after Walter raised with pocket 8s, making a bigger full house when three queens hit the board. Very low-chipped again, Walter was all in again on the next hand, holding Kc-9d to Sudar’s Ah-6c. The ace-high was good enough, but Sudar also made a straight when the board came 4-Q-7-8-5 to nail down his first win. Walter, collecting an official $53,025 for second, is from Granville, Illinois, is 53 years old,and has been a plumber for 33. This is his first final table.

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit – Championship Final Results

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Events Schedule and Results

– Max Shapiro

Director of Poker Operations for Harrah’s Entertainment – Jack Effel
Horseshoe Council Bluffs Poker Room Manager – Gary Margetson
Tournament Director – Kevin Ferguson

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2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit – Event #20 Final Results

Monday, March 1st, 2010

2009-2010 World Series of Poker Circuit
Horseshoe Council Bluffs
Feb. 27
Event #20
No-Limit Hold’em
Buy-In: $300 + $45
Number of Entries: 329
Total Prize Money: $95,739

Final Results:

Place Name Hometown Prize

1. Steve Kats Omaha, NE $26,683

2. Danny Parde Lincoln, NE $15,318

3. Mark Fink Sioux Falls, SD $7,659

4 Michael Dreiger Omaha, NE $6,702

5. Scott Pape Omaha, NE $5,744

6. Duane Gerleman Ridgeway, IA $4,787

7. Mitchell Ricknell Pittsburg, KS $3,838

8. Jason Fennell Chicago, IL $2,782

9. Dave Muller Cedar Rapids, IA $1,915

10.Tony Treiber $1,149

11.Daniel Collier $1,149

12.Nicholas Srille $1,149

13.Gerald Walter $957

14.Daniel Roth $957

15.Dave Ward $957

16.Randal Simmons $765

17.Larry Nichols $765

18.Robert Conway $765

19.James Schertz $574

20.Gary Fleischman $574

21.John Nohr $574

22.Lyle Bryan $574

23.Jefferey Fielder $574

24.Kyle Schroeder $574

25 Kirk McKenzie $574

26 Carl Mellecker $574

27.Nathan Robda $574

28.Morgan Carr $383

29.Michael Albert $383

30.Michael Fong $383

31.Dennis Moffitt $383

32.Paul Hansen $383

33.Daniel Rinkel $383

34.Timoth Sciscoe $383

35.John Johnson $383

36.Cullen Oldham $383

Circulation Salesman Steve Kats, Playing Only His 2nd Tournament, Wins Event 20

Key Hand Comes in Heads-Up Match When he Makes an Inside Straight

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Event #20 Winner Steve Kats

Council Bluffs, IA — Steve Kats, a circulation salesman for the Omaha World Herald, scored his first tournament cash by winning the 20th event of the WSOP Circuit tour at Horseshoe Council Bluffs, $300 no-limit hold’em. The win brought him $26,683 and a diamond-and-gold trophy ring. He came to the final table with a good chip and held it throughout, although Danny Parde came close to catching up during their heads-up match that lasted nearly an hour.

Kats, 27, is from Omaha and has been playing 10 years, mainly in home games and online. He played one tournament here last year, but only got to 90th place. He said he never got pocket aces throughout the tournament and had only half average until about four tables were left when he began moving up.

This event drew 329 players and the prize pool was $95,739. Play kicked off with blinds of 8,000-16,000 and 2,000 antes, 23 minutes on the clock. With 483,000 chips, Kats had a sizeable lead.

Here were the starting chip counts:

Seat Name Chip Count

1. Michael Dreiger 174,000

2. Duane Gerleman 130,000

3. Danny Parde 204,000

4. Dave Muller 32,000

5. Jason Fennell 78,000

6. Scott Pape 326,000

7. Mark Fink 330,000

8. Mitchell Ricknell 162,000

9. Steve Kats 483,000

9th place: On the first hand, Lowest-chipped Dave Muller pushed in his last 30,000 with A-6, called by Scott Pape with 6-4 A board of 9-7-5-2 gave Pape a double belly-buster straight draw (either an 8 or a trey), but he settled for a paired 4 to leave Muller ninth, worth $1,915. Muller, 46, is an eye surgeon from Cedar Rapids, IA. He’s had several Heartland Poker Tour cashes, and this is his first final table.

8th place: It didn’t take long to lose another player. We had a classic match-up: pocket queens for an all-in Jason Fennell, Ac-Kc for Kats. A board of 6c-8d-3c-4h gave Kats 15 ways to knock Fennell out, with a club, an ace, or a king. A jack of clubs rivered, and Kats’ flush gave Fennell, a 27-year-old army sergeant from Chicago, his discharge to eighth place, which paid $2,782.

7th place: With blinds of 10,000-20,000, Mitchell Ricknell found himself all in and in bad shape with A-10 against Kats’ A-Q. A board of 7-10-J-5-3 left both players with 10s, and Kats’ ace kicker was the decider as Ricknell took home $3,838. Ricknell, 49, from Pittsburg, Kansas, is self-employed. He won the Masters of Oklahoma tournament twice and played in a WSOP main event.

6th place: For the fourth time a player would go all in, and for the fourth time fail to get out. The victim this time was Duane Gerleman, ahead with A-Q against Mark Fink’s K-J. The flop was 10-3-2, and then Fink caught a fourth-street king to outrun Gerleman and leave him in sixth place, paying $4,787. This was the third final table in this tournament series for Gerleman, a 54-year-old farmer from Ridgeway, Iowa. His other cashes include a 23rd out of 2,240 entrants in the WSOP Seniors event two years ago.

Blinds jumped twice, to 12,000-24,000, before we had another all-in. This time it was Danny Parde, who had A-8 to Pape’s pocket kings. For the first time we had a survival when Parde paired his ace on the flop.

