Christian Pham Wins World Series of Poker Circuit Caesars Palace for $214,332
The 15th stop on the 2013/2014 World Series of Poker Circuit schedule wrapped up its $1,675 Main Event on Monday at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
The tournament attracted 697 entries to create a prize pool of $1,045,000. After three days of play, Christian Pham, who qualified for the tournament via a $200 satellite, walked away with the $214,322 first-place prize and a seat into the 2014 National Championship.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Christian Pham | St. Paul, MN | $214,332 |
| 2nd | Jonathan Gaviao | Gainesville, TX | $132,622 |
| 3rd | Yu Sheng Lin | N/A | $97,273 |
| 4th | Michael Ma | London, ON, Canada | $72,338 |
| 5th | Andrew Sapiro | Alamo, CA | $54,523 |
| 6th | Nancy Birnbaum | Las Vegas, NV | $41,642 |
| 7th | Ofer Akerman | Los Angeles, CA | $32,222 |
| 8th | Jesse Wilke | Kenmore, WA | $25,259 |
| 9th | Chris Lindh | Las Vegas, NV | $20,053 |
Notable finishes: Brandon Cantu (18th - $10,810), Arkadiy Tsinis (24th - $7,601), Brent Hanks (32nd - $4,893), Cody Slaubaugh (33rd - $4,893), Charles ��Woody�� Moore (34th - $4,328), Bryan Moon (70th - $2,927)
According to the WSOP Live Blog, Day 3 action resumed in Level 26 (15,000/30,000/5,000) with 14 players still in contention. That meant five players needed to go before the final table was set, and they ended up being William Chao (14th - $13,121), Philip Woerner (13th - $13,121), Ben Keeline (12th - $16,122), Chris Bonita (11th - $16,122), and Joseph Elia (10th - $16,122).
The first elimination of the final table came in Level 27 (20,000/40,000/5,000) when Chris Lindh raised from the cutoff only to have Jesse Wilke three-bet all in from the small blind. The big blind folded, Lindh called off his remaining 900,000, and the cards were turned up.
Lindh: 9?9?
Wilke: A?A?
It was a bad spot for Lindh, and he failed to get lucky as the board ran out a dry Q?10?2?2?8?. Lindh, who finished Day 1a as a massive chip leader, was eliminated in ninth place for $20,053.
Despite scoring that knock out, Wilke was the next to go in eighth place for $25,259, and Ofer Akerman followed him out the door in seventh for $32,222. In Level 29 (30,000/60,000/10,000), Jonathan Gaviao, who won the WSOP Circuit Tunica Main Event, opened for 120,000 from the button only to have Nancy Birnbaum, the last woman standing, three-bet all in from the small blind. Gaviao snap-called and Birnbaum discovered the bad news.
Gaviao: A?10?
Birnbaum: A?5?
Birnbaum had some major kicker problems, and she��d receive no reprieve as the board ran out Q?9?8?7?7?. Birnbaum not only took home $41,642 for her sixth-place finish, she was in the lead for the Casino Championship, which of course comes with a seat into the National Championship.
Thanks for all the love and support took 6th place and a shot at casino. https://t.co/T2Pr4ye5oq
— Nancy Birnbaum (@NancyBirnbaum)
After Andrew Sapiro and Michael Ma were eliminated in fifth and fourth place respectively, a lengthy three-handed battle played out. Eventually things came to a head in Level 31 (50,000/100,000/10,000) when a short-stacked Allen Lin opened for 250,000 on the button and Pham called from the big blind, which brought about a flop of 10?7?7?. Pham checked, Lin bet 300,000, and Pham woke up with a check-raise to 600,000. Lin responded by moving all in and Pham called.
Lin: A?A?
Pham: 7?5?
Lin held the granddaddy of all hands, but Pham had gotten lucky and flopped trips. Neither the K? turn nor 10? river changed a thing, and Lin hit the rail in third place for $97,273.
Heads-up play lasted just a few hands, and in the final one Gaviao raised to 200,000 from the button, Pham called, and the flop fell K?6?3?. Pham checked, Gaviao bet 200,000, and Pham check-raised to 600,000. Gaviao then moved all in and Pham called.
Pham: K?2?
Gaviao: A?10?
Pham was ahead with top pair, but Gaviao was drawing live to the nut flush and an over card. The 8? turn was of no consequence, and neither was the 5? river. Pham��s hand held up, and Gaviao had to settle for second place and a $132,622 consolation prize.
Congratulations to Christian Pham, winner of the WSOP Circuit Caesars Palace Main Event for $214,332, a gold ring, and a seat into the 2014 National Championship.
The 2013/2014 WSOP Circuit continues at Bicycle Casino from March 6-17. Of course, you will be able to find a recap from that Main Event upon its completion right here on PokerNews.com
*Photos and data courtesy of the WSOP.
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