Ryan Stevenson Wins 2012-13 WSOP Circuit Harrah's Tunica

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Feb 05, 2013 5 min read

After two starting flights, 666 total entrants, and a roughly 11-hour final table, a champion was finally crowned at the 2012-13 World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's Tunica Main Event. Ryan Stevenson had a roller-coaster final day but emerged victorious by besting Norman McKeldin heads-up to take down the title, the seat to the WSOP National Championship, and the $204,795 in first-place prize money. On his road to the title, Stevenson asserted his dominance by eliminating each player from sixth through second places before finally claiming the championship.

This event was not only a success for the players participating, but it also was a success for the circuit stop itself. Last year this event pulled in a grand total of 647 runners, and this year, 666 players ponied up the $1,500 entrance fee to participate. The prize pool was only $1,000 shy of one million as it came in at $999,000.

WSOPC Harrah's Tunica Main Event Final Table

Andrew Rothfolk began the final table as chip leader but eventual champion Stevenson came out firing. Stevenson's aggressive approach to the early stages of the final table proved remarkably successful, and his stack continued to grow.

The first casualty of the final table was David Kruger, who saw his tournament come to an end when he moved his short-stack all in holding 5♣5♠. He was called by Rothfolk's A♣Q♠ and the flop came down Q♦A♦10♥. Kruger failed to improve on the subsequent streets, and he was forced to settle for ninth place and a $19,161 payday.

Jerry Barlow found his demise a few hands later when he open-shipped his last 550,000 all in from middle position with A♣7♥. McKeldin looked him up with A♥K♦ and was able to hold as the best hand, making certain that Barlow was the eighth-place finisher.

Mark Maletic was the next player to go. He entered play as the short stack and managed to double his short stack within the first two orbits without ever seeing a flop. Eventually, however, he shipped all in for his last 545,000 from under the gun. Action folded all of the way around to table to McKeldin, who announced a call. The rest of the table folded and the hands were tabled.

Showdown

Maletic: A♠K♠
McKeldin: K♥J♥

Maletic was in great shape to double up and looked even better after the flop brought 2♦K♦3♦. Fourth street spelled disaster for Maletic, though, because the dreaded J♣ gave McKeldin two pair and the lead in the hand. The J♦ finished the board, giving McKeldin a full house and sending Maletic to the rail in seventh place. Maletic took home $30,789 for his run.

The sixth-place finisher was James Watkins. His fall came when Stevenson opened with a raise from early position. Watkins three-bet out of his small blind and Stevenson replied by four-betting him all-in. Watkins called for his tournament life with 10♥10♠ and was racing against Stevenson's A♦J♦. Stevenson found the lead with a pair of jacks on the flop and never looked back. Watkins, on the other hand, exited the tournament area and pocketed $39,790 in winnings.

Jonathan Cary also fell at the hands of Stevenson when he moved his short stack all in before the flop with A♣3♣. Stevenson woke up with A♦Q♣ and a run out of J♦4♦K♠7♣4♥ ensured that Cary would finish in fifth place.

During four-handed play, Stevenson and Michael Sanders engaged in a series of pots with each other. Most notably, Stevenson took a huge chunk of Sanders' stack when both players hit trip nines. Stevenson ended up out-kicking Sanders to take down the pot. Sanders put the nail in Sanders' coffin when he open-shipped all in with Q♣J♦. Stevenson called and tabled A♣10♦. Neither player paired on the board, and Stevenson's ace-high was enough to put Sanders on the rail with fourth-place money in his pocket.

Three-handed play then proceeded to last a grueling four-and-a-half hours with all three players trading the chip lead back and forth. At one point, Stevenson found himself at extreme disadvantage with only around 800,000 in chips. By the end of the level, however, he was commanding the table once more with over 6.6 million. After an insane series of hands, it was Day 3 starting chip leader Rothfolk, who was the next to exit. Rothfolk raised all in from the button for his last 2 million in chips, and Stevenson called out of the small blind.

Rothfolk showed A♦J♣ but was ultimately behind Stevenson's A♥K♥. The dealer flipped over a board of 4♠7♦6♥7♥5♦, and Rothfolk was eliminated in third place. He took home $92,947 in prize money.

After the drawn-out three-handed session ended, heads-up went by in a breeze. In fact, it only took one hand for Stevenson to clinch the title.

With the blinds at 70,000/140,000/20,000, McKeldin had the button and opened with a raise. Stevenson called out of the big blind and the flop brought 4♠10♦8♦. Stevenson tapped the table and passed the action to McKeldin.

"All in," said McKeldin. His all-in was for 4.545 million.

"Why so much?" asked Stevenson before ultimately deciding to call.

McKeldin: A♦K♦
Stevenson: 10♣7♦

Stevenson was ahead for with his pair, but any diamond, ace, or king would have catapulted McKeldin into the lead. The turn brought exactly that. The K♣ dropped down, and the rail let out a collective gasp. Suddenly the tables were turned, and it looked as if McKeldin would double up, and heads-up play would go on. The dealer tapped the table and dealt the river.

The 7♥!

McKeldin was eliminated in second place at the hands of Stevenson's rivered two pair. He took home $126,723 for his efforts.

WSOPC Harrah's Tunica Final Table Payouts

That brings an end to the coverage from Tunica, Mississippi. Stay tuned to PokerNews.com as we continue to provide the latest updates from the WSOP Circuit. Next stop: Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

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