Shahin Edalatdju Wins World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's Rincon for $166,325
The 11th stop on the 2013/2014 World Series of Poker Circuit schedule wrapped up its $1,675 Main Event on Tuesday night at Harrah’s Rincon near San Diego, CA. The tournament attracted 330 entries and created a prize pool of $495,000. After three days of play, Shahin Edalatdju walked away with the $116,325 first-place prize and a seat into the 2014 National Championship.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Shahin Edalatdju | San Diego, CA | $116,325 |
| 2nd | Steven Firestone | San Diego, CA | $71,924 |
| 3rd | Erle Mankin | Sacramento, CA | $52,237 |
| 4th | Chris DeMaci | Stanton, CA | $38,585 |
| 5th | Paul Sokoloff | Toronto, ON | $28,967 |
| 6th | Craig Francis | La Jolla, CA | $22,092 |
| 7th | Mary Anne Madruga | San Diego, CA | $17,112 |
| 8th | Robert Mather | Redding, CA | $13,454 |
| 9th | Sean Burson | Hidden Valley Lake, CA | $10,737 |
According to the WSOP live blog, action recommenced in Level 24 (10,000/20,000/3,000) and it took just four hands for the first elimination of the day to occur. It happened when Craig Francis opened for 45,000 under the gun and Sean Burson got his short stack all in right behind. The rest of the players folded and the cards were turned on their backs.
Burson: 4♣4♠
Francis: A♣J♠
According to the PokerNews Odds Calculator, Burson was a slight 52.65% favorite to Francis’ 46.81%. The 8♦Q♦9♦ flop bumped Burson’s percentage up a bit to 56.26%, but it was the 5♠ turn that gave him a big boost to 77.27%. All he had to do was dodge an ace, jack or ten on the river, but that proved easier said than done as the A♦ spiked. Francis hit an ace to eliminate Burson in ninth place for $10,737.
After the eliminations of Robert Mather and Mary Anne Madruga in eighth and seventh place, respectively, Francis joined them on the rail in sixth.
In Level 27 (20,000/40,000/5,000), a short-stacked Paul Sokoloff moved all in and received a call from Steve Firestone. Erle Mankin called from the button and the two active players checked it down as the board ran out 8♠6♦3♠K♥7♦. Firestone tabled the A♣5♥, which was ahead of Sokoloff’s J♥10♥, but it’d be Mankin who’d win the pot with the 5♠5♦. Sokoloff was eliminated on the hand and took home $28,967 for his fifth-place finish.
In Level 28 (25,000/50,000/5,000), Chris DeMaci, who began the final table as chip leader, was crippled after doubling Mankin. Two hands after that, Edalatdju opened for 115,000 under the gun and Firestone called from the small blind. DeMaci called all in for 60,000 total in the big and action was once again checked down as the board ran out 9♦6♦3♥Q♠K♠. DeMaci came up empty with his 8♥7♦, which was bested by Firestone’s A♠8♠; however, it’d be Edalatdju who'd win the pot with the A♦10♥. DeMaci took his leave in fourth place for $38,585.
After Mankin was eliminated in third place for $52,237, it seemed the heads-up match between Firestone (5.9 million) and Edalatdju (700,000) would be a quick affair. Instead, it ended up being a five-hour back-and-forth match. Edalatdju doubled not once but twice to even things up, and from there it was a grind. He went on to capture the chip lead, knocked Firestone down to 800,000, and then watched as his opponent stormed back. It seemed like the tournament would never end, but eventually the final hand was dealt in Level 33 (80,000/160,000/20,000).
It happened when Edalatdju opened for 480,000 from the button and Firestone three-bet to 1.2 million. Edalatdju moved all in and Firestone called off.
Edalatdju: 8♦8♠
Firestone: A♥4♣
Edalatdju was ahead with his pocket pair, and he stayed there on the 10♦6♥3♠ flop. The 5♦ turn gave Firestone an open-ended straight draw, but he missed it when the 5♥ blanked on the river. Firestone finished as runner-up for $71,924 while Edalatdju was named Harrah’s Rincon Main Event champion.
The 2013/2014 WSOP Circuit continues at Choctaw Durant from Jan. 9-20. Of course, you will be able to find a recap from that Main Event upon its completion right here on PokerNews.com
*Photos courtesy of the WSOP Live Blog.
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