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2014/2015 WSOP Circuit - HORSESHOE TUNICA (Mississippi)

Friday, January 30, 2015 to Monday, February 02, 2015

Event #10A/B: No-Limit Hold'em Main Event

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  • Buy-in: $1,675
  • Prizepool: $685,500
  • Entries: 457
  • Remaining: 0

EVENT UPDATES

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Monday, February 2, 2015 11:55 PM Local Time

Johnny Landreth Winner

A lifetime of poker, and Johnny Landreth finally has his ring. The Lanett, Ala. native won a marathon heads-up match against Tom Thomas to conquer a field of 457 in the Horseshoe Casino World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event and take down $147,388, his first gold WSOP Circuit ring, and book a seat in the National Championship.


Landreth, a 67-year-old retiree and father of five, said he's been playing poker his whole life. He's banked some solid scores in his career with the headliner being a win in a 2005 WPO event for $185,797. However, WSOP success had mostly eluded him until now. Now, he has something major to show for his efforts on the tour.

“I've got a lot of friends that have (a ring),” Landreth said. “I played a lot of events and it just hadn't fallen my way. It did this time.”

Landreth found himself in prime position to grab the win entering Day 3 as only eight players remained and he held a slight chip lead over Thomas with a massive gulf between those two and the rest of the players. Combined, the two brought more than 6,000,000 into the final day of the 9,140,000 total in play, good for more than 100 big blinds each as the day began at 15,000/30,000/5,000.

That meant the pressure was on for the rest of the competitors, and one by one, they were crushed under the overwhelming stacks of Landreth and Thomas who found themselves heads up with the gold Circuit ring in a tiny black box between them just over two hours into play. Landreth held about a two-to-one lead at that point. A marathon battle ensued, with neither player looking to take major risks given how deep the stacks were (shorter-stacked Thomas still had 72 big blinds). Landreth said he was prepared for the tough battle against an opponent whom he characterized as “really conservative.”

“I knew I was going to have to be patient, but I have to be aggressive on top of that,” he said. “You have to get to know a player, and that's what we did for so long, and that's why we started off so slow.”

While many heads-up matches feature very aggressive play and massive swings, this one featured more gradual, but still stark, shifts of momentum. Rather than one big pot determining who held the lead, each player would go on a run where he would seemingly win 80 percent of the pots for a half hour stretch, and the chip lead changed hands several times. At his lowest point, Landreth had been whittled to about 15 big blinds by Thomas' patient play.

“I'm not going anywhere, I'm not giving up,” Landreth said of his mindset when the end seemed near. “I had to manufacture some chips when he had me down on the ropes.”

The turning point came in a limped pot when     flopped, and Thomas bet out 250,000 from the big blind during Level 31 (50,000/100,000/10,000). Landreth called, and Thomas fired another 500,000 on the

turn. Landreth decided to shove all in for about double that with his   , the flopped nut straight, and Thomas called with   . He missed his four-outer on the river, giving Landreth renewed life.

A heads-up match that had started very amiably, with the two Southern gentlemen (Thomas hails from Amarillo, Tex.) chatting it up about all manner of topics, including mutual friends and experiences in the old-time South poker scene, got more serious as the night dragged on and neither relented. Ultimately, after an eight-hour battle, Thomas shoved his last 2,000,000 in from the button at Level 33 (80,000/160,000/20,000) with    and was called by Landreth, who woke up with   . A run out of       meant Landreth had his ring.

“I sure am [tired],” Landreth said after the win.

Other players taking chunks of the $685,500 prize pool included Ryan Tepen (15th), Tripp Kirk (17th), Scott Stewart (18th), Ari Engel (19th), Nathan Bjerno (25th), Kory Kilpatrick (34th), Jordan Smith (35th), Kyle Cartwright (36th), Brandon Newsome (43rd), and Josh Mancuso (44th). Stewart's deep run cemented his place as the Casino Championship points leader, for which he will also receive a free seat in the WSOP National Championship.