5th place: Scott Pape went out with pocket 10s when Kats flopped an ace to his A-6. Pape, 54, is a maintenance technician from Omaha who’s played weekly tournaments here for the last four years. He took out $5,774 for fifth.

4th place: Soon after, Michael Dreiger, 59, a programmer from Omaha, checked out fourth for $6,702 when his A-9 could not overtake Kats’ A-K. Last year he finished seventh in a similar event here.

3rd place: This event got heads-up when Mark Fink went out on a bad beat. He had A-J against Parde’s A-3. Both players were nearly even chips, but Parde just had his opponent covered. The board came K-3-7-9-5, and Parde’s paired trey knocked Fink out in third place, which paid $7,659. Fink is 30, from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and works in his family electrical contracting business. He has four Circuit and two WSOP cashes.

2nd place: The final match lasted just under an hour. Kats started with the lead, but Parde was never far behind as the chips went back and forth. With blinds now at 20,000-40,000 and 5,000 antes, the killer hand came down. The flop showed 8-7-3, and all the chips went in the middle. Parde, with Qc-8c, was in the lead with a paired 8, while Kats, with Jc-10h, had two overcards and an inside straight draw. A 9 turned to give Kats a straight, and Parde, drawing dead, was suddenly down to 80,000 chips. Parde was all in on the next hand with 9h-7h against Kats’ Ks-7s. A board of 4-2-8-Q-J didn’t make any difference, and Kats had his first big cash.

Parde, 33, a U.S. Postal Service mailman from Lincoln, Nebraska, was making his second Circuit final table. His second-place finish paid him $15,318. He also has a couple of cashes in the Poker Classic events here.

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit – Event #20 Final Results

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Events Schedule and Results

– Max Shapiro

Director of Poker Operations for Harrah’s Entertainment – Jack Effel
Horseshoe Council Bluffs Poker Room Manager – Gary Margetson
Tournament Director – Kevin Ferguson

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2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit – Event #17 Final Results

Friday, February 26th, 2010

2009-2010 World Series of Poker Circuit
Horseshoe Council Bluffs
Feb. 25
Event #17
H.O.R.S.E
Buy-In: $300 + $45
Number of Entries: 36
Total Prize Money: $10,476

Final Results:

Place Name Hometown Prize

1. Tim McReynolds Omaha, NE $5,028

2. Ray Babb Soldiers Grove, WI $2,829

3. Todd Kidd Beloit, IL $1,729

4. Loren “Matt” Rice West Union, IA $890

Liver Transplant Survivor Tim McReynolds Plays First H.O.R.S.E. Tournament and Wins

Omaha Attorney is Now Freerolling After Being Given Six Months to Live

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Event #17 Winner Tim McReynolds

Council Bluffs, IA — Here’s one for the books: a liver transplant that not only saved someone’s life, but his poker game as well.

Tim McReynolds is an attorney from Omaha who used to do corporate mergers and later had his own law firm. Four years ago his liver began failing, along with his mental acuity. He started playing poker two years ago, but was terrible at it because his mind wasn’t working very well. Then, last August, he had a liver transplant. He rebounded in health, and his mind immediately regained its sharpness, along with his poker game. Tonight he tried playing H.O.R.S.E for the first time, and thanks to his new liver and rejuvenated brain, he won it. McReynolds’ operation was in August. Afterwards, the doctors told him he had six months to live. That date arrived Feb. 15, McReynolds still feels great, so every new day is a freeroll for him. He also went back to doing corporate mergers.

Before poker, McReynolds used to be a blackjack card-counter until he got thrown out of three casinos. Until tonight he played only hold’em, and came third in a tournament at Caesars Palace recently. In any event, despite his win tonight, he still considers himself a novice. First place officially paid $5,028, but most of the money had been distributed in two deals.

This event had 36 players, a prize pool of $10,476, and only four players for the final table. Before that, the final nine made a deal allowing everyone to get back his buy-in.

Play got underway for the final four in a stud hi-low round with 1,500 antes and 6,000-12,000 limits. McReynolds was in front with 99,500 chips. .

Here were the starting chip counts:

Seat Name Chip Count

1. Todd Kidd 20,000

2. Ray Babb 75,000

3. Tim McReynolds 99,500

4. Loren “Matt” Rice 20,500

4th place: Starting lowest-chipped with 20,000, Todd Kidd was quickly all in with three-way action. Going for low, and showing 7-Q-K-8, the best he could have was an 8-7. He did, but it wasn’t good enough because Todd Kidd made an 8-6, while McReynolds took high with trip deuces. Fourth officially paid $890. Rice, 42, from West Union, Iowa, is a professor of economics

McReynolds, meanwhile, took some hits, began to drift down and was quite low when he got quartered in an Omaha round with 8,000-16,000 limits. McReynolds held A-4-9-9 to Ray Babb’s A-3-3-4. A board of 3-10-6-5-9 gave Babb a set of treys and the same low as McReynolds. But McReynolds hung on, scooped the next pot, and began climbing up again.

3rd place: McReynolds then took the lead when he knocked out Todd Kidd in a razz round, making a 9-low to Kidd’s 10-low.Kidd, 45, is a trucking manager from South Beloit, IL. Third officially paid $1,729.

Heads-up, McReynolds had 165,000 chips to 55,000 for Ray Babb. Soon after, Babb doubled through in a stud round with 12,000-24,000 limits, making two pair against McReynolds’ pair of 8s.

2nd place: The match continued for about a dozen hands after that. Finally, the two made a deal: chop the remaining money evenly and deal one hand, with the winner getting the title. Babb started with (8-7)6 and his next two cards were 7s, giving him trips. That’s how he ended after a queen and jack were dealt to him. McReynolds began with (A-K)10. He picked up a 10 on fourth street and another on the river, and his three 10s beat Babb’s three 7s. Babb, 68, is a rancher from Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin. Second officially paid $2,829.

