Lena Zhao Wins Event #2 for First Ring
While PokerNews is here offering live updates from the High Roller and Main Event, we’d be remiss if we didn’t tell you about the full schedule of side events that have been playing out over the past week at the World Series of Poker Circuit Horseshoe Hammond.
In Event #2: $250 NLH Double Stack, 541 runners created a $108,200 prize pool that was paid out to the top 82 players. Among those to cash but fall short of the official final table were Eric Mardsen (10th- $1,584), Isidro Sandoval (12th - $1,584), Dimitre Dimitrov (17th - $1,067), Guillermo Vargas (19th - $893), Robert Richmond (22nd - $759) and Josh Reichard (40th - $417).
In the end, it was Illinois native Lena Zhao who collected every chip in play to win her first gold ring along with a $21,031 payday.
This two-day tournament was a true grind, with play continuing for a little over 10 hours and Zhao didn't let the length wear her down.
Zhao came into the final day with the chip lead but went to the final table as one of the shortest stacks with only 820,00, but after a long grind at the final table couple, she got the hands she had been waiting for to seal the deal.
“I work a full-time job so I don’t get to play as much as I want to,” Zhao continued, “I only get to play the events that come through here so it feels so good to win my first ring.”
Zhao has a pretty rough work schedule but intends to continue the Circuit stop at Hammond and earn some points towards the 2020 Global Casino Championship.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lena Zhao | Chicago, IL | $21,031 |
| 2 | Patrick Novak | Chicago, IL | $13,005 |
| 3 | Andres Garcia | Skokie, IL | $9,565 |
| 4 | Ryan Marin | Elgin, IL | $7,122 |
| 5 | John Allen | Romeoville, IL | $5,370 |
| 6 | Raynanza Duke | Louisville, KY | $4,099 |
| 7 | Melissa Bartelme | Muskego, WI | $3,170 |
| 8 | Scott Weitzenfeld | Arlington Heights, IL | $2,483 |
| 9 | Frank Cerminara | Kenosha, WI | $1,970 |