WSOPC Cherokee: Spencer Smith Wins Two Rings & Denies Daniel Lowery 14th Ring

Connor Richards
Editor & Live Reporter U.S.
3 min read
Spencer Smith

The latest World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) stop is underway at Harrah's Cherokee in North Carolina and already has awarded a player multiple Circuit rings. That player is Georgia's Spencer Smith, who picked up his third and fourth rings for a payday of $153,000.

The WSOPC Cherokee stop started on May 4 and will run until May 15, which is when the currently underway $1,700 buy-in Main Event will reach a winner.

Hard Work Pays Off

Smith, an attorney and poker pro from Atlanta with $409,088 in Hendon Mob earnings, started off his hot run by getting through a massive field of 2,232 runners in Event #2: $400 No-Limit Hold'em to win his third Circuit ring and $104,177.

Spencer Smith
Spencer Smith

Smith defeated heads-up opponent Tony Peacock ($64,392) after the fall of Daniel Lowery (3rd - $47,818), who was looking for a record-tying 14th Circuit ring after winning his 13th ring at WSOPC Horseshoe Tunica in April.

Just a few days later, Smith found himself at another final table in Event #6: $400 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed and walked away with a fourth ring and $41,949.

Nearly all of Smith's live cashes have been recorded in Cherokee, including both of his previous Circuit ring victories. Smith first took down a $400 Monster Stack event in February 2022 for $106,113 before winning the same event two months later for $107,458.

Smith is a student of Faraz Jaka Coaching and the poker coach called his student's back-to-back victories "epic."

Other Winners at Cherokee

Another early highlight at WSOPC Cherokee was North Carolina's Daniel Kusnerak picking up his second ring with a victory in Event #1: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Big 30K Stack for $26,954. Kusnerak earned his first ring in 2018 in the same venue when he took down a $365 No-Limit Hold'em event for $30,894.

Daniel Kusnerak
Daniel Kusnerak

Later in the series, Florida's Simon Philip won his third ring and $48,050 with a victory in the $400 Seniors Event. Both of Philip's previous ring victories were in Seniors events at Horseshoe Hammond in 2019 and 2020.

Other players to pick up Circuit rings include John Evans (Event #7: $600 No-Limit Hold'em - $30,266) and John Petro, who won a second ring by taking down Event #5: $1,100 No-Limit Hold'em for $57,137.

A full list of winners so far at WSOPC Cherokee is available in the table below.

Winners So Far at WSOPC Cherokee

 EVENTENTRANTSPRIZE POOLWINNERHOMETOWNPRIZE (IN USD)
 WSOPC Event #1: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Big 30K Stack398$131,340Daniel KusnerakNewton, NC$26,954
 WSOPC Event #2: $400 No-Limit Hold'em2,232$736,560Spencer SmithAtlanta, GA$104,177
 WSOPC Event #3: $400 No-Limit Hold'em602$198,660Christopher StorieAsheboro, NC$37,630
 WSOPC Event #4: $400 Seniors Event837$276,210Simon PhilipPensacola, FL$48,050
 WSOPC Event #5: $1,100 No-Limit Hold'em255$248,625John PetroFredericksburg, VA$57,137
 WSOPC Event #6: $400 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed668$220,440Spencer SmithAtlanta, GA$41,949
 WSOPC Event #7: $600 No-Limit Hold'em264$135,960John EvansVinncennes, IN$30,266
 WSOPC Event #8: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Monster StackTBDTBDTBDTBDTBD
 WSOPC Event #9: $600 Pot-Limit Omaha245$126,175Seth WeinbergKey West, FL$28,694

Lead photos courtesy WSOP

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Connor Richards
Editor & Live Reporter U.S.

Connor Richards is an Editor & Live Reporter for PokerNews and host of the Life Outside Poker podcast. Connor has been nominated for two Global Poker Awards for his writing.

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