THE FINAL 100
New Orleans, LA (May 21, 2011) – The 2010-2011 World Series of Poker Circuit season began nine months ago and is now just days away from a thrilling conclusion.  There’s only one more tournament still to be played.  Most will agree – we’ve saved the best for last.
 
The first-ever WSOP Circuit National Championship tournament will take place at legendary Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, from May 27-29.  The $1 million No-Limit Hold’em tournament will consist of only 100 qualifiers who have played and cashed in at least one of the 15 WSOP Circuit stops held this season.  More than 20,000 poker players participated in the 154 qualifying gold ring events which were offered at 15 WSOP Circuit locations.  However, only the top 100 ranked players earned seats into the finale.
 
After a spirited competition at the final WSOP Circuit venue – which was Harrah’s New Orleans -- the 100 qualifiers have now officially been determined.  Qualifiers came from four different avenues.  First, every WSOP Circuit $1,500 Main Event winner earned a seat (15 positions).  Then, the Best All-Around player (based on combined total points accumulated) from each WSOP Circuit stop earned a seat (15 positions).  Then, all four of the Regional Championship tournament final table participants earned seats (36 positions).  After double-qualifiers were factored, that left a total of 37 “at-large” spots remaining for players who earned the most overall ranking points during the entire course of the tournament season.
 
What follows is a list of the 100 players who are now eligible to participate in the WSOP Circuit National Championship tournament:

