Jerry Monroe and Maurice Hawkins Among WSOPC New Orleans Winners
The last stop of the 2017/2018 World Series of Poker Circuit season wrapped up on Monday at Harrah’s New Orleans. It was the last chance for players to earn points on the Global Casino Championship leaderboard, and many took advantage including, Valentin Vornicu, who won two rings at the stop.
In the $1,675 Main Event, a tournament that drew 677 runners and created a $1,015,500 prize pool, Jerry Monroe came out on top to win $208,184 and his third gold ring. He also locked up a seat into the aforementioned Global Casino Championship.
Official Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jerry Monroe | Columbus, GA | $208,184 |
| 2 | Darren Martin | Lexington, NC | $128,816 |
| 3 | Michael Cohen | Boca Raton, FL | $94,482 |
| 4 | John Skinner | N/A | $70,262 |
| 5 | Justin Donato | N/A | $52,958 |
| 6 | Hugh Cullen | Houston, TX | $40,477 |
| 7 | Ben Mintz | New Orleans, LA | $31,298 |
| 8 | Scott Horvath | Frisco, X | $24,354 |
| 9 | Donnell Dais | Atlanta, GA | $19,477 |
The 41-year-old former factory superintendent from Georgia defeated Darren Martin in heads-up play to claim his second WSOPC Main Event title. He previously won the 2011 WSOPC IP Biloxi Main Event for $112,779.
“I usually don’t play the whole series out like I did this time,” Monroe said after the win. “I usually come in for the last event on the last flight and I don’t usually get warmed up … This stop, I really like it. If you bust out, there’s so much to do and the city is so great. I just stay the whole time.”
In the final hand of the tournament, which took place in Level 31 (50,000/100,000/10,000), Martin limped holding two black aces and Monroe checked his option. The J♥9♦3♦ flop saw Monroe bet 150,000 and Martin just called.
On the 6♠ turn, Monroe bet 400,000 and then called when Martin moved all in for roughly 4 million. Monroe rolled over jack-three for a flopped two pair and Martin needed to improve on the river. The dealer burned one last time and put out the 3♠ to improve Monroe to a full house.
“I felt like he was playing the last hour real conservative,” said Monroe. “So, I tried to play real aggressive over the first hour to try and get the stacks even. And then I backed off and played poker a bit. I knew he was a bit conservative and didn’t want to lose chips, so I took advantage of that.”
Others to cash the Main Event were 2013 National Champion Jonathan Hilton (17th - $10,500), Blake Whittington (30th - $5,443), ThinkBink’s Cory Waaland (41st - $3,757), and Nick Pupillo (53rd - $3,392).
Maurice Hawkins Closes the Gap With High Roller Win
At the start of the stop, Maurice Hawkins was tied with Vornicu for the all-time ring lead with 10. Vornicu pulled away with back-to-back wins, but Hawkins answered by winning an event of his own. The 38-year-old poker pro topped a field of 128 entries to win the $2,200 High Roller for $71,680 and his 11th ring.
“I mean, see, the G.O.A.T. shows up to the real tournaments,” said Hawkins. “Mains I win, high roller I win, $1Ks I win. The G.O.A.T. is the G.O.A.T. That’s it. That’s all I got to say.”
The win marked Hawkins’ first high roller win, which complements his four WSOPC Main Event victories. It also moved him over $2 million in WSOP earnings.
“Last year, I got fourth in this," he said. "I left and went home because I was pissed. I didn’t even stay and play the Main because I didn’t think I was playing well enough. And then look at what I did last summer.
I take great pride and pleasure in ruining people’s lives on the felt. You’re damn right I do. You know why? Because there was a lot of heartaches, tears, and cries, late nights, and stressed babies, and frustrated wives, and trying to provide for your family, and have a life and friends, and just get all the things you’ve always wanted … There is a lot of frustration that comes into that. So, when it comes to what I put my pride into, I show up.”
Others to cash the High Roller were Peter Vitantonio (2nd - $44,306), Robert Hankins (3rd - $31,596), Alex Rocha (5th - $17,042), and Nadya Magnus (14th - $4,165).
Here's a look at all of the ring winners in New Orleans:
| Event | Winner | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| $365 NLHE Re-Entry | Val Vornicu | $64,205 |
| $580 NLHE | Abraham Araya | $27,043 |
| $365 NLHE | Val Vornicu | $23,084 |
| $365 PLO | Sandep Vasudevan | $12,314 |
| $365 NLHE 6-Max | Brennan Benglis | $25,206 |
| $365 Monster Stack | Raymond Curran | $43,479 |
| $365 NLHE | Terry Melancon | $21,927 |
| $2,200 High Roller | Maurice Hawkins | $71,680 |
| $1,675 Main Event | Jerry Monroe | $208,184 |
| $365 NLHE | Don Dove | $17,551 |
| $365 NLHE | A.J. Allee | $18,965 |
| $365 Double Stack | Mike Horchoff | $25,414 |
| $135 Ladies | Tammy Brunson | $2,136 |
Photos courtesy of WSOP
