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2014/2015 WSOP Circuit - HORSESHOE COUNCIL BLUFFS (Omaha/Iowa)

Friday, April 17, 2015 to Monday, April 20, 2015

EVENT #10A/B: MAIN EVENT

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  • Buy-in: $1,675
  • Prizepool: $352,500
  • Entries: 235
  • Remaining: 0

EVENT UPDATES

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Monday, April 20, 2015 2:40 PM Local Time

Michelle Chin

History was made on Monday at Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa when Michelle Chin became the first-ever female champion of a World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event. Chin bested a star-studded final table to take home her first gold ring and $88,126 in first-place prize money. Chin's victory also earns her a seat in the National Championship which will occur in Cherokee, North Carolina July 29-31.

Chin, a native of Taiwan, made her journey to the States 12 years ago. She currently resides in Wichita, Kansas where she was at one time a restaurant owner. Despite currently being between jobs, Chin wishes to be classified as a recreational player rather than a professional.

Chin burst onto the tournament poker scene earlier this year, scoring her first recorded cash with a victory in the WSOP Circuit Choctaw Ladies event. Just a few months later she managed to cement her spot in poker history becoming the Circuit's first female champion. Chin admitted to primarily playing cash games and said she decided to play the Main Event to try something new. Chin came into the final table as the commanding chip leader and made a habit of consistently applying pressure to her opponents. She retained her chip lead as the final four players returned for Day 3 and eliminated each of her three remaining competitors in 45 short minutes.

“It feels really great," Chin said after her victory. "This is probably at most the 10th tournament I’ve ever played in my life. It’s just awesome to make history.”

Following her victory, Chin was surprised and excited to learn of her status as the Circuit's first female champion in its 11-year history.

“It means a lot to me (to be the Circuit’s first female Main Event champion)," She said. "There aren’t too many women in the poker community. We like to see more and more women play because it is a fun game. No matter what sex you are you should be able to enjoy it. It means a lot to me. I hope I encourage a lot of other girls to come out and play.”

The first casualty of the day came just ten minutes into play. Harvey's Lake Tahoe Circuit Main Event champion Jesse Wilke came into the day looking for his second Main Event title of the season, only to fall at Chin's hands in fourth place for $29,317. Circuit regular and ring winner Michael Sanders was the next player to go, failing to hold after a preflop all in against Chin. Sanders collected $39,624 in prize money. This left Mike Lang to battle Chin during heads up play. Lang had a significant chip disadvantage and, despite a valiant effort, was unable to gain any ground against Chin's domination. On the final hand, Chin's pocket sevens rivered a set against Lang's pair to seal the deal.

The Council Bluffs Main Event drew a grand total of 235 entries over two starting flights. This allowed for a total prize pool of $352,500. The top 24 players in the field made the money with a min-cash worth $3,254. Some of the notable names to make the money include Nathan Bjerno (24th), two-time defending champion Blair Hinkle (20th), all-time ring leader Alex Masek (17th), 2011 WSOP bracelet winner Eric Rodawig (14th), and two-time ring winner Chris Karambinis (11th).

Final results:

1st: Michelle Chin - $88,126
2nd: Mike Lang - $54,468
3rd: Michael Sanders - $39,642
4th: Jesse Wilke - $29,317
5th: Greg Jennings - $22,021
6th: Michael Jensen - $16,797
7th: Tom Moss - $13,007
8th: Gregory Beaufait - $10,223
9th: Richard Fitzgerald - $8,153

Full results are available under the "Results" tab above.

Monday, April 20, 2015 1:56 PM Local Time

Mike Lang

Mike Lang has the button. He raises to 60,000 and Michelle Chin three-bets to 150,000 from the big blind. Lang four-bets all in for approximately 950,000 total. Chin instantly calls and Lang lets out a sigh.

Chin:   
Lang:   

"Well, I've got two overs," says Lang.

The flop coems down    , keeping Chin's sevens out in front. That all changes on the turn, however, as the   hits the felt to pair Lang. Suddenly, Chin is behind and in need of one of the two remaining sevens in the deck to score the victory. Unfortunately for Lang, that's exactly what rolls off as the   completes the board. Lang is eliminated as the runner up for $54,468 and Chin becomes the first female Circuit Main Event champion!

Michelle Chin - 4.7 million
Mike Lang - Eliminated

Monday, April 20, 2015 1:51 PM Local Time

Michelle Chin

Mike Lang has the button. He opens with a raise to 60,000 only to have Michelle Chin three-bet to 125,000 from the big blind. Lang calls and the flop comes down    . Chin checks, Lang bets 75,000, and Chin calls. The   falls on fourth street and both players check, allowing the   to finish the board. Chin fires 100,000 and Lang quickly gets out of the way.

Michelle Chin - 3.75 million (125 BBs)
Mike Lang - 1 million (33 BBs)

Monday, April 20, 2015 1:39 PM Local Time

Michelle Chin raises to 65,000 and Mike Lang calls from the big blind.

The flop is     and Lang checks. Chin bets 65,000 again. Lang check-raises making it 150,000 to go. Chin calls.