James Anderson -- Midwest Regional Champion -- 500 pts -- 1 ring -- 1 cash -- $525,449 in prize money
Chris Bell -- Eastern Regional Champion -- 500 pts -- 1 ring -- 1 cash -- $358,295 in prize money
Ali Eslami -- Western Regional Champion -- 500 pts -- 1 ring -- 1 cash -- $282,242 in prize money
Chris Klodnicki -- Eastern Regional Final Table -- 475 pts -- 0 rings -- 2 cashes -- $253,757 in prize money
Gabe Patgorski -- Midwest Regional Final Table -- 375 pts -- 0 rings -- 1 cash -- $324,770 in prize money
Tim West -- Western  Regional Final Table -- 375 pts -- 0 rings -- 1 cash -- $174,443 in prize money
Bernard Lee -- Midwest Regional Final Table -- 320 pts -- 0 rings -- 2 cash -- $242,950 in prize money
Ketan Pandya -- Eastern Regional Final Table -- 300 pts -- 0 rings -- 1 cash -- $159,851 in prize money
Duane Blanchard -- Western Regional Final Table -- 300 pts -- 0 rings -- 1 cash -- $124,204 in prize money
Curt Kohlberg -- Midwest Regional Final Table -- 275 pts -- 0 rings -- 1 cash -- $174,807 in prize money
Micah Raskin -- Eastern Regional Final Table -- 275 pts -- 0 rings -- 1 cash -- $117,457 in prize money
Steve Brecher -- Western Regional Final Table -- 275 pts -- 0 rings -- 1 cash -- $90,223 in prize money
Dwyte Pilgrim -- Western Regional Final Table -- 275 pts -- 0 rings -- 4 cashes --$86,015 in prize money
Dave Sands -- Midwest Regional Final Table -- 250 pts -- 0 rings -- 1 cash -- $131,299 in prize money
Todd Terry -- Eastern Regional Final Table -- 250 pts -- 0 rings -- 1 cash -- $87,808 in prize money
David Peters (CA) -- Western Regional Final Table -- 250 pts -- 0 rings -- 1 cash -- $66,834 in prize money
Kurt Jewell -- Hammond Main Event Champion -- 242.5 pts -- 2 rings -- 6 cashes -- $285,378 in prize money
Matthew Waxman -- Harrah's Atlantic City Main Event Champion -- 235 pts -- 1 ring -- 3 cashes -- $158,353 in prize money (the only player to double-qualify)
Shannon Shorr -- Midwest Regional Final Table -- 235 pts -- 0 rings -- 2 cashes -- $101,171 in prize money
Miller Dao -- Western Regional Final Table -- 230 pts -- 1 ring -- 3 cashes -- $88,734 in prize money
Kyle Cartwright -- Tunica Casino Champion -- 227.5 pts -- 3 rings -- 5 cashes -- $207,205 in prize money
Andy Frankenberger -- Eastern Regional Final Table -- 225 pts -- 0 rings -- 1 cash -- $66,758 in prize money
Dana Kellstrom -- Western Regional Final Table -- 225 pts -- 0 rings -- 1 cash -- $50,455 in prize money
Charles "Woody" Moore -- S. Indiana Main Event Champion -- 210 pts -- 1 ring -- 7 cashes -- $145,027 in prize money
Brandon Adams -- Midwest Regional Final Table -- 200 pts -- 0 rings -- 1 cash -- $77,556 in prize money
Jason Burt -- Eastern Regional Final Table -- 200 pts -- 0  rings -- 1 cash -- $51,607 in prize money
Huy Nguyen -- Choctaw Main Event Champion -- 190 pts -- 2 rings -- 4 cashes -- $271,536 in prize money
Tony Hartmann -- Midwest Regional Final Table -- 180 pts -- 0 rings -- 2 cashes -- $63,695 in prize money
Nicholas Mitchell -- Eastern Regional Final Table -- 175 pts -- 0 rings -- 1 cash -- $40,538 in prize money
Dylan Wilkerson -- Western Regional Final Table -- 175 pts -- 0 rings -- 1 cash -- $30,397 in prize money
Mstr Lynch -- Rincon Casino Champion -- 170 pts -- 2 rings -- 4 cashes -- $157,227 in prize money
Mark Owens -- Midwest Regional Final Table -- 150 pts -- 0 rings -- 1 cash -- $48,615 in prize money
Seth Fischer -- Eastern Regional Final Table -- 150 pts -- 0 rings -- 1 cash -- $32,362 in prize money
Seneca Easley -- Rincon Main Event Champion -- 135 pts -- 1 ring -- 5 cashes -- $81,413 in prize money
Samuel Barnhart -- Tunica Main Event Champion -- 132.5 pts -- 1 ring -- 4 cashes -- $154,357 in prize money
Ian Wiley -- Hammond Casino Champion -- 132.5 pts -- 1 ring -- 4 cashes -- $64,360 in prize money
Brian Ali -- Caesars Atlantic City Main Event Champion -- 130 pts -- 1 cash -- 2 cashes -- $158,911 in prize money
Bobbie Talbot -- IP Biloxi Casino Champion -- 125 pts -- 0 rings -- 6 cashes -- $63,444 in prize money
Brian Walsingham -- New Orleans Casino Champion -- 120 pts -- 2 rings -- 4 cashes -- $111,144 in prize money
Christopher Johnson -- Caesars Palace Main Event Champion -- 110 pts -- 1 ring -- 2 cashes -- $157,426 in prize money
Travis Lutes -- IP Biloxi Main Event Champion -- 110 pts -- 1 ring -- 2 cashes -- $96,855 in prize money
Stanley Quinn -- Lake Tahoe Main Event Champion -- 110 pts -- 1  ring -- 2 cashes -- $88,438 in prize money
Robert Georato -- Council Bluffs Casino Champion -- 107.5 pts -- 1 ring -- 6 cashes -- $33,696 in prize money
Jonathon Poche -- New Orleans Main Event Champion -- 100 pts -- 1 ring -- 1 cashes -- $121,017 in prize money
Kenny Nguyen -- Chester Main Event Champion -- 100 pts -- 1 ring -- 1 cashes -- $94,901 in prize money
