Byron Ziebell checked a 
flop from the big blind, and Kevin Saul bet 2,500 into a pot of 4,500 from under the gun. Ziebell called.
Both players checked the 
turn and 
river, and Ziebell tabled 
. Saul mucked.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
68,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
47,000
-9,000
|
-9,000 |
|
||
While PokerNews is here offering live updates from the 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 Potawatomi.
In Event #6: $400 NLH Six-Max Turbo, 224 runners created a $73,920 prize pool that was paid out to the top 34 players. Among those to cash but fall short of the official final table were Karsen Mitshe (10th- $1,568), Yoon Kim (12th - $1,243), John Sun (14th - $1,014), Jorden Helstern (17th - $850) and Chad Holloway (25th - $654).
In the end, it was Chicago native Todd Sladek who collected every chip in play to win his first gold ring along with a $17,630 payday.
The fast-paced tournament saw bodies dropping like flies but eventually slowed down once chips stacks were even with three-handed action.
It was there when Sladek called Michael Kaul’s all-in holding a suited ace-ten to Kaul’s pocket nines. There wasn’t much of a sweat as Sladek flopped a ten to send Kaul out in third place.
The heads-up battle between Sladek and Steven Phelps only lasted one hand after Sladek jammed after the flop holding top-pair, eight- nine suited, only to be out-kicked by Phelp’s holding ace-eight. The turn was no help to Sladek but then the dealer dropped a nine on the river to give Sladek two-pair securing his first victory on the Circuit.
“I’ve been trying to close one out for a couple of years now so this feels great,” Sladek said after his victory.
The win comes just a few days after his good friend’s Cody Brinn’s fourth-place finish in Event #1 and Jorden Helstern’s victory in Event #4, which Sladek stated, “We are on fire! This victory gives us some ammo to finish out the circuit season very strong and hopefully seal the deal for Casino Champion.”
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Todd Sladek | Chicago, IL | $17,630 |
| 2 | Steven Phelps | Land O'Lakes, WI | $10,895 |
| 3 | Michael Kaul | Appleton, WI | $7,416 |
| 4 | Justin Bond | Irving, TX | $5,169 |
| 5 | Jeffrey Schwartz | Greendale, WI | $3,693 |
| 6 | Michael Scorsone | Menomonee Falls, WI | $2,705 |
| 7 | Quin Mallette | Dallas, TX | $2,033 |
| 8 | Tsz Shing | Brooklyn, NY | $2,033 |
| 9 | James Smith II | Delavan, WI | $1,568 |
In a battle of the blinds, Michael Wolff bet 25,000 on a 
board into a pot of 4,000, more than enough to cover the big blind and his remaining 11,500.
The big blind tanked for a few minutes, and a clock was called. Shortly into the thirty-second countdown, the big blind called, only to muck after Wolff turned over 
for trip tens.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
50,000
18,500
|
18,500 |
Three players saw an 
flop together, and action checked to Dave Grandin in the hijack. He bet 2,400 into a pot of 5,000, and only a player in the big blind called.
The big blind checked in the dark before the 
fell on the turn, and Grandin quickly announced a bet of 7,000. The big blind folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
84,000
7,000
|
7,000 |
Nicola Ditrapani came by the PokerNews media desk to share the details of a giant pot that led to his demise between himself and Craig Trost.
Trost raised to 2,000 on the button, and Ditrapani defended his big blind.
Both players checked a 
flop, and Ditrapani check-called a bet of 1,800 on the 
turn.
The 
fell on the river, and Ditrapani checked again. Trost bet 9,500, and Ditrapani check-raised to 35,000. Trost shoved, and Ditrapani said, "I know you have kings, but..." and called for Trost's last 30,000 or so in chips. Trost indeed held , and Ditrapani showed his defeated . Ditrapani was left short and busted a short time later.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
150,000 | |
|
Busted |
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The remaining field is off on a one-hour dinner break.