The Main Event was the 10th of 12 gold ring events on the WSOP Circuit schedule at Horseshoe Tunica. The $1,675 no-limit hold’em event attracted 457 entries. The total prize pool came to $685,500 and the top 54 players were paid.

Final table results:

1st: Johnny Landreth - $147,388 + National Championship seat
2nd: Tom Thomas - $91,124
3rd: Happy Nahkoneinh - $66,569
4th: Norman McKeldin - $49,349
5th: Jeremy Drewery - $37,113
6th: Keith Murrell - $28,311
7th: Jay Bishop - $21,902
8th: Jamie Strickland - $17,185
9th: Russ Head - $13,676

Complete results available on WSOP.com.

Monday, February 2, 2015 10:27 PM Local Time

Johnny Landreth

One hand after doubling, Tom Thomas shoves for about 2,000,000 from the button and Johnny Landreth (pictured) calls. Thomas is at risk and behind.

Landreth:   
Thomas:   

The board runs out       and Landreth wins the Tunica Main Event. Thomas goes home with $91,124 for his second-place finish. A full report on the victory will be posted shortly.

Tom Thomas - Eliminated in second place ($91,124)

Monday, February 2, 2015 10:23 PM Local Time

"300," Johnny Landreth announces from the button. The dealer corrects him the min-raise is to 320,000. He fixes his bet and Tom Thomas moves all in for 935,000. Landreth calls.

Landreth:   
Thomas:   

The board runs       improving Thomas to a flush. He doubles through Landreth.

Monday, February 2, 2015 10:18 PM Local Time

"Why don't you just raise every hand so I can be done with this misery," Tom Thomas says to Johnny Landreth. "This is the most bleeding I've ever done in my life."

Johnny Landreth - 7,440,000 (46 BBs)
Tom Thomas - 1,600,000 (10 BBs)

Monday, February 2, 2015 10:03 PM Local Time

The clock strikes 10 p.m. local time meaning heads-up play has lasted nearly eight hours.

Playtika - Jason Alexander
Monday, February 2, 2015 10:01 PM Local Time

Johnny Landreth limps the button and Tom Thomas checks his option.

Both players check down the       board.

Thomas tables    and takes the pot versus Landreth's   .

---

Thomas limps the button and Landreth checks from the big blind.

Both players check the     flop and   turn.

The river brings the  . Landreth checks and Thomas bets 300,000. Landreth folds and Thomas takes the pot.

---

Landreth calls from the button and Thomas raises to 460,000 from the big blind. Landreth calls.

The flop comes    . Thomas leads for 400,000 and Landreth folds. Thomas wins the pot.

---

Thomas folds the button. Landreth wins the pot.

---

Landreth puts 300,000 in the pot from the button. The dealer explains the min-raise is 320,000. Thomas mucks before Landreth gets the opportunity to make his bet right. Landreth wins the pot.

Monday, February 2, 2015 9:46 PM Local Time

Johnny Landreth calls the blind, and Tom Thomas raises 400,000 more. Landreth calls, and Thomas shoves all in on the     flop. Landreth thinks for about a minute and folds.

Tom Thomas - 4,640,000 (29 BBs)
Johnny Landreth - 4,480,000 (28 BBs)

Monday, February 2, 2015 9:36 PM Local Time
Level: 33
Blinds: 80,000/160,000
Ante: 20,000
Monday, February 2, 2015 9:35 PM Local Time

Tom Thomas bets 350,000 on a     flop and gets a call from Johnny Landreth. Action goes check-check on the   turn, and a   river leads to 500,000 from Thomas and a call.

"Busted straight draw," Thomas says, showing   .

Landreth has    and wins with two pair.

Johnny Landreth - 5,640,000 (47 BBs)
Tom Thomas - 3,500,000 (29 BBs)

Monday, February 2, 2015 9:23 PM Local Time

Johnny Landreth limps in and then calls 425,000 from Tom Thomas. Landreth calls another 500,000 on the     flop, and both check the   turn and   river.

Landreth shows   , but it's no good as Thomas has   .