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Event #17 Final Results

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Events Schedule and Results

– Max Shapiro

Director of Poker Operations for Harrah’s Entertainment – Jack Effel
Horseshoe Council Bluffs Poker Room Manager – Gary Margetson
Tournament Director – Kevin Ferguson

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2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit – Event #14 Final Results

Friday, February 26th, 2010

2009-2010 World Series of Poker Circuit
Horseshoe Council Bluffs
Event #14
6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em
Buy-In: $300
Number of Entries: 121
Total Prize Money: $35,211

Final Results:

Place Name Hometown Prize

1. Brendan Waite San Diego, CA $11,094

2. Trevor Harrold Omaha, NE $6,866

3. Dennis Modde Des Moines IA $4,401

4. Mike Sortino Omaha, NE $2,993

5. Lee Gardner Topeka, KS $2,025

6. Tim Sciscoe Omaha, NE $1,496

7. Larry Kolk $1,144

8. Charles Marty $1,144

9. Anthony Larson $1,056

10.Matthew Nielsen $1,056

11. Jeffrey Webber $968

12. Chadd Johnson $968

Returning to Old Hometown for Visit, Brendan Waite Plays, Wins 6-Handed

Bartender/Student Patiently Takes 45 Hands to Win Final Match-Up

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Event #14 Winner Brendan Waite

Council Bluffs, IA — Brendan Waite, 26, is a general studies student and bartender who grew up in North Platte, Nebraska and attended the University of Nebraska. Last year he moved to San Diego when he visited that city and liked what he saw. Now, on a visit back to his hometown, he decided to play some poker at Horseshoe Council Bluffs’ WSOP Circuit tour and ended up winning event number 14, $300 6-handed no-limit hold’em. Victory brought him $11,094, by far his biggest tournament cash ever, along with the diamond-and-gold trophy ring.

While it didn’t take very long for the first four players to get knocked out, the final match-up dragged on for some 45 hands. It was more like a limit instead of a no-limit contest. There were no big bets, much less any all-ins, with players folding to raises or even moderate bets. Waite explained that he started with the chip lead and was determined not give it up or risk much until he got a big hand. He finally did get that big hand on the final deal when he won with a flush against two pair.

Waite started playing in college about five years ago, when he didn’t know that a full house beat a flush. He now plays both live games and tournaments. He has two prior cashes when he played two second-chance events here last year and won them both.

This event had 121 players and a $35,211 prize pool. The six survivors in this event started with blinds of 1,500-3,000 and 300 antes, 23 minutes left. On top with 205,500 chips was Mike Sortino.

Here were the starting chip counts:

Seat Name Chip Count

1. Brendan Waite 189,000

2. Dennis Modde 94,100

3. Lee Gardner 91,200

4. Trevor Harrold 121,600

5. Tim Sciscoe 29,400

6. Mike Sortino 205,500

6th place: Tim Sciscoe started at the bottom with 29,400 chips, and he was out in four minutes. He moved in with Ad-5c in late position and was called from the big blind by Brenden Waite holding A-Q. A board of 9-8-3-K-6 changed nothing, and we were quickly down to five. Sciscoe, paid $1,496 for sixth, is an Omaha goat herder. (“I could use your help with my dealers,” cracked tournament supervisor Sue Phillips, doing the announcing.) Getting drunk with noted player Robert Williamson III is still his best poker highlight, he said.

5th place: Blinds became 2,000-4,000. Another A-Q nearly knocked out the next player. Mike Sortino was up against that hand holding A-9, but a board of 3-10-A-10-10 gave both players a full house. Instead, it was Lee Gardner, a 38-year-old roofing contractor from Topeka Kansas who was next out. He moved in with K-Q, ran into Waite’s pocket aces and cashed $2,025 for fifth. This is Gardner’s second final table here. He was runner-up in the second event, $200 limit hold’em.

4th place: Now playing with blinds of 2,000-4,000 and 500 antes, Mike Sortino lost a lot of chips when his Ad-10d was beaten by a K-3 when a king hit the river. He was all in on the next hand. This time he had the lesser hand, As-5s against Trevor Harrold’s A-7. Harrold was still ahead when the board showed A-4-10-8, and then finished Sortino off with a river 7. Sortino, paid $2,993 for fourth, is 50, retired, and from Omaha. His poker highlight is “Playing with the best dealers around at the Council Bluffs WSOP, especially the Reverend Jackie Moon!”

3rd place: The three remaining players returned from break to blinds of 4,000-8,000 and 1,000 antes. In early action, Waite looked at pocket aces in the small blind and just limped, prompting Dennis Modde to push in from the small blind with pocket 5s. After a board of 8-J-10-7-6 failed to rescue him, Modde cashed third for $4,401. Modde, 49, is self-employed and from Des Moines, Iowa. This is his best finish to date.

Heads-up, Waite was in front with about 425,000 chips to around 300,000 for Harrold. The two began very, very careful play. By the time blinds went to 5,000-10,000 with 1,000 antes 29 hands later, the chip count hadn’t changed that much, with Waite up to about 470,000.

2nd place: On the final hand, Waite was dealt Jc-4c, Harrold 7s-5s. The flop was Qc-7h-5c. Harrold checked, Waite bet, and Harrold check-raised with two pair. Had Harrold gone all in, Waite said, he probably would have folded, especially with a queen on board, but he decided to go for it. The turn brought the 3c. Waite bet his flush, and Harrold moved in. When a river 9 failed to fill him, Harrold cashed second for $6,866. Harrold, from Omaha, is 25 works in construction and has won a few online tournaments.

