This page is the hub for information on the WSOP Circuit at Harrah's Atlantic City. Check back here (wsop.com/n/82k) for updated information and links on this ongoing tournament series.
Atlantic City, N.J. (March 18, 2018) -- Event #12: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry was scheduled as a two-day
tournament. However, it took only one day for Josh "Plinko" Clanton to
collect every chip in play. The WSOP Dealer walked away with his second gold ring of the 2017/18 season and $8,998.
Soheb
Porbandarwala ended up winning $107,862 and his second World Series of
Poker gold ring after deciding to play the Harrah’s Atlantic City
Circuit Main Event. The 27-year-old navigated through 306 entrants and
three days of tournament poker in Event #10: $1,675 No-Limit Hold’em
Main Event to claim the title.
Completed Events
Event #1: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry
Results | Official Report | Winner's Photo
Event #2: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Monster Stack Re-Entry
Results | Official Report | Winner's Photo
Event #3: $365 No-Limit Hold'em (30-Minute Levels) Re-Entry
Results | Official Report | Winner's Photo
Event #4: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack Re-Entry
Results | Official Report | Winner's Photo
Event #5: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Six Max Re-Entry
Results | Official Report | Winner's Photo
Event #6: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Bounty Re-Entry
Results | Official Report | Winner's Photo
Event #7: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Turbo Re-Entry
Results | Official Report | Winner's Photo
Event #8: $365 Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Re-Entry
Results | Official Report | Winner's Photo
Event #9: $580 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack Re-Entry
Results | Official Report | Winner's Photo
Event #10: $1,675 No-Limit Hold'em MAIN EVENT
Results | Official Report | Winner's Photo
Event #11: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry
Results | Official Report | Winner's Photo
Event #12: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry
Results | Official Report | Winner's Photo
Casino Champion Race
Min Wang is the Harrah's Atlantic City Casino Champion. The 28-year-old, originally from China, finished with three outstanding finishes 2nd place in Event #3, 1st place in Event #9, and 1st place in Event #11. All together, Wang accumulated 137.5 points, easily securing him the title.
About the Winners
William Anderson: Winner of Event #1
William Anderson scored his second World Series of Poker title in a less than two months, late Saturday night. The 51-year-old from Chattanooga, Tennessee topped the initial tournament of the Harrah's Atlantic City Circuit series, Event #1: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry, which encompassed four starting flights and a total of 520 entrants.
“It is a quick turnaround… Tunica, when I won that one, that was amazing and to win one now, it’s way amazing,” Anderson said in awe, following his first-place finish.
The triumph marks Anderson's second Circuit victory of the 2017/18 season. He won his debut ring at the Horseshoe Tunica series in January. Adding to the grandeur of his two milestones, this was the first WSOPC Anderson played since his win in Tunica, solidifying a true back-to-back achievement.
“It’s literally the first one I’ve played since then. It’s just amazing,” said Anderson. “I mean, I just started playing in August, on the Circuit… I retired and decided to try and give it a shot.”
Anderson was a math teacher and baseball coach before retirement, two careers that he believes contributed to his knack for poker. However, there is an even bigger aspect that Anderson attributes his accomplishments to.
“I’ll be honest with you… It’s the guys in Chattanooga,” Anderson answered when asked what has contributed to his WSOP success. “The support I get from people in Chattanooga… They really help me; I learned from them. I don’t think I’d ever be here today, so I give them a lot of credit.”
Joe Siracusa: Winner of Event #2
Joe Siracusa ended up a champion at the World Series of Poker Circuit stop at Harrah’s Atlantic City. The 39-year-old conquered a field of 344 entrants in Event #2: $365 No-Limit Hold’em Monster Stack Re-Entry to win $23,737 and a coveted gold ring.
“First ring, I came in third in the same event about seven years back,” Siracusa mentioned “So yeah, I really wanted it this time. I was really glad to get the ring.”
It was a redemption victory for Siracusa. The Crane Operator, who has been playing poker recreationally for about seven, or eight, years, placed third at the New Jersey Circuit stop back in 2008 when the tournaments were held at Caesars Atlantic City.
Siracusa may be back for more ring events this week and most likely the Main Event, which begins next weekend, but for now he has a momentous story to take home to his family in Rockland County.
“I got three kids at home, so I have to get home to the wife, give her some relief,” said Siracusa.
