WSOP Circuit Las Vegas Day 3: Lichtenberger Snatches the Gold Ring
The third and final day of the 2010 Caesars Las Vegas World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event ran into the early hours of Friday morning before the event was wrapped up. Andrew Lichtenberger emerged as the champion, taking home $190,137 for first place along with the gold championship ring and an entry into the 2010 WSOP Main Event.
Coming into the day, Steve O’Dwyer led the pack of 10 remaining players. The rest of the table was filled with some big poker names including Matt Stout, James “croll103” Carroll and two-time bracelet winner Brock Parker.
Thu Nguyen was the first player eliminated from the final table. Nguyen came into the day as the second shortest stack and moved all-in with the A♣6♥ but ran into O’Dwyer's pocket jacks and was unable to improve to stay alive. He took home $16,144 for his efforts.
Stout busted in the next spot for $19,731, shoving in over the top of a raise from O’Dwyer and a call by Parker. O’Dywer got out of the way, but Parker held two jacks and made the call. Stout was flipping with his A♣Q♥, but after a final board of 10♠9♣6♥8♥3♦, he exited to the rail.
Diego Sanchez made his way patiently through the final table as the first few players hit the rail before he won a big pot to double through Aaron Been. Sanchez held two kings to Been’s two eights and was able to hold up and become one of the biggest stacks at the table. A little later, Been doubled back from the short stack after winning a race.
Next to go was former PokerNews employee Anthony Yeh. He was the shortest stack coming into the day and never seemed to gain momentum. Yeh shoved numerous times but was never able to get a call and a chance to double up. When he eventually was called, Yeh’s A♦J♣ was dominated by Dan Casetta's A♥K♣. Casetta flopped a pair of kings and went on to win the hand from there, sending Yeh to the rail in eighth place for $23,319.
About 15 minutes after Yeh was sent to the rail, Been followed him. He moved the last of his chips in preflop with the 10♦10♥, but Carroll crushed him with Q♥Q♣. There was no miracle for Been, who left the event with $28,700.
Six-handed play lasted for a little while before the next player hit the rail. The victim was start-of-the-day chip leader O’Dwyer. After Lichtenberger raised to 40,000 from under the gun, O’Dwyer moved all-in for about 500,000. Lichtenberger made the call and held the A♠K♠ against O’Dwyer’s 7♦7♣. The flop was huge for both players when it came 9♠7♠5♠. O’Dwyer picked up a set but fell behind Lichtenberger’s flush. The turn was the 4♦ and the river the 10♦, failing to pair the board and eliminating O’Dwyer, who took home $35,875.
A little over a half an hour after O’Dwyer left, Carroll got unlucky against Lichtenberger and became another casualty. His A♦10♠ was out-flopped by Lichtenberger's A♣9♥ and that was it for him. He earned $44,844.
Moments later, Sanchez was all-in with pocket fives against Lichtenberger’s A♠K♠. Once again, Lichtenberger won the flip and Sanchez was out, earning $57,400.
After an hour dinner break for the remaining three players, Parker was the next to go. He got all-in in a blind-versus-blind confrontation against Lichtenberger. He held the Q♥J♠ against Lichtenberger’s A♣K♥ but the latter sealed the deal on the turn as the board ran out A♥7♥4♥7♣4♣ to send Parker out the door in third place for $73,544.
Heads-up play began with Lichtenberger holding the lead against Casetta. The two battled back and forth for over five hours in an epic match that seemed to have no end in sight. Finally, though, Lichtenberger was able to grind Casetta down to a short stack of about 10 big blinds and then finished him off in the final hand.
Lichtenberger raised the button with an all-in shove. Casetta called and tabled the A♠8♠. Lichtenberger held the K♦4♣. A king on the flop was all Lichtenberger needed as the board ran out K♠J♣7♦5♥6♣. Casetta took home $114,800 for his effort and recorded his largest cash to date. Lichtenberger scored first place, taking down his first live tournament for $190,137. Here’s how the final table wrapped up.
1st - Andrew Lichtenberger ($190,137)
2nd - Dan Casetta ($114,800)
3rd - Brock Parker ($73,544)
4th - Diego Sanchez ($57,400
5th - James Carroll ($44,844)
6th - Stephen O'Dwyer ($35,875)
7th - Aaron Been ($28,700)
8th - Anthony Yeh ($23,319)
9th - Matt Stout ($19,731)
10th - Thu Nguyen ($16,144)
Check out what Lichtenberger had to say about his win after the long battle with Casetta:
Be sure to be on the lookout for the next stop on the tournament trail that PokerNews will be covering. Congratulations to all the finishers and to Andrew Lichtenberger for scoring the big win and capturing the title!
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