Joseph LaPinta Wins World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's Atlantic City for $182,070
The 10th stop on the 2013/2014 World Series of Poker Circuit schedule wrapped up its $1,675 Main Event on Monday night at Harrah’s Resort Casino in Atlantic City, NJ. The tournament attracted 578 entries and created a prize pool of $867,000. After three days of play, Joseph LaPinta, who began the final table eighth in chips, defeated his own roommate in heads-up play to walk away with the $182,070 first-place prize and a seat into the 2014 National Championship.
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Joseph LaPinta | Toms River, NJ | $182,070 |
| 2nd | Joseph Wertz | Montoursville, PA | $112,615 |
| 3rd | John Jones | Spotsylvania, VA | $82,384 |
| 4th | Keith Donovan | New Milford, NJ | $61,106 |
| 5th | Fabrizio Sarra | N/A | $45,977 |
| 6th | Jeremy Wien | New York, NY | $35,070 |
| 7th | Melad Marji | Oneida Castle, NY | $27,120 |
| 8th | James Dorrance | Hershey, PA | $21,259 |
| 9th | Kevin Kernan | Warwick, RI | $16,889 |
According to the WSOP live blog, the first elimination of the final table occurred in Level 26 (15,000/30,000/5,000) when Kevin Kernan moved all in for approximately 380,000 and received a call from John Jones.
Kernan: A♦K♦
Jones: A♠Q♣
Kernan was in great shape to double, and things looked good through the A♥7♦5♥ flop and 9♠ turn. Kernan just needed to avoid a queen on the river to survive, but that proved easier said than done as the Q♥ spiked to give Jones two pair and the win. A devastated Kernan was eliminated in ninth place for $16,889.
After James Dorrance and Melad Marji were eliminated in eighth and seventh place, respectively, Jeremy Wien joined them on the rail in sixth. It happened in Level 27 (20,000/40,000/5,000) when Keith Donovan opened for 80,000 and LaPinta called from the cutoff. Wien then moved all in for 575,000 from the button, Joseph Wertz shoved all in over the top for 615,000 from the big blind, and both Donovan and LaPinta got out of the way.
Wien: A♦10♥
Wertz: K♦K♣
It was a bad spot for the New York native, but according to the PokerNews Odds Calculator he had a 29.17% chance of surviving the hand while Wertz would hold 70.44% of the time. The Q♣9♠5♠ flop was no help to Wien, and his chances dropped to 15.15% while Wertz’s jumped to 84.85%. The 6♥ turn knocked Wien down to 6.82%, meaning he needed an ace and an ace only on the river to extend his tournament life. Unfortunately for him, it wasn’t in the cards as the 7♣ blanked. Wien earned $35,070 for his sixth-place finish.
After Fabrizio Sarra, who began the day as chip leader, was sent packing in fifth place for $45,977, LaPinta did in Donovan. It took place in Level 28 (25,000/50,000/5,000) when Donovan opened for 105,000 from the button only to have LaPinta three-bet to 250,000. Donovan responded by moving all in for 445,000 and LaPinta made a relatively quick call.
Donovan: 10♦10♣
LaPinta: A♥10♠
Donovan got it in good, but he soon found himself in dire straits when the A♠7♥5♣ flop delivered LaPinta a pair of aces. Donovan needed the case ten to stay alive, but that didn’t happen as the 5♦ blanked on the turn followed by the 9♦ on the river. Donovan took home $61,106 for his fourth-place finish.
In Level 29 (30,000/60,000/10,000), Jones fell in third place for $82,384, and that set up a heads-up match between LaPinta, who held a massive chip lead, and his roommate Wertz. In what would be the final hand, LaPinta opened with a raise and then called when Wertz moved all in.
LaPinta: A♥K♠
Wertz: J♦9♠
Wertz was behind, but he was drawing to two live cards. He found one of them on the A♦Q♠J♥ flop, but LaPinta stayed in the lead as he paired his ace. The 7♥ turn was of no consequence, which meant Wertz needed to catch either a jack or nine on the river. The dealer burned one last time and put out the 5♥. Wertz missed and was eliminated in second place for $112,615, while LaPinta collected the gold ring, $182,070 in prize money, and a seat into the 2014 National Championship.
The 2013/2014 WSOP Circuit continues at Harrah’s Rincon, which is happening now through Dec. 16. Of course, you will be able to find a recap from that Main Event upon its completion right here on PokerNews.com
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