Level: 10
Blinds: 500/1,000
Ante: 1,000
While PokerNews is here offering live updates from the 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 Potawatomi.
In Event #7: $600 NLH Eight-Max, 162 runners created a $83,430 prize pool that was paid out to the top 25 players. Among those to cash but fall short of the official final table were Brian McDaniel (10th- $1,718), Josh Reichard (11th - $1,432), Mike Shin (12th - $1,432), Steve Buell (13th - $1,231), Cody Brinn (22nd - $947) and Byron Ziebell (23rd - $947).
Once the final table was reached, it was a stacked one to say the least as it featured WSOP bracelet winner Chad Holloway, two-time ring winner Lee Rzentkowski, three-time ring winner Nick Pupillo, ring winner Travis Lauson and two-time ring winner Darin Utley.
“There were so many amazing players at this final table and it was amazing to be at it with them,” Reichard stated.
The final table kept the turbo style momentum as players were dropping left and right until about six-handed action. It was here when “Pops” started to go on an elimination run ending Utley’s tournament along with Paul Ewen and Thai Dinh.
Three-handed action saw “Pops” drop from the chip lead, but another late heater saw him crack Lauson’s pocket jacks holding ace-ten of clubs and then eliminate him holding a pair of jacks.
The heads-up match saw “Pops” in control with majority of the chips in play and it wasn’t long before MSPT Champ Ken Komberec got his remaining chips in the middle holding pocket kings and was called by Reichard holding ace-queen of spades. There wasn’t much of a sweat as there was an ace in the window securing Reichard’s third ring while Komberec took his exit in second place.
“I really don’t know what to say except, WOW!” Reichard exclaimed after his victory.
“Ken played just great, but I ran ridiculously good at this final table. I mean I cracked his kings in the very last hand of the tournament, like come on.” Reichard stated.
Reichard went on to say, “I didn’t do anything besides show up tonight and it was just my turn.”
The tournament was scheduled to be a 2 Day event, but it ran like a turbo as “Pops” only needed one full day to close out the win.
“This casino treats me and Josh very well. We both run really good here with this being my second ring while Josh has won four, it’s just really a special place for us.”
The Wisconsin native was awarded another piece of WSOP hardware, adding to his collection after winning his first gold ring back in August of 2016 at Harrah's Cherokee while his second came here at Potawatomi just last year. More significantly, for Reichard, he also picked up $21,611 for his first-place achievements and handed out the challenge to his son Josh.
“For my closing statement, this kid over here (Josh) has won a ring every time the circuit has been here, so I say this... let’s go boy!”
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brett Reichard | Janesville, WI | $21,611 |
| 2 | Ken Komberec | Menomonee Falls, WI | $13,359 |
| 3 | Travis Lauson | Manitowoc, WI | $9,214 |
| 4 | Thai Dinh | Duluth, MN | $6,517 |
| 5 | Paul Ewen | Hartley, IA | $4,728 |
| 6 | Darin Utley | Cedar Rapids, IA | $3,522 |
| 7 | Nick Pupillo | Gilbert, AZ | $2,696 |
| 8 | Chad Holloway | Reedsburg, WI | $2,121 |
| 9 | Lee Rzentowski | Madison, WI | $1,718 |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
173,000
23,000
|
23,000 |
|
124,000
32,000
|
32,000 |
|
105,200
20,200
|
20,200 |
|
||
|
105,000
35,000
|
35,000 |
|
98,000
72,000
|
72,000 |
|
82,000
33,000
|
33,000 |
|
63,000
52,300
|
52,300 |
|
39,600
6,600
|
6,600 |
|
39,400
9,400
|
9,400 |
|
||
|
|
36,000
7,000
|
7,000 |
|
34,200
9,200
|
9,200 |
|
30,000
7,000
|
7,000 |
|
23,000
23,000
|
23,000 |
|
20,500
-3,500
|
-3,500 |
|
|
Busted | |