2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Ameristar St. Charles

$1,700 Main Event
Day: 1b
Event Info

2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Ameristar St. Charles

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
j9
Prize
$130,667
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,700
Entries
414
Level Info
Level
29
Blinds
40,000 / 80,000
Ante
80,000
Players Info - Day 1b
Entries
258
Players Left
42

Personal Dog Trainer Matt Koch Fetches a Ring in Event #3: $400 NLH

Level 6 : 200/400, 400 ante
Matt Koch
Matt Koch

PokerNews is on site at the Ameristar St. Charles for the latest World Series of Poker Circuit stop, and while we’re only doing live updates from the $1,700 Main Event, it’s not the only tournament that’s been playing out inside the casino.

For the past week, a slew of side events has taken place and awarded gold rings to the lucky winners. One such tournament was Event #3: $400 No-Limit Hold’em, which drew 157 runners and created a $51,810 prize pool.

Among those to cash but fall short of making the final table were Dennis Phillips (11th - $898), Brian McDaniel (13th - $763), Kyle Everett (18th - $667), and Tammi Ledbetter (24th - $555).

The tournament ended with Matt Koch, a 43-year-old personal dog trainer, on top. Not only did he capture his first ring, he notched his first-ever WSOP cash, good for $13,567.

“Really more than anything, I just got lucky,” Koch stated. “I got very lucky with hands, with flips, with everything. That table was filled with talent… I will chalk this one up to just a little bit of skill and a whole lot of luck.”

He continued: “This is kind of my first foray back into [poker]. I think the last time I played a tournament was two years ago. I’ve kind of taken a hiatus from poker for about four, or five, years; been pretty busy at work.”

“I was extremely excited. I took a bunch of days off of work, which is abnormal for me … I did take next weekend off, so I’m thinking about playing in the Main Event. I think that I’ll probably have to now.”

Final Table Results

PlacePlayerHometownPrize
1Matthew KochByrnes Mill, Missouri$13,567
2Charles LeRoiSt. Louis, Missouri$8,385
3Matthew GreenCanton, Georgia$5,829
4Jerod SmithTroy, Illinois$4,147
5Robert KeelingPortland, Missouri$3,020
6Christopher UnderwoodMooresville, Indiana$2,253
7Jake OrtizO'Fallon, Illinois$1,351
8Andros IoakimidesBallwin, Missouri$1,351
9Jeffrey CopelandSaint Peters, Missouri$1,087

Tags: Christopher UnderwoodBrian McDanielAndros IoakimidesDennis PhillipsJeffrey CopelandJerod SmithMatthew GreenRobert Keeling