Tom Thomas - 4,240,000 (35 BBs)
Johnny Landreth - 4,900,000 (40 BBs)

Playtika - Jason Alexander
Monday, February 2, 2015 9:02 PM Local Time

Johnny Landreth takes some small pots in a row and increases his lead.

Monday, February 2, 2015 8:52 PM Local Time

Johnny Landreth wants to play for 300,000, and Tom Thomas obliges. Both check the     flop, and Thomas bets 400,000 on the   turn. Landreth calls, then calls 500,000 more on the   river.

Thomas shows   , and Landreth stares at it for a bit before turning over a winning   .

Johnny Landreth - 5,240,000 (43 BBs)
Tom Thomas - 3,900,000 (32 BBs)

Monday, February 2, 2015 8:39 PM Local Time

Horseshoe Tunica

Johnny Landreth (left) and Tom Thomas (right) are heads up in the Tunica Main Event for $147,388, a Circuit gold ring and a berth in the National Championship.

Monday, February 2, 2015 8:19 PM Local Time
Level: 32
Blinds: 60,000/120,000
Ante: 20,000
Monday, February 2, 2015 8:05 PM Local Time

Players are now on a 15-minute break. They have been heads up for just under six hours.

Playtika - Jason Alexander
Monday, February 2, 2015 8:04 PM Local Time

Johnny Landreth opens for 200,000 on the button, and Tom Thomas makes it 600,000 to go. Landreth calls, and both check the    . A   turns, and Thomas bets 500,000. Landreth quickly splashes in a call, and a   completes the board. Thomas checks, and Landreth checks it back, saying he has two pair.

"You got two pair?" an incredulous Thomas asks as Landreth shows   . "Is it break time yet, I'm outta here."

Johnny Landreth - 5,440,000 (54 BBs)
Tom Thomas - 3,700,000 (37 BBs)

Monday, February 2, 2015 8:03 PM Local Time

Tom Thomas raises to 200,000 from the button. Johnny Landreth makes it 500,000 to go.

The flop comes     and Landreth leads for 500,000. Thomas calls.

The turn is the  . Landreth leads for 500,000 again. Thomas calls.

The river falls the   and Landreth shoves for about 1,350,000. Thomas folds and the stacks are now even.

Johnny Landreth - 4,650,000 (46 BBs)
Tom Thomas - 4,490,000 (44 BBs)

Monday, February 2, 2015 7:43 PM Local Time

Tom Thomas opens for 200,000 and is called by Johnny Landreth. Both check the     flop, and Landreth leads out 150,000 on the   turn. He then fires 200,000 on the   river.

"I think you've got it, but I just wanna see it," Thomas says, tossing in a call. He's shown    and mucks    face-up.

A few hands later, Landreth comes alive with a rare preflop three-bet to 600,000 when Thomas opens to 200,000, and he takes the pot again.

Johnny Landreth - 3,600,000 (36 BBs)
Tom Thomas - 5,540,000 (55BBs)

Monday, February 2, 2015 7:34 PM Local Time

Tom Thomas raises to 200,000 from the button. Johnny Landreth calls.

The flop brings the    . Landreth checks. Thomas bets 300,000. Landreth promptly three-bets to 900,000.

"What the hell'd you hit? A set?" Thomas laughs. "I'll call."

Both players check the   turn.

The board completes with the   and both players check again. Thomas tables    for top pair. Landreth reluctantly shows his    and Thomas wins the pot and increase his cheap lead.

Tom Thomas - 7,340,000 (73 BBs)
Johnny Landreth - 1,800,000 (18 BBs)

Monday, February 2, 2015 7:24 PM Local Time

Tom Thomas forced Johnny Landreth to fold on the turn on a couple of scary boards and had more than 75 percent of the chips in play.

Then, Thomas bets 250,000 in a limped pot on a     flop and is called by Landreth in a limped pot. Thomas fires 500,000 on the   turn and calls his opponent's shove.

Landreth:   
Thomas:   

Thomas has four outs to win the tournament but misses as the   falls.

Johnny Landreth - 3,000,000 (30 BBs)
Tom Thomas - 6,140,000 (61 BBs)

Playtika - Jason Alexander
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