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit – Event #14 Final Results

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Events Schedule and Results

–Max Shapiro

Director of Poker Operations for Harrah’s Entertainment – Jack Effel
Horseshoe Council Bluffs Poker Room Manager – Gary Margetson
Tournament Director – Kevin Ferguson

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2010 WSOP Circuit Events at Horseshoe Council Bluffs – Event #12 Final Results

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

2009-2010 World Series of Poker Circuit
Horseshoe Council Bluffs
Feb. 23
Event #12
No-Limit Hold’em
Buy-In: $300 +$45
Number of Entries: 137
Total Prize Money: $30,867

Final Results:

Place Name Hometown Prize

1. Carl Haney Des Moines, IA $12,919

2. Mitch Hinrichs Grand Rapids, MI $6,777

3. Scott Westphalen Brayton, IA $3,987

4. Tucker Stone Iowa City, IA $3,189

5. Ralph Shannon Atlanta, GA $2,392

6. Joel Merwick Omaha, NE $1,993

7. Corey Aune Lake Geneva, WI $1,595

8. Doug Hutcheson Council Bluffs, IA $1,196

9. Larry Nichols Omaha, NE $797

10.Brian Barcroft $638

11.Drew Woodke $638

12.Jeffrey Sherman $638

13.David Grandstaff $558

14.Brad Lammers $558

15.Ryan Gerdes $558

16.Daniel Rinkal $478

17.Raymond Noritske $478

18.Andy Wilken $478

Computer Programmer Carl Haney Wins Circuit #12 After Long Heads-Up Match

After Splitting Most of the Prize Money, Finalists Agree to Play 10-Minute Rounds

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Event #12 Winner Carl Haney

Council Bluffs, IA — After exactly two hours of heads-up play and numerous chip-lead changes, Carl Haney, a 46-year-old computer programmer from Des Moines, Iowa, captured the 12th event of the WSOP Circuit tour at Horseshoe Council Bluffs, $300 no-limit hold-em. First place officially paid $12,919. However, when he and Mitch Hinrichs were just about dead even half-way through the match, they agreed to take out $9,000 each and play for the remaining $1,696 and the diamond-and-gold trophy ring. They also agreed to speed things up by playing 10 minute rounds, and by the time they were through, the limits had bounced up five times to 20,000-40,000 with 5,000 antes. It ended when Haney, holding Q-5 to Hinrichs’ Q-J, sucked out by hitting a runner-runner straight.

Haney, who’s played poker for more than 20 years, prefers tournaments over cash games, playing mostly online and averaging one live event a month. He had a cash in a $500 event earlier this week and was the “bubble boy” in another $500 event here last year. He describes himself as a conservative player (“Even if I’m not I want them to believe it,” he added), and his strategy at this final table was to let the wilder players knock each other out.

This event had 137 players and a $30,867 prize pool.

The final table got going with blinds of 1,500-3,000 and 300 antes, 22 minutes left. We had two big chip leaders. Scott Westphalen had 197,000 of the 822,000 chips in play, and Tucker Stone had 173,600.

Here were the starting chip counts:

Seat Name Chip Count

1. Corey Aune 45,200

2. Joel Merwick 52,300

3. Scott Westphalen 197,000

4. Mitch Hinrichs 61,900

5. Ralph Shannon 87,500

6. Carl Haney 103,600

7. Doug Hutchens 46,100

8. Tucker Stone 173,600

9. Larry Nichols 74,100

9th place: Five minutes into play a hand came down so spectacular that it wouldn’t even be believable in a James Bond movie. First, Corey Aune moved in holding A-K. Next, Haney looked at pocket aces and he pushed in. Then, Larry Nichols called with all his chips holding pocket kings! Ready for more? The flop came K-10-Q, putting Nichols way ahead with a set of cowboys. And then, unbelievably, a jack turned to give both Aune and Nichols Broadway straights! A river 9 failed to fill up Nichols, and Aune and Haney chopped the pot and chopped Nichols. It took about an hour to figure out the chip distribution. Haney had Nichols covered, so he got the extra side-pot chips, and Nichols, understandably dazed, went out ninth, which paid $797. Nichols, 70, is a retired grain merchandiser from Omaha who’s been playing for 53 years. “I really enjoy playing,” he wrote. His poker highlight had been winning a $500 entry into last year’s event.

8th place: With blinds now at 2,000-4,000 and 400 antes, Doug Hutcheson, a business owner from Council Bluffs, went out eighth for $1,196. He was soundly beaten when Hinrichs, holding A-K, flopped trip aces to blow away Hutcheson/s Q-J. Hutcheson, making back-to-back final tables, wrote that doing so takes more than a little luck…”It takes a lot of luck.”

7th place: Blinds now were 2,500-5,000. Corey Aune went out next, picking up $1,595 for seventh. He called, with fewer chips, after Carl Haney pushed in with pocket queens and a board of K-J-2-8-5 couldn’t help him. Aune, 27, is a pro (golf, not poker) from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

6th place: Joel Merwick finished sixth for $1,993 when his A-J couldn’t beat Mitch Hinrichs’ pocket 9s. Merwick, 29, is a poker player from Omaha. He finished 189th in the 2005 WSOP main event.

5th place: Blinds became 3,000-6,000. Ralph Shannon, all in with J-10, went out fifth for $2,392 when his J-10 was crushed by Carl Haney’s set of queens after the board came Q-J-Q-9-8. Shannon, 53, is vice president of an optical company in Atlanta.

4th place: Play resumed after a break with blinds of 4,000-8,000. On the first hand, Stone tried a move, pushing in for more than 100,000 with A-4. “You don’t have to embarrass me,” he said when his hand was announced. Westphalen called with pocket nines and flopped a set, leaving Stone with not many outs other than the door. Stone, picking up $3,189 for fourth, is a 31-year-old pro from Iowa City, Iowa. His poker highlight was online, chopping turbo take-down on PokerStars.

