Kyle Cartwright Wins WSOP Circuit IP Biloxi, Bags Seventh Ring
Kyle Cartwright doesn't grind the World Series of Poker Circuit as much as he used to, but he showed he's still got it as he topped a field of 343 to win WSOP Circuit IP Biloxi $1,675 Main Event for $118,332.
In the process, Cartwright took down his seventh gold WSOPC ring. That pulls him into a tie with Circuit stalwarts Josh Reichard and Cory Waaland for seventh all time, three behind the record 10 held by Maurice Hawkins.
“Tournaments, I don’t play too many anymore, but when I do I’m kind of successful," Cartwright told WSOP reporters Monday night. "I should probably play more, but the cash at home is so good to where I don’t even want to travel anymore."
Official Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyle Cartwright | Bartlett, TN | $118,332 |
| 2 | TK Miles | Miami Beach, FL | $73,157 |
| 3 | Leo Boothe | Farriday, LA | $53,369 |
| 4 | Kevin Benoit | Baton Rouge, LA | $39,586 |
| 5 | Chris McLean | Santa Rosa Beach, FL | $29,820 |
| 6 | Bob Beck | Santa Rosa Beach, FL | $22,808 |
| 7 | Bob Chow | Schaumberg, IL | $17,699 |
| 8 | Cody Stanford | Tupelo, MS | $13,933 |
| 9 | Saeed Nia | Memphis, TN | $11,123 |
The tournament carried a $500,000 guarantee, which it just did surpass with the 343-entry turnout. Chris Savage, Warren Sheaves and seasoned Southern poker veteran "Captain" Tom Franklin were among those who made their way into the 36 paid places but fell short of the final table.
Cartwright was nearly among that number as his run to the top very nearly ended in 13th place, according to the live updates. He got in a flip for all of his chips with Bob Chow and watched helplessly as the Chicagoan flopped a set of sevens. However, Cartwright ran a diamond flush with A♣Q♦ to survive.
With 10 left, Cartwright got a dream board of K♠8♣3♠8♦3♦ while holding K♥K♦ against the A♠2♠ of James Miller. With that elimination, Cartwright found himself essentially tied for the chip lead with Chris McClean.
Cartwright wasn't done though, as he scored the next two eliminations — ace-king over Saeed Nia's ace-queen and pocket aces over Cody Stanford's pocket jacks — en route to a massive lead going into the final day.
The deck proved kind to Cartwright again as he was dealt aces once more early on. Fortunately for him, Chow defended big blind and flopped top pair with Q♦J♦, and he couldn't get away from the hand after check-raising the flop and betting turn on a board of Q♥8♥4♠3♣.
After Bob Beck went down in sixth, Cartwright picked up K♦K♣ and saw McClean shove on the button for 15 big blinds. Cartwright put him at risk and faded any bullets hitting the board against A♦10♣. He then put a bad beat on a short-stacked Kevin Benoit, winning with Q♠5♦ against pocket jacks to bust him as well.
The rampage continued when Cartwright sent Leo Boothe packing. The two saw an A♥9♣2♣ flop out of the blinds and Cartwright played it slow by checking his A♣J♣. Boothe jammed 10♠9♠ for about twice the pot, falling right into the trap and getting a short sweat when the turn brought another club.
Cartwright had a sizable chip lead against fellow pro TK Miles, but the two were fairly deep since Miles had 50 big blinds. Cartwright tweeted that he wanted to break his string of heads-up losses, having dropped three matches in a row including last month's RunGood Poker Series Tunica Main Event.
After some early hands went Cartwright's way, Miles found a double when he faded a combo draw after the turn to get back in it. Miles then picked off some bluffs and moved into the lead. Staring at another second-place finish if he didn't turn things around, Cartwright pulled back in front.
Miles wasn't done, scoring two doubles after he got short, the second courtesy of a flush on the river when he was all in after flopping an inferior straight to Cartwright and one card from elimination. Finally, though, Miles shipped over an open holding A♣10♣ and found himself staring at Cartwright's A♠K♥.
Neither paired up, and Cartwright secured his seventh ring at the close of a heads up match that lasted about four hours.
Photo courtesy of WSOP
