Michael “Carwash” Schneider Claims 2nd Gold Ring in Choctaw Event #7
Over the course of the past two days, we've been updating you on the preliminary ring events that took place earlier this week here in Choctaw. In case you missed the ones we've covered thus far, here they are again for your reading pleasure:
- WSOP Circuit Choctaw Durant Ring Event #1 No-Limit Hold’em
- WSOP Circuit Choctaw Durant Ring Event #2 $580 No-Limit Hold’em Re-Entry
- WSOP Circuit Choctaw Durant Ring Event #3 $365 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo
- Choctaw Durant Ring Event #4 $365 No-Limit Hold’em
- Choctaw Durant Ring Event #5 No-Limit Hold’em
- Event #6 $365 No-Limit Hold’em Six-Handed
Keeping with that theme, here's a look back at Ring Event #7 $365 No-Limit Hold’em, with help from WSOP Media Coordinator Lukas Willems' recap.
It was 4:02 a.m. when Michael “Car Wash” Schneider looked at tournament director Dennis Jones and asked, “How long is our breakfast break?” What was left of the diminishing rail mustered up a laugh at the welcomed attempt at humor.
Schneider, Stephen Vogel and Andrew Robinson were closing in on their fourth hour of threehanded play with no end was in sight. Spectators and staff alike were chained to their seats awaiting a finale that was expected to happen many hours prior.
Then, like a gift from the Gods, Schneider caught a heater of sorts, flopping a straight against Vogel, eliminating him third and giving the rail hope of a timely ending.
“I know you guys are going to hate me for saying this, but I feel like we could play heads up for five hours,” Schneider said.
Thankfully, he was wrong. He picked up pocket jacks and eliminated Robinson, winning the $365 No-Limit Hold’em tournament as well as his second WSOP Circuit gold ring and $20,374 in the process.
“It was long. Very, very long,” Schneider said of the final table. The rail noticeably diminished over the course of the night, but the Car Wash faithful, including his close friends Kirk Adams and Chris Conrad, remained.
“It was great because he really was there for me, I felt bad,” Schneider said of Adams sweating the action. “I give credit first to him, but then [Conrad] showed up. Forget David Nicholson, you can write that down.”
In all, the final table stretched 10 hours and 15 minutes, beginning at 6:45 p.m. and concluding shortly after 5 a.m. The bust outs were swift to start, with Allen Kessler being eliminated ninth before photographers even had a chance to take a photo of him. Play halted to a snail’s pace during three-handed play, lasting several hours before Schneider finally sealed the deal on his second victory.If you’ve followed the WSOP Circuit over the years chances are you’re already familiar with the man they call “Car Wash”. He has 27 Circuit cashes and 13 WSOP cashes totaling more than $217,000.
He got his nickname in 2009 playing home games in Georgia. Schneider, who owned a series of car washes, bought into the card games with an Armor All box full of five and ten dollar bills from his car washes.
“After a while of walking in with an Armor All box full of money, guys would say, ‘Hey, Car Wash is here!’ and it just stuck,” Schneider said.
Schneider is a family man who plays poker less for the thrill and more to provide for his most faithful supporters. Even at 5 a.m. following a 15-hour Day 2, he paused to text his father after the victory, explaining his dad is his biggest fan.
Each time Schneider is awarded a trophy he gives it to a member of his family. Lucky for them, he’s quite a decorated player. All of his children, his mom, dad and brother each have a memento from one of his victories. He says the cycle is starting over now and his Event 7 ring will go to his oldest son.
*Schneider is still alive in the WSOP Circuit Choctaw Main Event after finishing Day 1a in the top 64.
WSOP Circuit Choctaw Durant Ring Event #7 No-Limit Hold’em
| Buy-in | Entrants | Prize Pool |
|---|---|---|
| $300+$65 | 283 | $84,900 |
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael “Carwash” Schneider | Covington, GA | $20,374 |
| 2 | Andrew Robinson | Hutto, TX | $12,592 |
| 3 | Stephen Vogel | Muenster, TX | $9,137 |
| 4 | Neal Desai | Austin, TX | $6,741 |
| 5 | Glen Goldsmith | Palestine, TX | $5,056 |
| 6 | William Austin | Marietta, GA | $3,853 |
| 7 | Bruce Hoyt | Gilbert, AZ | $2,982 |
| 8 | Daniel Watkins | Waco, TX | $2,343 |
| 9 | Allen Kessler | Huntington Valley, PA | $1,869 |