The turn is the  . Lang moves all in for about 750,000. Chin doesn't like the bet. She sits uneasy for a bit before she folds. Lang wins the pot.

Michelle Chin - 3,565,000 (118 BBs)
Mike Lang 1,135,000 (37 BBs)

Monday, April 20, 2015 1:32 PM Local Time

Mike Lang has the button. He opens with a raise to 60,000 only to have Michelle Chin three-bet to 140,000. Lang wastes little time cutting out a four-bet to 335,000.

Chin shifts in her seat a bit and asks the dealer to cut down his four-bet for the exact amount. After about 20 seconds, she announces a five-bet all in. Lang flicks his cards into the muck and Chin is awarded the pot.

Michelle Chin - 3.75 million (125 BBs)
Mike Lang - 950,000 (31 BBs)

Playtika - Jason Alexander
Monday, April 20, 2015 1:29 PM Local Time

Michael Sanders

Michael Sanders (pictured) opens the small blind for 65,000. It's on Michelle Chin in the big blind and she shoves. Sanders calls and tables   . Chin sighs as she tables   .

The flop comes safe for Sanders when it falls    .

The   on the turn improves Chin to a pair and Sanders heads to the river needing an ace or a 10.

The river completes the board with the   and Sanders is eliminated in 3rd place earning $39,642.

Michelle Chin has now busted Jesse Wilke and Sanders and holds 3,250,000 of the 4,700,000 chips in play heads up with Mike Lang.

Michelle Chin - 4,700,000 (156 BBs)
Mike Lang - 1,450,000 (48 BBs)
Michael Sanders - Eliminated

Monday, April 20, 2015 1:21 PM Local Time

Mike Lang opens to 60,000 from his button and finds a call from Michelle Chin in the big blind. The flop comes     and Chin checks. Lang continues out for 100,000 and finds a call from his opponent.

The turn brings the   to the felt and both players check, allowing the   to hit the river. Chin bets 175,000 and Lang instantly calls.

"Five high," says Chin.

Lang rolls over    and is awarded the pot. This win brings his stack up to 1.3 million in chips.

Mike Lang - 1.3 million (43 BBs)
Michelle Chin - 2.75 million (91 BBs)

Monday, April 20, 2015 1:16 PM Local Time

Jesse Wilke

Michelle Chin opens for 65,000. It folds around to this season's Harveys Lake Tahoe Main Event champion Jesse Wilke (pictured) in the big blind. Wilke, who's the shortstack at the table, moves all in for 455,000. Chin verifies the amount, then calls.

Chin:   
Wilke:   

Wilke is racing for his tournament life.

He takes the lead in the hand with a pair of tens when the flop comes    . In addition to the pair, he has outs to improve to a straight as they head to the turn.

Fourth street hits Chin though, falling the   and improving her to a set.

The river brings a blank -- the   -- and Wilke's hopes of two titles during the 2014/2015 Circuit season have come to an end in 4th place earning $29,317. Chin, meanwhile, takes a healthy chip lead to three-handed play. The remaining players are now assured $39,642

Michelle Chin - 2,975,000 (99 BBs)
Jesse Wilke - Eliminated

Monday, April 20, 2015 1:08 PM Local Time

Michelle Chin is first to act and opens the action to 60,000. It folds over to Jesse Wilke in the big blind and he comes along for the ride. The flop is     and Wilke check-calls a continuation bet of 60,000.

Fourth street is the   and Wilke checks for a second time. Chin reaches for chips and moves 125,000 past the betting line. Wilke calls once more. The river is the   and Wilke checks one final time. Chin cuts out a bet of 200,000 and Wilke instantly verbalizes a call.

Chin rolls over    for top pair and Wilke shakes his head. He flashes the   before throwing his hand into the muck.

Michelle Chin - 2.25 million (75 BBs)
Jesse Wilke - 590,000 (19 BBs)

Monday, April 20, 2015 1:02 PM Local Time
Level: 26
Blinds: 15,000/30,000
Ante: 5,000
Playtika - Jason Alexander
Monday, April 20, 2015 1:01 PM Local Time

Cards are in the air for Day 3 of the Horseshoe Council Bluffs Main Event.

Monday, April 20, 2015 10:51 AM Local Time

DSC01116

The third and final day of play in the World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event at Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa begins at noon CT. The tournament is down to the final four participants with Michelle Chin leading the way and hoping to become the first female Circuit champion. On her heels are this season's Harveys Lake Tahoe Main Event winner Jesse Wilke (pictured), first-time WSOP casher Mike Lang and ring winner Michael Sanders.

Here's a look at how the players stack up:

Seat 1: Jesse Wilke - 1,035,000 (34 BBs)
Seat 2: Michelle Chin - 1,805,000 (60 BBs)
Seat 3: Mike Lang - 1,060,000 (35 BBs)
Seat 4: Michael Sanders - 800,000 (26 BBs)

Each of the remaining participants is assured $29,317 while the tournament's winner pockets $88,126 a Circuit gold ring and a berth in the season-ending National Championship.

Live updates throughout the tournament's completion will be available right here on WSOP.com.