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 |