3rd place: This match got heads-up after Hinrichs, holding Qc-7c, flopped a flush when the board showed Jc-Ac-2c. He slow-played the flop and turn, then bet enough on the river to put his Scott Westphalen all in. Holding just 8s-2s for a pair of deuces, Westphalen called and went out third, which paid $3,987. Westphalen, 51, owns a construction company in Brayton, Iowa. His best prior finish was a second-chance final table here.

2nd place: With blinds now 5,000-10,000 and 1,000 antes, Hinrichs had a 2-1 chip advantage over Haney, but after he pulled even they made their deal and began playing their 10-minute rounds. They both played carefully during the long match, with not many all-ins. On the final deal, Hinrichs committed his chips with Qh-Jc to Haney’s Qs-5h, losing when a board of Q-4-A-3-2 gave Haney a wheel. Hinrichs, 27, is a salesman from Grand Rapids, Michigan.

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Event #12 Final Results

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Events Schedule and Results

– Max Shapiro

Director of Poker Operations for Harrah’s Entertainment – Jack Effel
Horseshoe Council Bluffs Poker Room Manager – Gary Margetson
Tournament Director – Kevin Ferguson

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Posted in Poker, World Series of Poker Circuit Events | No Comments »

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Event #10 Final Results

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

2009-2010 World Series of Poker Circuit
Horseshoe Council Bluffs
Feb. 22
Event #10
No-Limit Hold’em
Buy-In: $300 + $45
Number of Entries: 132
Total Prize Money: $38,412

Final Results:

Place Name Hometown Prize

1. Natasha Barbour Miami, Florida $12,444

2. Dale Johnson Columbus, NE $6,530

3. Brian Hansen Las Vegas, NV $3,841

4. Wade Readell Buchanan, ND $3,073

5. Jeremy Golden Sidney, OH $2,305

6. Duane Gerleman Ridgeway, IA $1,921

7. Doug “Rico” Carli Alliance, OH $1,536

8. Brandon Foster Lincoln, NE $1,152

9. Jake Hamilton Lincoln, NE $768

10.Todd Bartlett $615

11.Eric Chalgren $615

12.Gary Dumas $615

13.James Briney $538

14.James Ekman $538

15.Lou Merwick $538

16.Jan Blumenthal $461

17.K.C. Sundermeier $461

18.Mark Pogge $461

23-Year-Old College Dropout Natasha Barbour Wins Event 10

This is First Final Table for Her As she follows the Tournament Trail

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Event #10 Winner Natasha Barbour

Council Bluffs, IA — Natasha Barbour was a college student at the University of South Florida studying microbiology, but her heart was really in poker. She would even take her books with her into the casino, playing while studying. Then, a year ago, after doing well at the tables, she decided to drop out af school and pursue her real love. Tonight she struck gold in the form of a gold-and-diamond championship ring when she joined a handful of women, perhaps seven or eight, ever to win a WSOP Circuit open tournament. Her victory, in event 10, $300 no-limit hold’em, was worth $12,444. The effervescent 23-year-old from Miami could barely contain her excitement and delight throughout the final table, her first ever as she follows the Circuit tournament trail. Her previous best tournament finish was a 30th in the Bayou Poker Challenge at Harrah’s New Orleans.

Tonight she said she played a very steady game and was able to make big laydowns.

The final table began with blinds of 1,500-3,000 with 24 minutes left. Wade Readell led with 151,800 chips.

Here were the starting chip counts:

Seat Name Chip Count

1. Doug “Rico” Carli. 48,500

2. Brian Hansen 119,100

3. Jake Hamilton 97,200

4. Wade Readell 151,800

5. Duane Gerleman 64,400

6. Dale Johnson 129,200

7. Brandon Foster 28,000

8. Natasha Barbour 80,600

9. Jeremy Golden 83,500

9th place: With blinds at 2,000-4,000, Jake Hamilton went out ninth, cashing for $768. He had 10s-8d, missed a flush on a flop of 5s-9s-Qs, and lost to Jeremy Golden, who started with Q-9, flopped top two and filled on the river. Hamilton, cashing for $768, is 26 and from Lincoln, Nebraska.

8th place: Next to go was Brandon Foster. He went all in pre-flop with A-Q and ran into Brian Hansen’s pocket kings. Foster flopped an ace, but Hansen flopped a set of kings and was now a 97 percent favorite, Foster couldn’t beat the odds and took out $1,152 for eighth. Foster, who cashed in the 2008 WSOP main event, is a 26-year-old air conditioning technician from Lincoln, NE.

7th place: Doug “Rico” Carli holds the world’s record for Circuit cashes, this being his 40th. The trouble, he complained, is that once he makes a final table, he never seems to win a race. Today was no exception. He was a slight favorite, all in with pocket 4s against Readell’s A-K. As expected, there was a bullet on the flop, and Carli went out seventh for $1,536. Carli, 54, is a retired stockbroker turned pro from Alliance, Ohio. His cashes include 19 final tables, two wins…”and too many losses.”

6th place: With blinds now at 2,500-5,000, Duane Gerleman had only 6,000 left and decided to go all in with 10-9. He had two callers. The board came 3-J-7-4-9 with three hearts, Jeremy Golden showed two hearts, and Gerleman took out $1,921 for sixth. Gerleman, 54, a farmer from Ridgeway, Iowa, has made several final tables here in the past three years. He also cashed 23rd in a WSOP Seniors event.

As play continued, Hansen shook his head after taking big hit, set-over-set. Much happier a while later was Barbour, the second woman so far to make an open-event final table here. All in with A-K, she jumped up excitedly when she flopped a king to outrun Golden’s pocket 10s.

5th place: Back from break, blinds were now 4,000-8,000. On the first deal, the flop came J-6-6. Holding J-4 in the small blind, Golden pushed all in. His jacks weren’t much good because Hansen, holding 8-6, had trips. After a queen and ace came, Golden checked out fifth and collected $2,305. Golden is a retired farmer from Sidney, Iowa

4th place: In the small blind with only 23,000 left, Readell went all in with Q-J, a big favorite after Barbour called with J-10. But then a 10 hit the turn, and her pair put Readell out in fourth place, worth $3,073. Readell, 34, is a farmer from Buchanan, North Dakota whose poker play consists mainly of Poker League activities at home.

