Chris Csik Nearly Doubles Lifetime Earnings w/ WSOP Circuit Baltimore Win for $206,020

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Mar 10, 2015 3 min read

The World Series of Poker Circuit recently completed its first-ever stop at Horseshoe Baltimore, and the $1,675 Main Event, the cornerstone of the 12-ring stop, attracted 670 entries and created a prize pool of $1,005,000. After three days of intense play, 27-year-old poker pro Chris Csik emerged as the last man standing to capture the $206,020 first-place prize, his first gold ring, and a seat into the season-ending National Championship.

"It’s really just surreal," Csik told WSOP officials after his win. "I couldn’t even tell you right now. It’s hard to understand the gravity of the situation. Obviously it’s a lot of money and I work hard for a score like this and it feels really cool to get it."

Prior to the win, the man from Martinsville, New Jersey had $276,523 in career tournament winnings, with his biggest score being $78,965 for a 15th-place finish in the 2014 WSOP Event #51 $1,500 Monster Stack. By winning the WSOP Circuit Baltimore, Csik has notched his biggest-ever cash and nearly doubled his lifetime earnings.

"It’s the biggest of my life, but it’s hard to say that the lifestyle is going to change," said Csik. "Because every score that you get you think it’s going to be the be all and end all, but then you just keep looking for more and just keep going out there. I’ve been going at it a while and it’s a tough sport to stick with."

Final Table Results

The tournament attracted some of the biggest names in the game including Vinny Pahuja, Jake Schwartz, Ralph Massey, and Darryll Fish, though none of them were able to make it to the money. Others that did earn a payday were Christian Harder (15th - $12,613), Joe McKeehen (32nd - $4,703), Greg Himmelbrand (47th - $3,357), Phil Hellmuth (50th - $3,357), and Amanda Musumeci (51st - $3,357).

According to WSOP updates, 13 players returned for the third and final day of action, and by the time the final table rolled around, Csik had established himself as the chip leader. He used it to make it all the way to heads-up play, though by that time he was down 2-1 in chips to Faisal Siddiqui.

Csik was able to regain the chip lead after doubling with pocket fours to Siddiqui's ace-deuce, and then on the 97th hand of heads-up play, he clinched victory. It happened in Level 34 (100,000/200,000/30,000) on Hand #241 of the final table when Siddiqui opened for 400,000, Csik called, and the flop came down A♠9♠8♣. Two checks brought about the J♠ turn, and Csik check-called a bet of 600,000.

After the K♠ completed the board on the river, Csik checked for a third time and Siddiqui bet 1.1 million. Csik woke up with a check-raise to 2.6 million, and then called when Siddiqui moved all in. Siddiqui tabled the A♦6♠ for a flush, but Csik held a bigger one with the Q♠8♠. Siddiqui took home $147,484 for his runner-up finish while Csik took down the gold ring.

Here's a look at some of those that captured gold rings at the WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Baltimore.

The 2014/2015 WSOP Circuit continues at Bicycle Casino now through March 18. PokerNews will have a recap of that Main Event upon its conclusion.

_{*Photos and data courtesy of the WSOP.}

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PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.

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