Jason Strasser Wins World Series of Poker Circuit Foxwoods Main Event for $186,600
On Monday, the final 11 players of a 591-player field returned to play down to a winner in the 2013/2014 World Series of Poker Circuit Foxwoods Main Event. After five levels of play, Jason Strasser, a 28-year-old finance professional from New York, was the last man standing. He took home $186,600 for his victory and became the first player qualified for the 2014 National Championship.
2013/2014 WSOP Circuit Foxwoods Main Event
| Place | Player | Hometown | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Jason Strasser | New York, NY | $186,600 |
| 2nd | Wes Wyvill | N/A | $115,069 |
| 3rd | Joseph Morneau | Candia, NH | $84,414 |
| 4th | Bryan Leskowitz | Leominster, MA | $62,555 |
| 5th | Mike Guadano | New York, NY | $47,095 |
| 6th | James Rubin | Jericho, VT | $35,898 |
| 7th | Scott Baker | Harwichport, MA | $27,545 |
| 8th | Keith Donovan | New Milford, NJ | $21,770 |
| 9th | Frank Pezzullo | N/A | $17,357 |
According to the WSOP Live Reporting Team, action recommenced in Level 25 with the blinds at 12,000/24,000/4,000 and things heated up right out of the gate when Bryan Leskowitz doubled through chip leader Wes Wyvill on the very first hand. Not long after, John Ting became the first elimination of the day when his K♣Q♦ failed to overcome the J♣J♠ of Leskowitz. Ting was eliminated in eleventh place for $13,861, while Forrest Mansur followed him out the door in tenth place for the same payday after he ran 7♦7♠ into the A♣A♠ of Joe Morneau, thus setting the official final table of nine.
After Frank Pezzullo fell in ninth place for $17,357, Leskowitz felled Keith Donovan. It happened when Donovan opened for 50,000 from early position and Leskowitz moved all in from the big blind. Donovan called off for 600,000 or so with the 10♦10♥ and was racing against the A♠K♠ of Leskowitz. Donovan got it in good, but his hand wouldn’t hold after Leskowitz made a winning pair of kings when the board ran out K♣9♦4♣4♠8♣. Donovan was eliminated in eighth place for $21,770.
Two big stacks collided in Level 26 (15,000/30,000/5,000), resulting in the biggest pot of the tournament. It began when Mike Guadano opened for 65,000 from the button only to have Scott Baker three-bet to 215,000 from the small blind. Wyvill then four-bet to 465,000 from the big, Guadano folded and Baker made the call, bringing about a flop of K♣J♠4♠. Baker wasted little time in moving all in for 1.4 million and Wyvill snap-called. Baker tabled the K♥9♣ for top pair, but he was crushed by Wyvill’s K♦K♠ for top set. The 7♦ turn left Baker drawing dead, and the 2♥ river sent him out the door in seventh place for $27,545.
James Rubin was the next to go after his A♠K♥ couldn’t win a flip against Leskowitz’s Q♥Q♠, which set up a heated five-handed battle that saw the chip stacks fluctuate wildly. In Level 27 (20,000/40,000/5,000), Strasser was under the gun and opened to 80,000, which inspired Guadano to move all in from the small blind for 715,000. Wyvill, who was in the big blind, then moved all in over the top and Strasser folded.
Wyvill: A♠K♦
Guadano: A♦Q♣
Guadano’s kicker had him and bad shape, and he was unable to pair it after the board ran out 10♣6♥2♥5♦8♠. Guadano took home $47,905 for his fifth-place finish.
Leskowitz was the next to go. After his stack dwindled down to 240,000, he moved all in from the button with the 9♦7♠ and was called by the J♠J♥ of Strasser. The board ran out A♦5♦4♣3♠10♥ and that was all she wrote for Leskowitz, who took home $62,555 for his fourth-place finish. Then, in Level 28 (25,000/50,000/5,000), Wyvill dispatched Morneau in third place after the latter’s A♣K♣ failed to overcome the 10♦10♥ of the former. Morneau earned $84,414 for his performance.
That set up a heads-up match between Wyvill (7,020,000) and Strasser (4,995,000), one that lasted nearly two hours. During that time Strasser was able to even the stacks in a hand where he flopped trip queens, and a short time later he pulled out to a 2-to-1 lead. The final hand came in Level 30 (40,000/80,000/10,000) when Strasser opened for 175,000 and Wyvill called, which brought about a Q♥5♣3♦ flop. Wyvill checked, Strasser bet 175,000 and Wyvill woke up with a check-raise to 500,000. Strasser called, the 6♣ came on the turn and Wyvill returned to checking. Strasser took the opportunity to bet 700,000, Wyvill called and the 5♠ paired the board on the river.
Wyvill checked for a third time and Strasser moved all in. Wyvill tanked for a couple of minutes before calling off for 2,715,000. Strasser then tabled the K♥5♥ for trips, which was good as Wyvill just flashed the Q♠ before sending his cards to the muck.
Wyvill had to settle for a $115,069 consolation prize while Strasser captured the $186,600 first-place prize and the first seat into the 2014 WSOP National Championship. In addition, Ryan Methia emerged as the Foxwoods Circuit Casino Championship thanks to three cashes, two final tables and one win. Methia became the second player to secure a spot in the 2014 National Championship.
The next stop on the 2013/2014 WSOP Circuit will at the IP Casino Resort & Spa in Biloxi, Mississippi from September 5-16.
Photos and hands courtesy of WSOP.com.
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