A big hand came down with the board showing 3-J-8-8. Holding J-10, Dale Johnson moved in, and after long indecision, Barbour called, also all in. She had Q-8, her trips held up, and she was now the chip leader.

3rd place: Blinds were now 5,000-10,000 with 1,000 antes. There was soon three-way action.First, Hansen moved in for 117,000. Johnson called, and Barbour came over the top all in. Figuring he was beat, Johnson folded. Hansen turned up 9-8, Barbour pocket queens, and when the board came 8-K-Q-4-3, Hansen went out third for $3,841. Hansen, 36, is from Las Vegas and has numerous cashes at the WSOP and Venetian Deep Stack.

2nd place: Heads-up, Barbour enjoyed a lead of better than 3-1 over Johnson. He quickly doubled up and drew about even when his pocket deuces beat her A-6 suited. But the crusher came a couple of hands later. She looked at pocket aces on the button/small blind and just limped. Johnson bit and moved in with Qc-3c and was down to 61,000 after losing the pot. On the next and final hand he pushed in with Ks-7h and she called with Jd-9d (“My favorite hand,” she said.) The board came 10-4-5-9-Q to give her a winning pair of 9s, and the young lady became the newest member of a very elite group. Johnson, cashing $6,530 for second, is a 62-year-old truck driver from Columbus, Nebraska.

2010 WSOP Circuit Events Horseshoe Council Bluffs Event #10 Final Results

2010 WSOP Circuit Events Horseshoe Council Bluffs Schedule and Results

–Max Shapiro

Director of Poker Operations for Harrah’s Entertainment – Jack Effel
Horseshoe Council Bluffs Poker Room Manager – Gary Margetson
Tournament Director – Kevin Ferguson

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Posted in Poker, World Series of Poker Circuit Events | No Comments »

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit – Event #11 Final Results

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

2009-2010 World Series of Poker Circuit
Horseshoe Council Bluffs
Event #11
Pot-Limit Omaha
Buy-In: $200 + $35
Number of Entries: 60
Total Prize Money: $11,640

Final Results:

Place Name Hometown Prize

1. Chris Ybarra Plattsmouth, NE $4,191

2. Brent Carter Oak Park, IL $2,328

3. Frank Dukich Carter Lake, IA $1,280

4. Ivan Janssen Farmington, MN $931

5. Nick Janssen Farmington, MN $815

6. Steve Hayes Burlington Jctt., MN $698

7. Adrian Hernandez Hastings, NE $582

8. Ronald Grandgeorge Papillion, NE $466

9. Scott Erickson Carter Lake, IA $349

Recent Pro Chris Ybarra Outduels Brent Carter, Wins Pot-Limit Omaha

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Event #11 Winner Chris Ybarra

Council Bluffs, IA — Chris Ybarra is 26 years old, had been an audio engineer, decided to turn pro just a couple of months ago and had never heard of Brent Carter, his final opponent. Carter is a bit older, won his first tournament two years after Ybarra was born, has cashed in hundreds of tournaments for more than $3 million, and has now made a dozen WSOP Omaha final tables. The betting would seem to be on Carter when the two got heads-up in event 11 of the WSOP Circuit tour at Horseshoe Council Bluffs, pot-limit OMaha. But after a back-and-forth battle, it was Ybarra who took first place, which paid $4,191

Both paid solid poker and Carter had a decent lead at one point. But the turning point came when Ybarra flopped a straight. Carter was crippled and busted out on the next hand. Ybarra, from Plattsmouth, Nebraska, until now has played mostly no-limit hold’em cash games, with a little Omaha thrown in.

This $200 event had 60 participants and a prize pool of $11,640. The final table began with blinds of 1,500-3,000 and 19 minutes remaining. With 74.500 chips, Steve Hayes started with the lead.

Here were the starting chip counts:

Seat Name Chip Count

1. Brent Carter 46,500

2. Nick Janssen 28,500

3. Chris Ybarra 35,000

4. Steve Hayes 74,500

5. Ivan Janssen 43,500

6. Scott Erickson 12,000

7. Frank Dukich 11,000

8. Adrian Hernandez 25,500

9. Ronald Grandgeorge 15,500

9th place: On the very first deal, Scott Erickson’s hand contained two aces, and that was enough for him to re-raise all in for his last 11,000. Ybarra called holding two kings, turned a set, and Erickson cashed out ninth for $349. Erickson, 35, is a roofing contractor from North Platte, Nebraska. He’s played Circuits for six years and this is his first final table. Last year he finished 18th in the main event here

8th place: A couple of beats later, the board showed A-3-3- and Ronald Grandgeorge,. holding 10-8-5-3, bet his last chips on his trips and got two calls. When Carter bet the pot when a 4 turned, the other caller folded, and Grandgeorge muttered, “I’m pretty much toast.” He was, because Carter, with A-3-Q-8, had flopped a full house, and Grandgeorge left with $466.for eighth. Grandgeorge, from Papillion, Nebraska, is 53 and retired from the Air Force. He once finished 63rd out of 4,800 in a no-limit event in Vegas.

7th place: With blinds now at 2,000-4,000, a third player departed. This time Adrian Hernandez, short-chipped, was all in with J-Q-9-6, hit a queen, but couldn’t overtake Carter’s pocket aces and left seventh for $582. By now Carter had increased his lead dramatically and was well in front of the field. Hernandez, 22, is from Hastings, Nebraska, playing mainly online, where he’s won a few tournaments.