Ruth Ruffman: Winner of Event #3
Ruth Ruffman captured her first piece of World Series of Poker gold at the Harrah's Atlantic City Circuit stop. The poker enthusiast from Colts Neck, New Jersey persevered through a field of 157 entrants in Event #3: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry. The tournament featured 30-minute levels throughout and finished in just one day.
Toughness can be a competitive advantage in poker. Ruffman, who
works at Tiger Schulmann’s Mixed Martial Arts Academy in New Jersey,
held strong and fought through to the end. It was Ruffman clutching the prestigious, WSOP gold ring was all was said and done.
Along with the golden trophy on her finger, Ruffman earned
$12,718 and 50 Casino Championship points for the triumph. Although it
was her first cash on the WSOP stage, the wife, and mother of three, has
recorded numerous other in-the-money finishes.
“I’ve been playing about 15 years,” Ruffman said. “We play a home game, pretty much weekly, and play here, and then once a year, Vegas.”
Ruffman was asked what attracted her to poker and she wholeheartedly responded with, “Everything. There’s nothing I don’t like about it.”
Attilio Bitondo: Winner of Event #4
Attilio Bitondo seized his first World Series of Poker gold ring Tuesday evening at the Harrah’s Atlantic City Circuit series. The retiree outlasted 206 entrants and some decorated opponents to win Event #4: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack Re-Entry, a tournament that took two-days and 33 levels poker to reach a conclusion.
Bitondo ran into some tough competition during the course of play, especially at the final table. Among the nine finalists, there were four, previous gold ring winners. However, this was no deterrent for Bitondo who endured all the way through to the blissful finish.
“Feel’s very good,” Bitondo said after his victory. “About time. I’ve been playing a long time.”
Poker tournaments have been a consistent hobby of Bitondo’s for the past 15 years. But, his experience playing cards goes way beyond that.
“I played even before I went into the army, 17 years old,” stated Bitondo.
Along with the debut gold ring, Bitondo was awarded $16,069 and 50 Casino Championship points for his first-place triumph. The victory marks Bitondo's 7th cash with the WSOP and he will look to continue his success during the rest of the series.
Rick Austin: Winner of Event #5
Rick Austin doubled up on World Series of Poker titles Wednesday afternoon at the Harrah’s Atlantic City Circuit stop. The 60-year-old Pennsylvanian defeated 163 entrants in Event #5; $365 No-Limit Hold’em Re-Entry to claim $13,694 and a second gold ring.
“It’s even better,” Austin replied when asked to compare the win to his debut gold-ring victory. “The first one, you feel like it’s a fluke. And now, when you win two you feel like you really did something.”
Winning number two was even more special for Austin because it provided a sense of validation for the first. The recreational poker player struck gold on the WSOP stage for the first time in 2015 at the Planet Hollywood Circuit stop in Las Vegas.
“I play maybe five, or six, poker trips every year. It’s a part time thing for me,” said Austin, who owns two retail stores specializing in paint, one in Pennsylvania and one in New Jersey.
Although he is only a part-time player Austin has accumulated some impressive stats over the years. He boasts over $200,000 in WSOP earnings, with cashes dating back to 2006.
Mikhail Sher: Winner of Event #6
Mikhail Sher has bagged his first World Series of Poker gold ring by claiming the last bounty in Event #6 at the Harrah’s Atlantic City Circuit stop. The 34-year-old Management Professor vanquished a field of 108 players in the bounty competition to win $6,482.
Sher is a local player, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who has cashed in the WSOP's Atlantic City Circuit seven times now, dating back to 2011.
“I’ve been playing for a while.” Sher stated. “I only play Atlantic City stop. Basically, I don’t travel for poker and there are no more stops in my region.”
Sher is originally from Russia, but considers himself an American poker player, as he did not take up the game until he was planted in the United States. He enjoys playing the game on occasion, when he is not teaching at Kueka College in Upstate New York.
Being a professor at a small, liberal arts college, Sher likes to keep things fun and interesting, a similar atmosphere was derived throughout stages of Event #6. Sher, as well as the players around him, seemed to maintain a level of enjoyment and relaxation.
“Sometimes it’s nice when you have tables that have good vibes and good energy. And I enjoy playing those a lot more,” said Sher.
The Russian native seemed to stroll down the final stretch of play and he took his friendly personality, mixed with poker savvy, all the way to the winner's circle.
