Tyler Morris Wins World Series of Poker Circuit Choctaw for $369,503
The 12th stop on the 2013/2014 World Series of Poker Circuit schedule wrapped up its $1,675 Main Event on Monday night at Choctaw Casino in Durant, OK.
The tournament attracted a massive 1,428 entries and created a prize pool of $2,142,000. After three days of play, Tyler Morris walked away with the $369,503 first-place prize and a seat into the 2014 National Championship.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Tyler Morris | Tyler, TX | $369,503 |
| 2nd | Shelby Penka | Houston, TX | $229,194 |
| 3rd | Clyde Walters | Edmond, OK | $167,954 |
| 4th | Preston Harwell | Houston, TX | $127,685 |
| 5th | Jeffrey Gibralter | Rockwall, TX | $97,204 |
| 6th | Joshua Evans | Las Vegas, NV | $74,863 |
| 7th | Jesse Capps | Henderson, NV | $58,327 |
| 8th | Michael Sanders | Las Vegas, NV | $45,967 |
| 9th | Julie Walker | Choctaw, OK | $36,650 |
According to the WSOP live blog, sixteen players returned to action on the third and final day of play. Action recommenced in Level 27 (20,000/40,000/5,000) and over the course of the next two levels seven players hit the rail including Greg Jennings (16th - $19,856), Scott Griffiths (15th - $24,098), Jonathan Gaviao (14th - $24,098), Nathanael Kogel (13th - $24,098), Salvatore Dicarlo (12th - $29,650), Robert Ortiz (11th - $29,560), and Allan Hedin (10th - $29,560).
The first elimination of the final table occurred in Level 30 (40,000/80,000/10,000) when Julie Walker opened for 160,000 and Jeff Gibralter, who began the day as chip leader, three-bet to 420,000 from the small blind. Walker responded by moving all in, Gibralter called, and the cards were turned on their back.
Gibralter: A♣K♦
Walker: 10♣10♥
According to the PokerNews Odds Calculator, Walker had a 56.68% chance of surviving the hand while Gibralter would come from behind 42.93% of the time. The K♥J♣9♦ flop gave Gibralter a king, and that made him a 74.04% favorite, which meant Walker would need either a ten or queen to stay alive — something that would happen 25.96% of the time. Unfortunately for her, neither card would appear and she would have to settle for ninth place and $36,650.
After Michael Sanders was eliminated in eighth place for $45,967, Jesse Capps followed him out the door in Level 31 (50,000/100,000/10,000). It happened when Shelby Penka opened for 225,000 and Capps, who worked as part of the PokerNews team at the 2013 WSOP, moved all in for 1.45 million. Penka snap-called and it was another flip.
Capps: 3♥3♠
Penka: A♠K♦
Big slick would prevail once again as the board ran out K♥4♠4♦8♠9♦, and Capps was sent to the rail in seventh place for $58,327.
From there, Josh Evans (6th - $74,863), Gibralter (5th - $97,204), and Preston Harwell (4th - $127,685) were all eliminated. In Level 34 (100,000/200,000/30,000), Morris opened for 600,000 on the button and Clyde Walters called from the small blind. After the flop fell 10♥7♣6♦, Walters led out for 2 million and Morris moved all in. Walter, who had just 2.1 million behind, wasted little time in calling off.
Walters: A♠8♦
Morris: Q♣10♣
Morris was ahead with top pair, and it held as the 3♦ blanked on the turn followed by the K♦ on the river. Walters made his way to the payout desk in third place to collect $167,954, which left Morris and Penka to do battle in heads-up play.
It was a lengthy back-and-forth match, but it ultimately came to an end in Level 36 (150,000/300,000/50,000). In the final hand, Morris opened for 600,000 and then snap-called when Penka moved all in from the big blind.
Penka: 8♣6♣
Morris: K♦J♣
The K♠K♣6♠ flop gave Morris trips, and that meant Penka needed running sixes to stay alive. The 3♦ turn took away any chance of that happening, and after the meaningless 10♠ was run out on the river, Penka exited in second place for $229,194.
Morris claimed the title in one of the WSOP Circuit’s largest Main Events in history, which was accompanied by the $369,503 first-place prize and a seat into the 2014 National Championship later this year.
The 2013/2014 WSOP Circuit continues at Harrah’s Tunica from Jan. 23 – Feb. 3. 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.
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