6th place: Blinds became 2,500-5,000. There was quickly another all-in when Steve Hayes pushed in his last chips and Carter, holding A-A-Q-7, re-raised with all his chips to get heads-up. Hayes turned up 10-10-8-6. The board came 2-J-7-8-7. Carter, trying to figure out the hands, asked Hayes, “Do you have a seven?” then realized that he had one. He took the pot as Hayes cashed sixth for $608. Hayes, 51, is from Burlington Junction, Missouri.

5th place: Nick Janssen went out fifth. He made a straight but lost to Frank Dukich’s 4s full of sixes. Janssen, 30, is a buyer from Farmington, Minnesota who is “just happy playing cards with my dad.” (That would be Ivan Janssen, who was next out.)

4th place: Blinds now were 3,000-6,000. On the first hand Ybarra hit a flush on the river to get close to the lead. Later, he moved in front with more than half the 300,000 chips in play by knocking out Ivan Janssen. On that hand, Ivan Janssen was all in with 10-10-A-2. Ybarra had A-A-9-8. The board came Q-5-3-J-10 as the river card gave Janssen a set but Ybarra a straight. Janssen, 56 is an auto salesman from Farmington, Minnesota.

3rd place: The match got heads-up when Frank Dukich, holding J-10-3-3, missed his straight draw after the flop came Q-9-7 while Carter would make aces and queens. Dakich is a 85-year-old retired newspaper pressman.from Carter Lake, Iowa. He has a prior win in a limit hold’em event here along with a second in pot-limit Omaha.

2nd place: The turning point in the final match came when Ybarra, with A-10-9-8, flopped a straight when the board showed 6-9-7. Carter, with pocket kings, was still alive with a flush draw but missed. He was now down to 22,000 with blinds of 5,000-10,000. Ybarra put the finishing touches on him the next hand, Carter had K-9-5-2, could only pair his 5 when the board came 5-6-4-8-J, and lost to Ybarra’s pocket 7s. Carter took an official $2,328 for second, though the two had earlier agreed to a $500 save. Carter, a veteran pro, is a retired harness race driver from Oak Park, Illinois.

As an interesting sidelight, for many years Carter has dressed as conservatively as anyone on the tournament trail. He just recently decided to change his image and tonight showed up in an incredible outfit that made him look like a cross between an Army desert soldier and a duck hunter, with pieces of loose fabric hanging all over and some sort of black hood-like thing in back. “My new uniform,” he said.

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Event #11 Final Results

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Events Schedule and Results

– Max Shapiro

Director of Poker Operations for Harrah’s Entertainment – Jack Effel
Horseshoe Council Bluffs Poker Room Manager – Gary Margetson
Tournament Director – Kevin Ferguson

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Poker, World Series of Poker Circuit Events | No Comments »

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit – Event #7 Final Results

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

2009-2010 World Series of Poker Circuit
Horseshoe Council Bluffs
Feb. 21
Event #7
Limit Hold’em
Buy-In: $1,000 + $80
Number of Entries: 73
Total Prize Money: $70,810

Final Results:

Place Name Hometown Prize

1. Jim Scheibler Bennington, KS $25,491

2. Ron Koenemann Omaha, NE $14,162

3. Jesse Starke Loveland, CO $7,789

4. Neal Cooke Loveland, CO $5,665

5. Nathan Jessen Maryville, MO $4,957

6. Shawn Meyer Davenport, NE $4,249

7. Doug Hutcheson Council Bluffs, IA $3,541

8. Troy Ethridge Salinas, KS $2,832

9. Bill Sindelar Howells, NE $2,124

Kansas Farmer Jim Scheibler Goes On Late Rush to Win $1,000 No-Limit

He Changes Play and Show Bluffs to Lose His Tight Image and Throw Opponents Off

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Event #7 Winner Jim Scheibler

Council Bluffs, IA — Jim Scheibler, a 69-year-old wheat farmer from Benningon,Kansas, went on a rush by knocking out his final four opponents as he scored an easy win in the seventh event of the WSOP Circuit tour at Horseshoe Council Bluffs, $1,000 no-limit hold’em. Victory brought him $25,491 and a keepsake diamond-and-gold trophy ring.

Scheibler, who likes to come up for Circuit action every year because he enjoys the way the tournaments are run, finished ninth in a $500 event last year. He also has a ninth in a Fall Classic tournament here. He’s been playing poker since his teens and farming all his life. He was also in his family trucking business, but found more time for poker when he gave up trucking 10 years ago. Tonight he was way down with six players left. He thought his opponents had him marked as a tight player, so he began playing aggressively and showed a couple of bluffs to throw them off.

Play got underway with blinds of 1,500-3,000 and 300 antes, 20 minutes still on the clock. Leading the pack with 163,900 chips was Doug Hutcheson.

Here were the starting chip counts:

Seat Name Chip Count

1. Jesse Starke 84,900

2. Ron Koenemann 70,400

3. Neal Cooke 125,100

4. Bill Sindelar 57,800

5. Doug Hutcheson 163,900

6. Nathan Jessen 25,500

7. Troy Ethridge 41,400

8. Shawn Meyer 93,900

9. Jim Scheibler 70,000

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Event #7 Final Results

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Events Schedule and Results

Director of Poker Operations for Harrah’s Entertainment – Jack Effel
Horseshoe Council Bluffs Poker Room Manager – Gary Margetson
Tournament Director – Kevin Ferguson

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2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit – Event #9 Final Results

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

2009-2010 World Series of Poker Circuit
Horseshoe Council Bluffs
Feb. 21
Event #9
No-Limit Hold’em
Buy-In: $200 + $35
Number of Entries: 223
Total Prize Money: $43,262

Final Results:

