Congratulations to Jonathan Poche, WSOP-C New Orleans Main Event Champion! ($121,017)
After a speedy five and a half hours from the beginning of final-table play, we have a winner here at Harrah's New Orleans. Jonathan Poche outlasted the field, taking home a first-place prize of $121,017. In addition, Poche has earned a seat in the WSOP-C National Championship to be held at Caesars in Las Vegas later this month. The final table was as by the book as can be. Except for two overcards beating a pair on a few occasions, the best hand held every time there was an all in and a call.
Poche started the final table sixth in chips with 656,000 and thanks to a few won races and best-hand holds, he rose to the top. With seven players left, Poche doubled with 
against Jacob Bazeley's 
to give Poche a seven-figure stack. Shortly after that, Billie Payne shoved a 13bb stack with 
. Unfortunately for Payne, Poche woke up with 
in the big blind. Another big hand in the big blind worked well for Poche with five players left as his 
held against Scott Zakheim's 
.
The key hand for Poche came with three players remaining when he was the short stack.. His 
defeated Josh Evans' 
when an ace hit the flop. The next hand he eliminated Evans, leaving Bobby Toye as the lone opponent standing in his way. Heads-up play began with both players having nearly identical stacks, but they would only go one direction from there. Poche dominated his opponent with relentless aggression, including two four-bet shoves that really lopsided the chips in his favor. It wasn't long before Toye shoved with and ran into Poche's 
. As was the case for all the dominating favorites at the final table, the best hand held up and the title was clinched for Poche.
That concludes PokerNews' coverage of the Main Event here at Harrah's New Orleans. Congratulations to Jonathan Poche and be sure to join us as tomorrow as the $10,000 WSOP-C Regional Championship kicks off at noon local time. Until then, good night from New Orleans!