Melisa Singh Captures First Official Gold Ring in Event #8: $400 NLH Eight-Handed
While PokerNews is here offering live updates from the Main Event and High Roller, we’d be remiss if we didn’t tell you about the full schedule of side events that have been playing out over the past week at the World Series of Poker Circuit Choctaw Durant.
In Event #8: $400 NLH Eight-Handed, 209 runners created a $68,970 prize pool that was paid out to the top 33 players. Among those to cash but fall short of the final table were TJ Cloutier (13th - $948), Asaf Ben Shushan (14th- $948), Mark Estes (15th - $948), Daniel Jones (26th - $596), and Bart Bogard (33rd - $368).
In the end, it was poker pro Melisa Singh who ran away with a win claiming her first official ring after winning a ladies event in 2017.
“I really wanted it,” said Singh who does lay claim to an unofficial gold ring, stemming from the Ladies Event at the Seminole Hard Rock Circuit in 2017. During that same series, the 38-year-old registered her own runner-up finish, narrowly missing out on gold.
The win wasn't easy for Singh as she went into the second day last in chips, “I came into today the shortest stack, so I was really hoping just to double. I doubled through Pete [Walsworth] who was I think second in chips at the time,” said Singh as she attempted to recount her impressive run. “Wow, I don’t even remember all the hands.”
Singh's run got her into a heads-up match with travel companion Carlos Guerrero. “I know Carlos… I’m actually here with three friends and Carlos was one of my roommates,” Singh revealed.
Singh added, “He’s a superior player and I dreaded getting heads up with him. I mean, I was hoping we would, but I knew that it would be a challenge and I just had to hit a hand to have a chance.”
The final hand saw Guerrero open with a raise, Singh three-bet, and Guerrero retaliate with a four-bet shove. Singh called and her pocket eights held to secure the $16,720 victory.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melisa Singh | New York, New York | $16,720 |
| 2 | Carlos Guerrero | Orlando, Florida | $10,335 |
| 3 | Joseph Hebert | Metairie, Louisiana | $7,285 |
| 4 | Peter Walsworth | Saratosa, Florida | $5,239 |
| 5 | Andrew Irwin | North Richland Hills, Texas | $3,845 |
| 6 | Thomas Dujmovich | Katy, Texas | $2,882 |
| 7 | Marsha Adams | Joplin, Missouri | $2,207 |
| 8 | Ryan Jones | Burlington, North Carolina | $1,727 |
| 9 | Michael Lech | Alma, Arizona | $1,382 |