Shahin Edalatdju outlasted 329 players to take down the Harrah’s Rincon World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event in December. He received $116,325 and a gold ring.
Iranian-born Edalatdju came to the United States 30 years ago with $20 in his pocket.
“This is the greatest country in the world,” he said. “You can be anything you want.”
He’s a self-employed owner of two gas stations in San Diego.
The final table on Day 3 took nearly 11 hours. Edalatdju and second-place finisher Steve Firestone played heads-up for almost five hours. Heads-up play began with Firestone holding a substantial lead with 5.2 million to Edalatdju’s 1.4 million. But Edalatdju mounted a slow and steady comeback, as the players exchanged the lead a few times.
On the final hand, Edalatdju was ahead with pocket eights against Firestone’s A-4. The board changed nothing and Firestone earned $71,924 for second.
There were 330 entries (24 more than last year) to generate a $495K prize pool, as 70 players made Day 2.
Some notable players included WSOP bracelet-winners Eric Baldwin, Brent Hanks, Sam Stein and Robert “RCW” Cheung. WSOPC ring-winner Sean Burson was there, too, and was the onlynotable to cash, finishing ninth.
Tom McEvoy, a member of the Poker Hall of Fame and 1983 world champ, made it to Day 2 (a couple of days after finishing second in Event 9), but busted short of the money.
WSOP bracelet-holder Arkadiy Tsinis finished 30th for $3,312. Alexandru Masek recently won his seventh career circuit ring, (Event 8). He went out 25th ($3,757). November Niner Soi Nguyen was 16th ($5,960).
San Diego’s Drew Merrick won two events at this series, Events 1 and 9.
— Email Kittie Aleman at anteupkittie@gmail.com.
WSOP Circuit, Harrah’s Rincon, San Diego, Calif., Dec. 5-16
Event 1 • $365 NLHE
Entries: 221 • Pool: $66,300
Drew Merrick, $16,576
Event 2 • $365 NLHE
Entries: 155 • Pool: $46,500
Mark Alag, $12,555
Event 3 • $365 NLHE
Entries: 444 • Pool: $133,200
Jorge Walker, $29,302
Event 4 • $365 NLHE
Entries:138 • Pool: $41,400
Josh Reichard, $11,589
Event 5 • $365 NLHE
Entries: 135 • Pool: $40,500
Nyle Rock, $11,341
Event 6 • $365 6-Max
Entries: 141 • Pool: $42,300
Ted Woolridge, $12,054
Event 7 • $365 PLO
Entries: 74 • Pool: $22,200
Mitch Schock, $7,548
Event 8 • $365 NLHE
Entries: 151 • Pool: $45,300
Alexandru Masek, $12,231
Event 9 • $580 NLHE
Entries: 126 • Pool: $63K
Drew Merrick, $17,639
$1,675 Main Event
Entries: 330 • Pool: $495K
Shahin Edalatdju, $116,325
Event11 • $365 NLHE
Entries: 106 • Pool: $31,800
Brian Strey, $9,542
Event 12 • $365 NLHE
Entries: 89 • Pool: $26,700
Tim Campbell, $8,545