Two major poker tours came to New England the first week in April, and the results were staggering: 4,200 players sharing in more than $2.5 million in combined prize money during the inaugural World Series of Poker Circuit at Foxwoods and the return of the DeepStacks Tour to Mohegan Sun for the Patriot Poker Classic.
WSOPC: New England’s first WSOPC stop delivered excitement, large fields and larger prize money. More than 3,700 entrants combined played in 12 ring events. The multiple $365 and other mid-level entry tournaments helped bring the large fields and prize pools, starting with Event 1, which saw 800 players, a $240,000 prize pool and a $48,112 first prize for Zach Donovan of Massachusetts.
With a limited number of top circuit regulars winning or cashing during the Foxwoods event, New England and New York grinders made the money and brought home the hardware. Of the 12 ring events, locals claimed 10 rings. Massachusetts led with five and New York’s finest claimed the hardware three times. Massachusetts local Tim Kelliher earned the Top Player Foxwoods Casino Championship (and a spot in the WSOP National Championship) by winning Event 12 and cashing three more times.
Only four of the circuit’s top 20 players won or cashed during the stop, led by Ben Reason’s fifth in the main event and two top-15 finishes in the $1,125 and $365 NLHE event for more than $54K; Aaron Massey, the WSOPC’s No. 2 in points, took down the $580 NLHE six-handed event for $24,857.
The WSOP’s decision to reduce the Circuit Main Event entry fees this year continues to be a successful one, as evidenced by the 615 entrants who ponied up the $1,675 to take part. Kevin Saul of Warrenville, Ill., took home $194K and qualified for the Circuit National Championship in May.
DEEPSTACKS: Late in 2012, the DeepStacks Poker Tour helped Mohegan Sun get back on the poker map with a successful tournament series featuring large fields, solid purses and poker celebrity visibility with Mike Matasow, Michael Mizrachi, Tristan Wade, Andy Frankenberger and Justin Schwartz.
In its return in late March and early April, the DSPT again brought its poker celebrities for the Patriot Poker Classic, but it was Tom Christopher of Rochport, Nev., who won the $1,500 main event (167 players) for $54K.
Kevin McColgan of Douglasville, Pa., won the $250 bounty event (111 players) for $3,695. Thomas Panzella of Milford, Conn., earned $13,987 for beating nearly 200 players in the $400 event, and Carol Neal of Provincetown, Mass., pocketed $8,485 for winning the $300 event (143 players).
SENECA BAD BEAT: On March 22, Jeff Case’s aces full of kings beat Brad Cedeno’s aces full of queens at the Seneca poker room in Salamanca, N.Y. Cedeno won nearly $18K while Case took home nearly $9K. The other players at the table each won $1,500.
— Patrick Gallagher is Ante Up’s Northeast Ambassador. Email him at anteupne@gmail.com.
Foxwoods Poker Classic, March 4-17
Event 1 • $300 NLHE
Entries: 507 • Pool: $127,865
Carl Priest, $22,497
Event 2 • $400 Stud
Entries: 74 • Pool: $25,122
Michael Mann, $7,291
Event 3 • $300 NLHE
Entries: 507 • Pool: $127,865
James Coghlan, $7,062*
Event 4 • $400 NLHE
Entries: 252 • Pool: $85,554
Joe Guarino, $10,178
Event 5 • $400 Stud/8
Entries: 54 • Pool: $18,333
Burt Bramble, $4,122
Event 6 • $300 NLHE
Entries: 184 • Pool: $46,405
Jake Roos, $6,311
Event 7 • $600 NLHE
Entries: 142 • Pool: $73,001
John Maston, $15,682*
Event 8 • $400 H.O.S.E.
Entries: 39 • Pool: $13,240
John Castelar, $3,416*
Event 9 • $300 Ladies
Entries: 130 • Pool: $32,785
Deb Fletcher, $9,180
Event 10 • $1,500 NLHE
Entries: 136 • Pool: $181,390
Ross Gottlieb, $34K*
Event 11 • $400 NLHE
Entries: 214 • Pool: $72,653
Howard Rosenthal, $14,695*
Event 12 • $400 O/8
Entries: 91 • Pool: $30,895
Matthew Nowicki, $9,269
Event 13 • $300 NLHE
Entries: 215 • Pool: $32,722
William Andrews, $8,181
Event 14 • $400 PLO
Entries: 43 • Pool: $14,598
Luis Gonzalez, $5,475
Event 15 • $500 6-Max
Entries: 149 • Pool: $63,593
Jonathan Lewis, $18,124
Event 16 • $1K NLHE
Entries: 115 • Pool: $101,510
Robert Brown, $30,453
Event 17 • $400 LHE
Entries: 51 • Pool: $17,314
Troy Skinner, $5,151*
Event 18 • $230 NLHE
Entries: 271 • Pool: $25,475
Michael Gomola, $6,114
$2,500 Main Event
Entries: 192 • Pool: $433,007
Justin Schwartz, $112,582
Event 20 • $300 NLHE
Entries: 228 • Pool: $14,376
Albert Arcand, $14,376
* Denotes chop or deal
WSOPC, Foxwoods Casino, March 27-April 8
Event 1 • $365 NLHE
Entries: 800 • Pool: $240,560
Zach Donovan, $48,112
Event 2 • $1,125 NLHE
Entries: 179 • Pool: $179,707
Daniel Chan, $48,521
Event 3 • $365 O/8
Entries: 143 • Pool: $43K
Brian Scholl, $12,040
Event 4 • $365 NLHE
Entries: 388 • Pool: $116,671
Angelo Didio, $25,668
Event 5 • $365 NLHE
Entries: 359 • Pool: $107,951
Glen Minxolli, $24,829
Event 6 • $580 NLHE
Entries: 212 • Pool: $106,933
Arkadiy Tsinis, $26,734
Event 7 • $365 NLHE
Entries: 306 • Pool: $92,013
Aditya Prasetyo, $21,624
Event 8 • $580 6-Max
Entries: 176 • Pool: $88,774
Aaron Massey, $24,857
Event 9 • $365 NLHE
Entries: 241 • Pool: $72,469
Julian Schulman, $17,755
$1,675 Main Event
Entries: 615 • Pool: $924,652
Kevin Saul, $194,178
Event 11 • $365 NLHE
Entries: 273 • Pool: $82,091
She Lok Wong, $19,702
Event 12 • $365 NLHE
Entries: 168 • Pool: $50,517
Tim Kelliher, $13,640
