FIBBER McGHEE WINS FIRST TOURNAMENT

TUNICA, MS – While an ice storm brought temperatures down to the teens in Tunica, MS, Raymond "Fibber" McGhee remained hot throughout Day Two of Event #9 at the World Series of Poker Circuit Events at Harrah’s Tunica.

McGhee, a 67-year old retired police detective from Little Rock, AR made it through a 230 player field to reach the final table.

Ninth Place

A few hands after the elimination of 62-year old retired civil servant, Rob Talbot, Ray "Fibber" McGhee limped in under the gun, while Bruce Sturgeon moved all-in from the cutoff. McGhee made the call with and Sturgeon turned over . Fours on the flop and a 10 on the river completed the boat for McGhee and Sturgeon’s tournament run was finished. Ninth paid $1,341. Sturgeon, a furniture store owner from Bedford, IN took home $1,581.

Seventh Place

John "J.L." Murtagh went out in seventh place after moving all-in after flopping bottom pair on a flop. Murtagh got a call from Ben Clayborn, who hit top pair. Blanks on the turn and river sent Murtagh to the payout table to pick up $1,951 for seventh.

Sixth Place

Glyn Banks moved all-in with for his remaining 114,000 from middle position and was called by Danny Nelson from the button with the rest of his chips. Ben Carli, in the big blind, also called. Nelson showed pocket jacks while Carli turned over . The flop came to give Banks the nut flush draw. A and on the turn and river completed the flush to triple Banks up and eliminate Nelson. Nelson, a former NHRA drag racing world champion, collected $2,923 for sixth.

Fifth Place

Robert Russell was the fifth place finisher after running his pocket sixes into Glyn Banks’ pocket . All-in on a 10-high board, Russell’s day was finished. Fifth paid $3,895.

Fourth Place

Fourth place went to Ben Clayborn after he moved all-in with on the river on a board of . McGhee made the call, revealing for a flopped boat. Clayborn’s ninth major tournament final table resulted in a $4,867 payout.

Third Place

After mixing it up for a while with Banks, Carli was eliminated in third place after he moved his short stack all-in preflop with . McGhee made the call with . McGhee paired both of his pockets and completed the boat with a third 8 on the turn. Carli, nephew of all-time Circuit Event casher, Doug "Rico" Carli, took home $6,818 in his major tournament debut.

Second Place

Heads up action saw McGhee with a 2-1 chip lead over Banks. In the final hand of the night, Banks was all-in with vs. McGhee’s pocket jacks. Jacks held up to give McGhee $15,715 first place money and the Circuit Event ring. Banks, who had made a number of Circuit Event final tables and cashes, earned $9,611 for second.

McGhee is one of a number of Circuit Event winners who had never before played in a major tournament.

But don’t call him green.

"I’ve been playing poker fifty years," said McGhee. "I usually play high stakes cash games." "Fibber" McGhee got his nickname from the old time radio show, "Fibber McGhee and Molly." The married comedy duo performed on air from the mid 30’s until the late 50’s

McGhee says his 20-year career in law enforcement helped developed an important attribute that helped him win the tournament.

"Discipline," said McGhee.

Still to come are 10 more events and single-day non-ring $125 and $230 buy-in events which begin at 4 pm and 7pm. The WSOP Circuit at Harrah’s Tunica runs through February 10th.