Sean Yu Wins WSOP Circuit Harrah's Southern California Main Event for $101,881
The 2014/2015 World Series of Poker Circuit recently completed its $1,675 Main Event at Harrah’s Southern California, formerly Rincon, near San Diego. The tournament attracted 283 entries and created a prize pool of $424,500. After two days of play — down from three after one of the fastest final tables in history — Los Angeles’ Sean Yu emerged victorious to capture the $101,881 first-place prize, the gold championship ring, and a seat into the season-ending National Championship.
“I play mostly tournaments,” Yu told WSOP officials after his victory. “I used to play cash for many years, and started playing tournaments only at the beginning of this year. This year’s been phenomenal.”
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean Yu | Los Angeles, CA | $101,881 |
| 2 | Dan Stir | Sacramento, CA | $62,962 |
| 3 | Neil Scott | Mammoth Lakes, CA | $45,685 |
| 4 | David Powers | San Diego, CA | $33705 |
| 5 | Jacob Gruny | San Diego, CA | $25,279 |
| 6 | Tavish Margers | Santee, CA | $19,264 |
| 7 | John Cynn | Indianapolis, IN | $14,908 |
| 8 | Gary Sewell | Duarte, CA | $11,716 |
| 9 | Brandon Paster | Arlington, VA | $9,347 |
Notable finishes: Danny Illingworth (19th - $4,381), Soi Nguyen (24th - $3,757), Bernard Lee (26th - $3,264), Jordan Morgan (29th - $2,878), Eric Baldwin (30th - $2,878)
According to WSOP.com, on Hand #11 of the final table, which was reached midway through Day 2, John Cynn opened for 35,000 under the gun and was met by a three-bet to 85,000 from Brandon Paster in the hijack. Yu then four-bet to 150,000 from the button, Cynn folded, and Paster shoved all in for 466,000, which Yu called.
Yu: J♥J♠
Paster: K♥K♣
Paster got it in good, but the A♥J♦J♣ flop was a dagger through his heart as Yu flopped quads. Neither the 2♥ turn nor Q♣ river helped Paster and he was sent packing in ninth place for $9,347.
After Gary Sewell and Cynn were eliminated in eighth and seventh place respectively, Tavish Margers followed them out the door in sixth. It happened on Hand #49 when David Powers moved all in under the gun and Margers called off for approximately 300,000 from the cutoff.
Powers: A♣J♠
Margers: Q♣Q♦
The A♠10♠8♠ flop paired Powers’ ace, and Margers watched helplessly as the 3♠ blanked on the turn followed by the 8♦ on the river. Margers had to settle for sixth place and $19,264, but he had a nice consolation prize in the fact that he won Harrah’s South California Casino Champion honors after notching three cashes, which included winning a ring in a preliminary event. Margers was awarded a seat into the season-ending National Championship for the feat.
Jacob Grundy was the next to go after his A♦7♠ failed to overcome the A♥Q♠ of Dan Stir, and then Powers fell when his A♠K♣ failed to win a race against Yu’s 8♦8♥. At that point play was scheduled to stop, but given it was three-handed the tournament staff offered them the opportunity to play up to two more levels, which they accepted.
On Hand #109, Neil Scott was eliminated in third place after his K♥K♠ was cracked by Yu’s 10♥10♦ after a ten spiked on the turn, and just four hands later the tournament would be over. In what would be the final hand, Stir opened for 70,000, Yu called, and the flop fell 10♦6♠3♦. Yu checked, Stir bet 130,000, and Yu check-raised to 260,000. Stir shoved all in for 795,000 more and Yu tanked a bit before calling with the 8♠6♦ for middle pair. Stir tabled the best hand with the K♣K♦, and he stayed in the lead when the 10♠ turn delivered both players two pair.
Unfortunately for him, the 6♥ spiked on the river to give Yu the two outer and the win. Stir had to settle for second place and $62,962, while Yu became the WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Southern California champ for $101,881.
The 2014/2015 WSOP Circuit continues at Harrah’s Atlantic City from now through Dec. 22. PokerNews will have a recap of the stop's Main Event once it concludes.
*Photos and data courtesy of the WSOP.
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