Peter Vitantonio: Winner of Event #7
Peter Vitantonio completed a World Series of Poker trifecta Wednesday night. The Poker Pro from Ohio cruised through 174 entrants in Event #7: $365: No-Limit Hold'em Turbo Re-Entry at the Harrah's Atlantic City Circuit, winning his third career gold ring.
“It’s good. It’s not as big as the other two, but I’ve actually been on kind of a down swing lately,” Vitantonio claimed. “So yeah, very proud, very excited.”
Vitantonio came across his first two Circuit gold rings at the Palm Beach Kennel Club in Florida. His debut title was in the 2015 PBKC Main Event, which included a massive score of $129,685.
This was the 34-year-olds first recorded victory in a turbo-style event, a structure he was satisfied with in the end.
“I really like it,” Vitantonio said, referring to the fast-paced levels. “Nine hours for a ring… can’t beat it. I guess for the smaller buy ins I like the quick structures.”
The moment of triumph materialized around 10:30 p.m., less than twelve hours before the tournament began. Vitantonio cashed out for $14,096. The payday heightened his WSOP earnings to right around $450,000.
Vitantonio plans to stick around for the rest of the series and play the Main Event, which begins on March 16th, coincidentally his birthday.
Edward Han: Winner of Event #8
Edward Han emerged victorious once again in the Omaha arena, providing him with a second World Series of Poker gold ring. The poker player from Virginia ran over 102 entrants in Event #8: $365 Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Re-entry at the Harrah’s Atlantic City Circuit stop.
“I mean, I was running pretty well, and I think people were just over folding… So, I was happy with it. It worked out,” mentioned Han after his victory.
Han was awarded $9,180 for first place. Along with the WSOP cash, Han secured his second career gold ring. His first gold ring materialized earlier this season at the Horseshoe Hammond Circuit stop where he also reigned supreme as Casino Champion.
On par with his trip to the Horseshoe Hammond in October, Han traveled to Atlantic City, New Jersey with his friend, and fellow poker player, Andrew Moser.
“What’s interesting is each time I make a side bet with my friend [Moser]… $100 for a final table. $500 for a ring… we get it," Han explained
Both of Han's rings were won in an Omaha event. The first achievement cam in Pot-Limit Omaha and the second, Omaha Hi-Lo, a game which Han is well versed.
“Actually, when I first started playing poker I played PLO 8,” he said “So, I’m very familiar with Hi-Lo and I played a lot of Limit Hi-Lo online, back in the day.”
The 29-year-old now has his sights set on attempting to win rings in all different kinds of tournaments.
“I think my goal now is just to have as many different variety of rings as possible,” Han said with a smile. “I guess I’ll make that a goal for the future.”
Min Wang: Winner of Event #9
Min Wang became the newest World Series of Poker champion Friday afternoon at the Harrah’s Atlantic City Circuit stop. The New Jersey resident went on a tear in Event #9: $580 No-Limit Hold’em Double Stack Re-Entry to win $20,019 and his first career gold ring.
It was not Wang’s first good showing of the Circuit. The poker player from New Jersey narrowly missed winning his first gold ring earlier in the series when he finished as the runner-up in Event #3. With another impressive run, Wang got it done the second time around.
The triumph provided Wang with his first piece of WSOP gold, an achievement reached early in his career. Wang began playing poker for a living about two years ago. Before that, he was an International Student.
Soheb Porbandarwala: Winner of Event #10
Soheb Porbandarwala ended up winning $107,862 and his second World Series of Poker gold ring after deciding to play the Harrah’s Atlantic City Circuit Main Event. The 27-year-old navigated through 306 entrants and three days of tournament poker in Event #10: $1,675 No-Limit Hold’em Main Event to claim the title.
The Main Event began with two separate starting legs. Porbandarwala emerged from Flight B with a below-average stack. From there, he chipped up and eventually made it to the final three tables with nearly 200,00 in chips and securely in the money.
An extremely, out of the ordinary occurrence materialized later on,
“I meant to say fold, and I said, ‘all in,’” Porbandarwala plainly stated “I did go all in online. I mean, I was going all in there and I just subconsciously said ‘all in.’ I meant to declare ‘fold’ because I didn’t have my hands on my cards.” He elaborated.
The strange elimination greatly benefited Porbandarwala, boosting him into the chip lead with only nine players remaining. Although it was quite the slip up, the light-hearted player took it as is and happily moved on.
“After that, I thought ‘I better win this.’ How do you not win after that,” Porbandarwala joked.
In the end, it was no speculation. Porbandarwala indeed went on to win, but not before going through a decisive final table.
