David Pham Wins the WSOP Circuit Los Angeles Main Event for $216,790
David Pham added a World Series of Poker (WSOP) gold ring to go along with his three WSOP gold bracelets. On Tuesday, he shipped the WSOP Circuit Los Angeles $1,675 Main Event at the Bicycle Hotel and Casino for $216,790.
A week after taking down The Wynn Spring Classic for $240,254, "The Dragon" strikes again!
Pham, affectionately known in the poker world as "The Dragon", has been getting it done for more than two decades and has managed a brilliant start to 2018. Last week he surpassed the $10 million mark in lifetime live poker earnings with a win in The Wynn Poker Classic $1,600 Championship for $240,254.
The WSOPC attracted 705 entrants to create a massive $1,057,500 prize pool, representing a small increase from the 687 entrants during the festival's last visit to Los Angeles in January.
WSOP Circuit Las Vegas $1,675 Main Event Final Table Results
| Position | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Pham | United States | $216,790 |
| 2 | Tom Braband | United States | $134,145 |
| 3 | Owen Crowe | Canada | $98,390 |
| 4 | Nick Palma | United States | $73,170 |
| 5 | Kristy Arnett | United States | $55,150 |
| 6 | Adam Miller | United States | $42,120 |
| 7 | Adam Swan | United States | $32,590 |
| 8 | Martin Carnero | United States | $25,550 |
| 9 | Kevin Gimble | United States | $20,285 |
| 10 | Brett Murray | United States | $16,305 |
The third and final day began with 11 hopefuls battling it out for the title with each player already guaranteed a minimum of $16,305.
Shortly after the action kicked off, Scott Saunders doubled his short stack against Pham before the latter took it all back when his pocket queens held against Saunders' king-jack. Saunders hit the cashier for the 11th place prize of $16,305 while the remaining ten players redrew for the unofficial final table.
It came running sixes making for quads on the board. The ace Arnett held in her hand outkicked Gimble's king.
Canada's Owen Crowe began 10-handed play with the chip lead and shortly extended further before the nine-max official final table began with Tom Braband and Pham as his closest competitors. Crowe got it all it with pocket kings on a five-five-four flop and Brett Murray was eliminated in 10th place for $16,305 after he called with pocket queens and didn't get one of the two outs he needed on the turn and river.
Kevin Gimble was the next to go, out in ninth place for $20,285. He got it all in with pocket kings on a seven-six-six double spade board against the ace-queen of spades held by Kristy Arnett. It came running sixes making for quads on the board. The ace Arnett held in her hand outkicked Gimble's king.
Pham, who entered the official final table in third place, chipped up a bit while also sending Martin Carnero to the rail in eighth place for $25,550 when his pocket aces held against pocket queens.
It was then Braband's turn to eliminate a foe with pocket aces but not before he already snagged the chip lead picking off a bluff from Pham.
Adam Swan then bowed out in seventh place for $32,590 after he jammed all with ace-jack in late position and Braband solidified his lead after his aces held.
Adam Miller banked the sixth-place prize of $42,120 after he jammed his short stack of three big blinds with jack-nine and couldn't get lucky against Braband's pocket kings.
Braband eliminated the third player in a row after he called an 11 big blind jam from Arnett with king-deuce and it got there against ace-six with kings appearing on both the flop and turn. Arnett walked away with a healthy fifth-price of $55,150, while Braband had more than half of the chips in play with four players remaining.
Shortly after, Nick Palma was eliminated in fourth place for $73,170. He three-bet jammed all in with ace-queen and was unable to win a flip after Pham called with pocket eights.
"there are so many tough, young players and I feel like I’m up there with them."
Crowe then open shoved 24 big blinds on the button with pocket fours and found himself in a world of pain after David Pham called from the small blind with pocket eights. The Canadian was unable to find a way to crack his opponent's overpair on the board and instead exited the tournament in third place for $98,390.
Braband entered heads-up play against Pham with a small chip lead. "The Dragon" quickly grabbed the advantage and had an almost 2:1 chip advantage when the final hand took place.
Pham called a four-bet jam by Braband and won the title after his pocket tens proved to be more than good against pocket threes. Braband didn't walk away empty-handed as he collected the six-figure runner-up prize of $134,145.
“I’ve had a great last 10 days,” said Pham after his win according to WSOP.com. "I’m feeling great, and I played very comfortable. Even now, up in my mind, I know I’m going to be right there. I’m feeling great for so long. I don’t rush my mind to win, and I know that there are a lot of good, young players. Now, there are so many tough, young players and I feel like I’m up there with them.”
Lead image and hand information courtesy of WSOP.com