Place Name Hometown Prize

1. Curt Temperley Battle Creek, NE $13,840

2. David Hengen Omaha, NE $7,614

3. Duane Gerleman Ridgeway, IN $3,894

4. Garry Kipp Bellevue, NE $3,028

5. Kevin Wheeler Omaha, NE $2,596

6. Andrew Franks Omaha, NE $2,163

7. Ryan Thorson Rapid City, SD $1,730

8. George Brand Dublin, OH $1,298

9. Bradley Lau $865

10.Jerold Bray $519

11. Brendon White $519

12. David Anderson $519

13.Bruce Klosterbuer $433

14.Timothy Newcomer $433

15.Toni Hagard $433

16.Timothy Petersen $346

17.Curtis Bicknell $346

18.Kent Hamilton $346

19.Christopher Charamente $260

20. Trevor Carter $260

21.Dale Johnson $260

22.Roger Ferdig $260

23.Craig Walters $260

24.Robert Reck $260

25.Dennis Hasley $260

26.Steve Yang $260

27. Peter Sullivan $260

Truck Driver Curt Temperley Speeds To Third Cash and a Win in Event # 9

He Finishes with a Flourish, Knocking Out Last Two Players on Final Hand

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Event #9 Winner Curt Temperley

Council Bluffs, IA — Curt Temperley, a 51-year-old grocery warehouse truck driver from Battle Creek, Nebraska, should get a ticket for speeding. The WSOP Circuit tour at Horseshoe Council Bluffs has been running for just four days, but he already has racked up three cashes and two final tables, his latest being a win in today’s event, $200 no-limit hold’em. He also placed third in Omaha hi-lo. In high gear, Temperley nailed down his win tonight by driving over his last two opponents on the final hand. His victory brought him $13,840. It was by far his biggest cash, his other tournament winnings being mainly in small local events. Driving all around the Midwest, Temperley has plenty of opportunity to get in some poker along the way and is able to play about 50 tournaments a year. He splits his time between tournaments and live games, playing whichever he seems to be running well at. Tonight he shrewdly picked his spots, moving in whenever he thought he had the best hand..

Temperley, who has been playing poker seriously for seven or eight years, also puts in time at bar league poker tournaments, where he gets a lot of enjoyment out of aggravating his friends with occasional erratic play.

Some 223 players entered this one-day event, and the prize pool was $43,262. Only eight players made the official final table because, with 10 players left, two got knocked out on the same hand. On that deal,.Andrew Franks had J-10 against an A-3 suited and a Q-7 suited. When the board came J-K-Q-9, Franks had made a straight, and the two all-ins were both all-out. With more chips, Bradley Lau took ninth while Jerold Bray ended up 10th.

Eight-handed play began with blinds of 5,000-10,000 and 2,000 antes, 23 minutes left at that level. Leading with 287,000 chips was Davis Hengen, with George Brand close behind with 283,000.. .

Here were the final table chip counts:

Seat Name Chip Count

1. Ryan Thorson 58,000

2. David Hengen 287,000

3. George Brand 283,000

4. Garry Kipp 106,000

5. Curt Temperley 174,000

6. Andrew Franks 202,000

7. Curt Temperley 174,000

8. Andrew Franks 202,000

8th place: Opening action was fast and furious, with three players quickly knocked out. First to fall was George Brand. He had lost almost all his chips when he took two big hits, once with pocket jacks against pocket kings. Soon he was all in from the big blind with J-3. Kevin Wheeler had only a 6-5, but when the flop came 2-4-6, the paired 6 was all he needed to leave Brand in eighth place, paying $1,298. Brand, 39, is an engineer from Dublin, Ohio. His poker highlight is finishing 24th out of 301 players in a WSOP $1.500 stud event…

7th place: Immediately after, Ryan Thorson was all in with Q-10, losing to Hengen’s A-K after the board showed 2-5-J-Q-A. Thorson, collecting $1,730 for seventh, is from Rapid City, South Dakota, and in the trucking business.

6th place: Franks was next to depart. He had A-9, Wheeler had pocket 5s, and the pair did the job when a board of 4-J-8-3-2 missed both players. Franks, 27, is a railroad worker from Omaha. Sixth paid him$2,163.

5th place: As action continued at a fast pace, Wheeler was next to drop out when he went in with K-4 and lost to Duane Gerleman’s K-J after the board came Q-10-A-3-10. Wheeler, getting $2,596 for fifth, is an underground sprinkler technician from Omaha.

4th place: Blinds now were 6,000-12,000. And yet another player soon went out. First, Garry Kipp moved in and Gerleman called. Then, after Hengen moved in with his much larger stack, Gerleman made what turned out to be a good fold after Hengen turned up pocket kings. “I’m dead,” Kipp exclaimed, showing a Q-10. He was. The board came A-6-J-9-5, Kipp missed his straight draw and cashed fourth for $3,028. Kipp, making his first Circuit final table, is a CPA from Bellevue, Nebraska..

Meanwhile, Temperley had been taking down pots and moved into the chip lead. The grand finale to this massacre ended when two players were run over on the final hand. First, Gerleman pushed in for 128,000. Next, Hengen pushed in all his chips. And then Temperley called, covering them both. Gerleman turned over K-Q, Hengen showed pocket deuces, and Temperley, A-J. When the flop came 6-9-Q, Gerleman took the lead with his paired queen. Next a 5 turned, changing nothing. And then an ace on the river gave Temperley top pair, the pot and the tournament.

3rd place: Gerleman got $3,894 for third. He is a farmer from Ridgeway, Iowa who’s made three final tables here in the past two years. He also finished 23rd out of 2,200 players in the 2008 WSOP Seniors event.

2nd place: Holding more chips than Gerleman, Hengen took second place, paying $7,614. He is 38 and is an attorney from Omaha.

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Event #9 Final Results

2010 Horseshoe Council Bluffs WSOP Circuit Events Schedule and Results

– Max Shapiro

Director of Poker Operations for Harrah’s Entertainment – Jack Effel
Horseshoe Council Bluffs Poker Room Manager – Gary Margetson
Tournament Director – Kevin Ferguson

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