Tyler Morris Wins World Series of Poker Circuit Choctaw for $369,503
The 12th stop on the 2013/2014 World Series of Poker Circuit schedule wrapped up its $1,675 Main Event on Monday night at Choctaw Casino in Durant, OK.
The tournament attracted a massive 1,428 entries and created a prize pool of $2,142,000. After three days of play, Tyler Morris walked away with the $369,503 first-place prize and a seat into the 2014 National Championship.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Tyler Morris | Tyler, TX | $369,503 |
| 2nd | Shelby Penka | Houston, TX | $229,194 |
| 3rd | Clyde Walters | Edmond, OK | $167,954 |
| 4th | Preston Harwell | Houston, TX | $127,685 |
| 5th | Jeffrey Gibralter | Rockwall, TX | $97,204 |
| 6th | Joshua Evans | Las Vegas, NV | $74,863 |
| 7th | Jesse Capps | Henderson, NV | $58,327 |
| 8th | Michael Sanders | Las Vegas, NV | $45,967 |
| 9th | Julie Walker | Choctaw, OK | $36,650 |
According to the WSOP live blog, sixteen players returned to action on the third and final day of play. Action recommenced in Level 27 (20,000/40,000/5,000) and over the course of the next two levels seven players hit the rail including Greg Jennings (16th - $19,856), Scott Griffiths (15th - $24,098), Jonathan Gaviao (14th - $24,098), Nathanael Kogel (13th - $24,098), Salvatore Dicarlo (12th - $29,650), Robert Ortiz (11th - $29,560), and Allan Hedin (10th - $29,560).
The first elimination of the final table occurred in Level 30 (40,000/80,000/10,000) when Julie Walker opened for 160,000 and Jeff Gibralter, who began the day as chip leader, three-bet to 420,000 from the small blind. Walker responded by moving all in, Gibralter called, and the cards were turned on their back.
Gibralter: A?K?
Walker: 10?10?
According to the PokerNews Odds Calculator, Walker had a 56.68% chance of surviving the hand while Gibralter would come from behind 42.93% of the time. The K?J?9? flop gave Gibralter a king, and that made him a 74.04% favorite, which meant Walker would need either a ten or queen to stay alive �� something that would happen 25.96% of the time. Unfortunately for her, neither card would appear and she would have to settle for ninth place and $36,650.
After Michael Sanders was eliminated in eighth place for $45,967, Jesse Capps followed him out the door in Level 31 (50,000/100,000/10,000). It happened when Shelby Penka opened for 225,000 and Capps, who worked as part of the PokerNews team at the 2013 WSOP, moved all in for 1.45 million. Penka snap-called and it was another flip.
Capps: 3?3?
Penka: A?K?
Big slick would prevail once again as the board ran out K?4?4?8?9?, and Capps was sent to the rail in seventh place for $58,327.
From there, Josh Evans (6th - $74,863), Gibralter (5th - $97,204), and Preston Harwell (4th - $127,685) were all eliminated. In Level 34 (100,000/200,000/30,000), Morris opened for 600,000 on the button and Clyde Walters called from the small blind. After the flop fell 10?7?6?, Walters led out for 2 million and Morris moved all in. Walter, who had just 2.1 million behind, wasted little time in calling off.
Walters: A?8?
Morris: Q?10?
Morris was ahead with top pair, and it held as the 3? blanked on the turn followed by the K? on the river. Walters made his way to the payout desk in third place to collect $167,954, which left Morris and Penka to do battle in heads-up play.
It was a lengthy back-and-forth match, but it ultimately came to an end in Level 36 (150,000/300,000/50,000). In the final hand, Morris opened for 600,000 and then snap-called when Penka moved all in from the big blind.
Penka: 8?6?
Morris: K?J?
The K?K?6? flop gave Morris trips, and that meant Penka needed running sixes to stay alive. The 3? turn took away any chance of that happening, and after the meaningless 10? was run out on the river, Penka exited in second place for $229,194.
Morris claimed the title in one of the WSOP Circuit��s largest Main Events in history, which was accompanied by the $369,503 first-place prize and a seat into the 2014 National Championship later this year.
The 2013/2014 WSOP Circuit continues at Harrah��s Tunica from Jan. 23 �C Feb. 3. Of course, you will be able to find a recap from that Main Event upon its completion right here on PokerNews.com
*Photos courtesy of the WSOP.
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