Blair Hinkle -- Council Bluffs Main Event Champion -- 100 pts -- 1 ring -- 1 cashes -- $88,555 in prize money
Jesus Cabrera -- Harrah's Atlantic City Casino Champion -- 95 pts -- 0 rings -- 2 cashes -- $77,440 in prize money
Adam Hui -- Caesars Palace Casino Champion -- 95 pts -- 0 rings -- 3 cashes -- $60,860 in prize money
Andrew Barber -- Lake Tahoe Casino Champion -- 95 pts -- 0 rings -- 4 cashes -- $20,744 in prize money
Robert Scott -- Chester Casino Champion -- 92.5 pts -- 0 rings -- 3 cashes -- $61,369 in prize money
Mun Nguyen -- Caesars Atlantic City Casino Champion -- 87.5 pts -- 1 ring -- 2 cashes -- $33,831 in prize money
Kevin Manley -- S. Indiana Casino Champion -- 87.5 pts -- 1 ring -- 2 cashes -- $25,498 in prize money
Phil Stelzer -- St. Louis Casino Champion -- 82.5 pts -- 0 ring -- 2 cashes -- $63,703 in prize money
Traci Brown -- Choctaw Casino Champion -- 75 pts -- 0 ring -- 1 cashes -- $143,462 in prize money
Mike Morton -- Palm Beach Casino Champion -- 75 pts -- 0 ring -- 1 cashes -- $130,057 in prize money
Harry Cullen -- Southern Regional Final Table (pending -- TBD)
Allie Prescott -- Southern Regional Final Table (pending -- TBD)
A.J. Jejelowd -- Southern Regional Final Table (pending -- TBD)
Kunal Patel -- Southern Regional Final Table (pending -- TBD)
Gary Friedlander -- Southern Regional Final Table (pending -- TBD)
Jeremy Gaubert -- Southern Regional Final Table (pending -- TBD)
Allen "Chainsaw" Kessler -- Southern Regional Final Table (pending -- TBD)
Scott Lipshutz -- Southern Regional Final Table (pending -- TBD)
Captain Tom Franklin -- Atlarge Bid -- 197.5 pts -- 1 ring -- 8 cashes -- $74,929 in prize money
Brett Schwertley -- Atlarge Bid -- 187.5 pts -- 2 rings -- 10 cashes -- $120,420 in prize money
Kevin Calenzo  -- Atlarge Bid -- 170 pts -- 0 rings -- 8 cashes -- $94,586 in prize
Roland Israelashvili -- Atlarge Bid -- 170 pts -- 1 ring -- 6 cashes -- $64,433 in prize money
Nick Jivkov -- Atlarge Bid -- 165 pts -- 1 ring -- 5 cashes -- $105,202 in prize money
Tuan Bui Le -- Atlarge Bid -- 165 pts -- 2 rings -- 7 cashes -- $56,001 in prize money
Jeremy Schwartz -- Atlarge Bid -- 162.5 pts -- 1 ring -- 4 cashes -- $75,238 in prize money
La Sengphet -- Atlarge Bid -- 155 pts -- 2 rings -- 7 cashes -- $67,094 in prize money
Shiva Dudani -- Atlarge Bid -- 152.5 pts -- 1 ring -- 5 cashes -- $73,799 in prize money
Joshua Evans -- Atlarge Bid -- 140 pts -- 0 rings -- 7 cashes -- $85,142 in prize money
Drazen Ilich -- Atlarge Bid -- 135 pts -- 1 rings -- 4 cashes -- $70,272 in prize money
Joel Merwick -- Atlarge Bid -- 135 pts -- 0 rings -- 7 cashes -- $43,516 in prize money
Justin Kruger -- Atlarge Bid -- 132.5 pts -- 1 rings -- 6 cashes -- $41,113 in prize money
Mark Sykes -- Atlarge Bid -- 130 pts -- 0 rings -- 5 cashes -- $69,952 in prize money
Matt Lawrence -- Atlarge Bid -- 130 pts -- 0 rings -- 10 cashes -- $52,781 in prize money
Peter Ippolito -- Atlarge Bid -- 130 pts -- 1 rings -- 5 cashes -- $40,962 in prize money
Trevor Deeter -- Atlarge Bid -- 125 pts -- 0 rings -- 9 cashes -- $30,398 in prize money
Jessie Bryant -- Atlarge Bid-- 125 pts -- 2 rings -- 5 cashes -- $29,770 in prize money
Brent Keller -- Atlarge Bid -- 125 pts -- 2 rings -- 3 cashes -- $25,207 in prize money
Will Souther -- Atlarge Bid -- 120 pts -- 1 ring -- 4 cashes -- $64,312 in prize money
Bruce Hoyt -- Atlarge Bid -- 117.5 pts -- 1 ring -- 6 cashes -- $16,665 in prize money
David Clark -- Atlarge Bid -- 112.5 pts -- 1 ring -- 9 cashes -- $59,525 in prize money
Steve Zolotow -- Atlarge Bid -- 112.5 pts -- 0 rings -- 3 cashes -- $43,034 in prize money
Michael Foster -- Atlarge Bid -- 112.5 pts -- 0 rings -- 7 cashes -- $42,893 in prize money
John Holley -- Atlarge Bid -- 112.5 pts -- 1 rings -- 4 cashes -- $31,436 in prize money
Peter Mavro -- Atlarge Bid -- 112.5 pts -- 0 rings -- 11 cashes -- $16,200 in prize money
Dennis Summers -- Atlarge Bid -- 110 pts -- 1 ring -- 3 cashes -- $39,317 in prize money
Scott Clark -- Atlarge Bid -- 110 pts -- 1 ring -- 4 cashes -- $18,233 in prize money
Michael Traylor -- Atlarge Bid -- 107.5 pts -- 0 rings -- 7 cashes -- $54,941 in prize money
Matthew Lope -- Atlarge Bid -- 107.5 pts -- 1 ring -- 4 cashes -- $50,807 in prize money
Nadir Babck -- Atlarge Bid -- 105 pts -- 1 ring -- 7 cashes -- $26,835 in prize money
Brett Richey -- Atlarge Bid -- 105 pts -- 0 rings -- 2 cashes -- $25,574 in prize money
Casey Hayes -- Atlarge Bid -- 102.5 pts -- 0 rings -- 4 cashes -- $35,158 in prize money
Doug Carli -- Atlarge Bid -- 102.5 pts -- 0 rings -- 8 cashes -- $16,839 in prize money  
Stephen Kats -- Atlarge Bid -- 100 pts -- 0 rings -- 7 cashes -- $43,522 in prize money
David Paredes  -- Atlarge Bid -- 100 pts -- 0 rings -- 1 cash -- $39,346 in prize money
Dan Perper -- Atlarge Bid -- 100 pts -- 0 rings -- 1 cash -- $39,346 in prize money