“I thought it was nice,” Porbandarwala said, alluding to the quick play of everyone at the final table. “I tried to set the pace a little bit. I was trying to play super fast because… I think when you play a little faster it kind of throws people off.”
No time was wasted during final-table action and everyone agreed to keep playing even after the scheduled end of Day 2. Following two extra levels, the Main Event players were cut off and bagged up for the night. By that time, all that remained was Porbandarwala and three-time gold ring winner Peter Vitantonio.
“I wanted to play it out last night, but I’m glad we didn’t because it took so long, so it ended up being a good thing,” said Porbandarwala “Yeah, the heads up was very entertaining.”
Day 3 encompassed multiple double ups between the two players. Porbandarwala began with the chip lead. Vitantonio did swing the lead back his way for a time, but ultimately, Porbandarwala held on to scoop the final pot of the tournament, claiming his second career gold ring.
“I ran much better in this one,” Porbandarwala said with a laugh, comparing the two triumphs. “You know, that one was really exciting because it was my first ring and it was at Foxwoods [Porbandarwala’s hometown casino], so it was pretty cool to win one there.”
The family man from Connecticut more, or less, plays poker for a living, mainly online. He does enjoy a good tournament here and there though.
“I really don’t play tournaments that much. I play mostly cash online, but I love tournaments. It’s like my old love,” Porbandarwala said. “It’s really nice to win a Main Event because it’s getting to the Global Championship the short way.”
Porbandarwala will get another shot at some big money in early August. With his Main Event victory comes an automatic seat in the Global Casino Championship. The tournament of Circuit champions is being held at Harrah’s Cherokee in North Carolina.
Min Wang: Winner of Event #11
Min Wang defied the odds on Sunday, capturing his second World Series of Poker gold ring in a matter of two days. The 28-year-old topped a field of 89 entrants in Event #11: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry.
Wang has made three final tables during the 12-event series. All his deep runs were within days of each other. So, by the third one, Wang was feeling a bit drained, making it his most difficult final table yet.
Along with his second career gold ring, the Chinese native earned himself another $8,545 as well as 50 more points toward the Casino Championship race. With 137.5 points in total, the 28-year-old ran away with the Harrah's Atlantic City Casino Championship.
The Poker Pro looks forward to playing in the GCC and plans to prepare in any way he can.
“I’m going to play a lot more,” Wang mentioned “Now I’m just thinking about playing around New Jersey.”
Traveling is no easy task for Wang who lives in Williamstown, New Jersey with his wife and 13-month-old son. For now, he can return to his home and relax after an amazing showing at the Harrah’s Atlantic City Circuit.
Josh "Plinko" Clanton: Winner of Event #12
Josh "Plinko" Clanton won his second World Series of Poker gold ring
on Sunday at the Harrah’s Atlantic City Circuit stop. The 33-year-old
outlasted 100 entrants in Event #12: $365 No-Limit Hold’em Re-Entry to win gold ring number two.
“First one was special because it was my son’s birthday, so that was important. And, it gets like the monkey off the back,” Clanton said, alluding to his debut gold ring. “But, this solidified it, like ‘I can do it’ and the first one wasn’t hold’em. This one’s hold’em. I got one of each now.”
Clanton’s breakthrough performance came in a Big O (Omaha) event at the second Choctaw Durant stop this season. Clanton spends time grinding WSOP Circuit stops when he can.
“I played the whole stop. I bubbled Events 1 and 2,” Clanton mentioned. “I took a day off, came back, and finished great. I finished 4th the very next day here.
Placing top-four in Event #4 was the start to Clanton’s run at Harrah’s Atlantic City. From there, he went on to crack the top nine in Event #6, then, of course, finished strong with a win in Event #12 win. All in all, it was three final table appearances for Clanton, netting him just under $15,000 for the series.
More importantly, Clanton also banked 92.5 Casino Championship points throughout the twelve days of poker. The North Carolina resident now has 180 points total on the year, a sum that may very well secure him a to top-50 on the National Leaderboard. If it does, Clanton will receive an automatic bid to the Global Casino Championship.
When Clanton is not playing poker hands, he is dealing them, for the WSOP nonetheless. In fact, he is scheduled to work the GCC at Harrah’s Cherokee in August. However, with his newfound points, when the time comes, he may be switching to the other side of the table.
For the full schedule of events here at Harrah's Atlantic City and/or for more information on the WSOP Circuit, please use the links below.
