$1,700 becomes $175,000 after just a few days of action
Michael Persky was crowned the latest World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) champion, winning the WSOP Graton Main Event in Northern California for $175,595. The series was the first Circuit event at Graton Casino & Resort, hosting 20 Circuit ring events from August 10-21. The $1,700 buy-in Main Event had 616 entrants and a $933,240 prize pool.
The Novato, California native beat Dan Sarasin of Thailand in heads-up play as the second-place finisher cashed in with a $100,528 prize. Jasthi Kumar failed to win his sixth Circuit ring and finished third for $80,135, and Benjamin Ludlow of New York took ninth place to win $16,868.
Persky also finished 20th in Event #1: $400 No-Limit Hold ’em Big 30K Stack for $1,077. He immediately took second place in Event #3: $600 No-Limit Hold ’em, winning $54,900 after falling to Albert Gorelik, who took the $88,888 first prize before going on to win Event #12: $1,125 No-Limit Hold ’em for his third ring and $30,004.
Other players that dominated at the series were Ari Engel, who won rings 14 and 15 in back-to-back events to tie Maurice Hawkins for first place on the career list, and Daniel Lowery, who won Event #13: $1,125 Pot-Limit Omaha for $21,518 and his 14th Circuit ring.
Allen Kessler won Event #15: $400 Stud 8 / Omaha 8 for $18,810 and his first Circuit ring in ten years, and Shirley Rosario won Event #8: $400 Limit Omaha 8 to win her third ring and a $9,193 prize.