All qualifiers are advised to appear at the Caesars Palace poker room in Las Vegas on May 27th.  Players must present a valid ID and their Total Rewards card in order to play.  The No-Limit Hold’em tournament will begin at 12 noon and shall proceed over the following three days.  The total prize pool amounts to $1 million.  The finale will be nationally televised on The Versus Network.
 
The race to earn seats in the National Championship was frantic, particularly during the later half of the season.  Many players came very close to qualifying, but just missed the cutoff, which was 100 points.  Players who earned 100 points were tied, so the tiebreaker was amount of prize money earned.  David Paredes and Dan Perper were the last players to qualify, based on scores (which were identical).
 
The NATIONAL LEADERBOARD includes every player who earned points this season and can be viewed here.  EVENT LEADERBOARDS from each separate WSOP Circuit stop can also be viewed at this link.
 
The 2010-2011 WSOP Circuit enjoyed its most successful and exciting season ever.  Attendance was up at virtually all Circuit stops.   Furthermore, there three new venues were added to the schedule and introduced thousands of new players to the thrill of playing in a WSOP-related tournament for the first time.
 
Stay tuned to WSOP.com for announcements about the forthcoming 2011-2012 WSOP Circuit season.

Special thanks to all the great staffs who helped make the WSOP Circuit such a tremendous success.
 
A big “thank you” goes out to all of the dedicated poker players around the county who traveled to various WSOP Circuit locations trying to gain points in order to qualify.  We wish each of you much success at the WSOP in Las Vegas this summer, and beyond.
 
And finally -- congratulations to the 100 poker players who qualified!  
 
See you in Las Vegas!

Note 1:  John Riordan, the Main Event winner from the Palm Beach Kennel Club, was not eligible to play in the National Championship, because he is only 18-years-old.  He was eligible to play in Florida where the legal age of entry is 18.  However, Nevada’s legal age is 21-years-old.  That opened up one additional at-large position.