Christian Pham Wins World Series of Poker Circuit Caesars Palace for $214,332
The 15th stop on the 2013/2014 World Series of Poker Circuit schedule wrapped up its $1,675 Main Event on Monday at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
The tournament attracted 697 entries to create a prize pool of $1,045,000. After three days of play, Christian Pham, who qualified for the tournament via a $200 satellite, walked away with the $214,322 first-place prize and a seat into the 2014 National Championship.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Christian Pham | St. Paul, MN | $214,332 |
| 2nd | Jonathan Gaviao | Gainesville, TX | $132,622 |
| 3rd | Yu Sheng Lin | N/A | $97,273 |
| 4th | Michael Ma | London, ON, Canada | $72,338 |
| 5th | Andrew Sapiro | Alamo, CA | $54,523 |
| 6th | Nancy Birnbaum | Las Vegas, NV | $41,642 |
| 7th | Ofer Akerman | Los Angeles, CA | $32,222 |
| 8th | Jesse Wilke | Kenmore, WA | $25,259 |
| 9th | Chris Lindh | Las Vegas, NV | $20,053 |
Notable finishes: Brandon Cantu (18th - $10,810), Arkadiy Tsinis (24th - $7,601), Brent Hanks (32nd - $4,893), Cody Slaubaugh (33rd - $4,893), Charles “Woody” Moore (34th - $4,328), Bryan Moon (70th - $2,927)
According to the WSOP Live Blog, Day 3 action resumed in Level 26 (15,000/30,000/5,000) with 14 players still in contention. That meant five players needed to go before the final table was set, and they ended up being William Chao (14th - $13,121), Philip Woerner (13th - $13,121), Ben Keeline (12th - $16,122), Chris Bonita (11th - $16,122), and Joseph Elia (10th - $16,122).
The first elimination of the final table came in Level 27 (20,000/40,000/5,000) when Chris Lindh raised from the cutoff only to have Jesse Wilke three-bet all in from the small blind. The big blind folded, Lindh called off his remaining 900,000, and the cards were turned up.
Lindh: 9♠9♥
Wilke: A♥A♦
It was a bad spot for Lindh, and he failed to get lucky as the board ran out a dry Q♥10♣2♥2♣8♠. Lindh, who finished Day 1a as a massive chip leader, was eliminated in ninth place for $20,053.
Despite scoring that knock out, Wilke was the next to go in eighth place for $25,259, and Ofer Akerman followed him out the door in seventh for $32,222. In Level 29 (30,000/60,000/10,000), Jonathan Gaviao, who won the WSOP Circuit Tunica Main Event, opened for 120,000 from the button only to have Nancy Birnbaum, the last woman standing, three-bet all in from the small blind. Gaviao snap-called and Birnbaum discovered the bad news.
Gaviao: A♠10♥
Birnbaum: A♥5♠
Birnbaum had some major kicker problems, and she’d receive no reprieve as the board ran out Q♣9♣8♣7♣7♥. Birnbaum not only took home $41,642 for her sixth-place finish, she was in the lead for the Casino Championship, which of course comes with a seat into the National Championship.
Thanks for all the love and support took 6th place and a shot at casino. http://t.co/T2Pr4ye5oq
— Nancy Birnbaum (@NancyBirnbaum)
After Andrew Sapiro and Michael Ma were eliminated in fifth and fourth place respectively, a lengthy three-handed battle played out. Eventually things came to a head in Level 31 (50,000/100,000/10,000) when a short-stacked Allen Lin opened for 250,000 on the button and Pham called from the big blind, which brought about a flop of 10♦7♦7♣. Pham checked, Lin bet 300,000, and Pham woke up with a check-raise to 600,000. Lin responded by moving all in and Pham called.
Lin: A♠A♣
Pham: 7♠5♥
Lin held the granddaddy of all hands, but Pham had gotten lucky and flopped trips. Neither the K♣ turn nor 10♠ river changed a thing, and Lin hit the rail in third place for $97,273.
Heads-up play lasted just a few hands, and in the final one Gaviao raised to 200,000 from the button, Pham called, and the flop fell K♣6♣3♣. Pham checked, Gaviao bet 200,000, and Pham check-raised to 600,000. Gaviao then moved all in and Pham called.
Pham: K♦2♠
Gaviao: A♣10♦
Pham was ahead with top pair, but Gaviao was drawing live to the nut flush and an over card. The 8♠ turn was of no consequence, and neither was the 5♥ river. Pham’s hand held up, and Gaviao had to settle for second place and a $132,622 consolation prize.
Congratulations to Christian Pham, winner of the WSOP Circuit Caesars Palace Main Event for $214,332, a gold ring, and a seat into the 2014 National Championship.
The 2013/2014 WSOP Circuit continues at Bicycle Casino from March 6-17. Of course, you will be able to find a recap from that Main Event upon its completion right here on PokerNews.com
*Photos and data courtesy of the WSOP.
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