Former Pro Boxer Said El Harrak Wins WSOPC Bicycle Casino Main Event ($147,435)
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Said El Harrak said he got into poker because he enjoys the challenge of reading his opponents. Those skills were put to the test at the final table of the World Series of Poker Circuit Bicycle Casino $1,700 Main Event, and in the end, it was El Harrak coming away with the win at the Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens, California.
El Harrak came out on top of a final nine that included a unique blend of different poker playing styles and experience, and the reward was El Harrak’s first WSOP Circuit ring, as well as the $147,435 first-place prize.
El Harrak came out as the winner after a six-hour final table battle, which ended with Ronnie Tate finishing runner-up for $91,100.
“As I was in high school, I went into boxing,” El Harrak said. “I became a professional boxer. In 2016, I retired. I love poker, so I said let me try to take my last paycheck in boxing and put it in poker. And I’ve been doing it nonstop.”
“Boxing is about reading your opponent. I feel like I can pick up on tells and betting patterns. I like the psychological act of the game.”
El Harrak came into the final table with the chip lead, and never surrendered that position throughout the final day as he came away with the biggest score of his career.
WSOP Circuit Bicycle Casino $1,700 Main Event Final Table Results
| Place | Winner | Country | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Said El Harrak | United States | $147,435 |
| 2 | Ronnie Tate | United States | $91,100 |
| 3 | Jermey Kottler | United States | $66,665 |
| 4 | Sal Rassibi | United States | $49,415 |
| 5 | Brock Wilson | United States | $37,115 |
| 6 | Abbas Moradi | United States | $28,250 |
| 7 | Robert Suer | United States | $21,795 |
| 8 | Fadi Hamad | United States | $17,045 |
| 9 | Ping Liu | United States | $13,515 |
Main Event Final Table Dynamic
Tate, along with fourth-place finisher Sal Rassibi ($49,415) were the wild cards among the final nine, as both exhibited non-conventional lines throughout Day 3.
One such line saw Tate, with jack-ten suited put in a min three-bet from the small blind against El Harrak and Tate, and put in a continuation bet on the flop to get both opponents off better hands.
Another hand saw Rassibi raise against three limpers with seven-five offsuit in the big blind, only to get shut down by a big three-bet from Tate.
"I love poker, so I said: let me try to take my last paycheck in boxing and put it in poker."
Other players at the final table included tournament crushers like Jeremy Kottler (3rd - $66,665) and Brock Wilson ($37,115).
Both Wilson and Kottler were seated on El Harrak’s right at the final table, which the eventual champion was happy to see.
“The two players that I wanted sitting on my right, were on my right,” El Harrak said. “So I got very lucky with that. I wanted to knock one of them out.”
El Harrak did just that, eliminating Wilson after finding an ace on the river in a matchup between El Harrak’s ace-seven offsuit and Wilson’s pocket kings.
Ping Liu (9th- $13,515) came into the final table with the shortest stack and was the first player eliminated from the final table.
Fadi Hamad (8th- $17,045), Robert Suer (7th - $21,795) and Abbas Moradi (6th - $28,250) were next in line to head to the rail, with each taking home a five-figure payday for the final table appearance.
The $1,700 Main Event drew 487 entries overall, with a $737,805 prize pool.
"Boxing is about reading your opponent. I feel like I can pick up on tells and betting patterns. I like the psychological act of the game."
Andrew Wisdom Wins the WSOP Circuit Bicycle Casino $3,250 High Roller
Andrew Wisdom came out on top of the two day WSOP Circuit $3,250 High Roller at the Bicycle Casino. Wisdom took home $75,390 as well as the WSOP Circuit ring.
Wisdom battled through a tough final table that included Massoud Eskandari, Brian Mancilla and Mohsin Charania. The heads-up match was a grind and Wisdom had his opponent, Yash Jadhwani down to just nine big blinds when he moved all in on the button with king-four. Wisdom was able crack to Jadhwani's pocket eights when two kings appeared during the rundown.
During three-handed action, Wisdom sported a large chip lead and his opponents were discussing chopping up second and third place money and letting Wisdom take first, but that deal fell through. Wisdom was asked if he got discouraged after being so close to locking up the tournament with a deal. He clearly wasn't as he said: "I'm excited to play more poker."
This is Wisdom's second WSOP Circuit ring. His first came in this exact event in 2017 when he beat out 71 players and took home $72,420. With this score, Wisdom will cross the $1M mark in lifetime tournament winnings, according to The Hendon Mob
WSOP Circuit Bicycle Casino $3,250 High Roller Final Table Results
| Place | Winner | Country | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrew Wisdom | United States | $75,390 |
| 2 | Yash Jadhwani | United States | $46,600 |
| 3 | Joo Park | United States | $31,665 |
| 4 | Massoud Eskandari | United States | $22,220 |
| 5 | Lee Gale | United States | $16,110 |
| 6 | Tony Orr | United States | $12,090 |
| 7 | Brian Mancilla | United States | $9,395 |
| 8 | Mohsin Charania | United States | $7,575 |
| 9 | Aaron Mathis | United States | $6,345 |
As for the stop's Casino Championship, Ronnie Tate's runner-up finish in the Main Event brought him up to 70 points to tie him with Alan Myerson. The tiebreaker was money won, and Tate was best in that regard to secure a seat in the 2020 Global Casino Championship.
WSOPC Bicycle Casino Ring Winners
| Tournament | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event #1: $400 NLH | 284 | $93,720 | Mihalache "Mike" Cean | $21,600 |
| Event #3: $250 NLH One-Day | 230 | $50,000 | Kristian Fabros | $11,550 |
| Event #4: $400 HORSE | 93 | $30,690 | Adam Kipnis | $9,185 |
| Event #5: $400 Monster Stack | 815 | $325,050 | Javi Javani | $61,795 |
| Event #6: $400 NLH | 53 | $17,490 | Mark Hamilton | $6,190 |
| Event #7: $400 NLH Turbo | 114 | $37,620 | Luis Yepez | $10,475 |
| Event #8: $400 NLH | 73 | $24,090 | Ian Steinman | $7,735 |
| Event #9: $400 Omaha 8 or Better | 96 | $31,680 | Carol Fuchs | $9,290 |
| Event #10: $1,125 NLH | 94 | $94,000 | Michael Dollins | $27,565 |
| Event #12: $600 NLH | 178 | $91,670 | Joe Matton | $22,775 |
| Event #13: $1,700 Main Event | 487 | $737,805 | Said El Harrak | $147,435 |
| Event #14: $3,250 High Roller | 83 | $249,000 | Andrew Wisdom | $75,390 |
| Event #15: $250 NLH | 211 | $42,200 | Justin Chauvin | $10,010 |
That concludes PokerNews coverage of the WSOP Circuit Bicycle Casino $1,700 Main Event and $3,250 High Roller! Join us again next time for the following stop!
