Tuesday, April 22, 2014 12:02 AM Local Time
After three intense days of competition in the Main Event at Council Bluffs, Blair Hinkle, the defending champion in this tournament, emerged from the fray victorious yet again.
Hinkle’s performance is one for the record books. This is the first time in the history of the World Series of Poker Circuit that anyone has won the Main Event at the same stop two years in a row. Hinkle also has another previous victory in the Main Event here (in August 2010), and he is the first person ever to win the same Main Event three times. In fact, only one other player, Chris Ferguson, has three Main Event rings.
Hinkle’s victory seemed destined almost from the start. On Day 1, Hinkle went on an incredible hot streak. He finished the day atop the chip counts, and he accumulated so many chips that he held about 2.5 times as much as his nearest competitor. He had more chips after Day 1 than two players had at the start of the final table. At the start of Monday's Day 3, Hinkle entered the final table second in chips, just behind the leader (Ken Douglas, who eventually finished third).
The final table was a fast-paced affair. The first elimination (John Holley, ninth place) occurred after only 20 minutes of play. After just three and half hours, seven players had been eliminated, leaving Hinkle and Matt Bond to play heads up for the title. Bond started heads-up play with a substantial chip lead, about 3,500,000 to 1,400,000. However, Hinkle took over the lead after 30 minutes, and nearly put the final nail in the coffin after just over an hour of heads-up play. Bond moved all in with , and Hinkle called him with . Fate smiled on Bond this hand, though. A jack fell on the flop, and another on the turn.
Despite being second in chips for much of the heads-up match, Hinkle continually battled back, keeping enough chips to remain a constant threat to his opponent. After about five hours of heads-up play, he won two all-in pots in quick succession, retaking the chip lead. A few minutes later, he sealed his victory and his place in the WSOP Circuit history books. He won $90,700 for his first-place finish.
This event attracted a total of 247 entries, generating a prize pool of $370,500.
Even before the final table, this tournament was filled with stories and subplots. The last player eliminated Sunday night was Alexandru Masek, who holds the record for most career WSOP Circuit rings. He won his record-breaking eighth ring about a month ago in St. Louis, and nearly extended his own record here at Council Bluffs. He made the final table of two preliminary events, and finished in 10th place in the Main Event.
Here are the results from the final table. A complete list of payouts can be found in the “Results” tab.
1st: Blair Hinkle - $90,700
2nd: Matt Bond - $56,086
3rd: Kenneth Douglas - $40,552
4th: Paul Ewen - $29,822
5th: Quang Pham - $22,341
6th: Daniel Carson - $17,024
7th: Charles Moore - $13,190
8th: Justin Truesdell - $10,385
9th: John Holley - $8,307
Monday, April 21, 2014 11:16 PM Local Time
Matt Bond limps from the button, and Blair moves all in from the big blind. Bond calls for his last 1,400,000 and tables . Hinkle turns over .
The board runs out , missing both players completely, and Hinkle wins with his pocket sevens.
Matt Bond is eliminated in 2nd place, earning him $56,086.
Blair Hinkle is the latest WSOP Circuit champion! He immediately tweeted in celebration:
This is a history-making win for Hinkle. He is now the winner of Main Event at Council Bluffs for third time. He is the WSOP Circuit's first Main Event winner ever to successfully defend his championship, and he is the first player ever to win the same Main Event three times. For his victory today, Hinkle earns $90,770 and a free entry into the National Championship in May.
A full list of payouts is available in the results tab. Stay tuned for a full recap, which will be posted shortly.
Monday, April 21, 2014 11:03 PM Local Time
Level: 30
Blinds: 40,000/80,000
Ante: 10,000
Monday, April 21, 2014 10:58 PM Local Time
Blair Hinkle raises to 125,000 on the button. Matt Bond then moves all in from the big blind. Hinkle thinks for a few moments, then calls and turns over . Bond tables .
The flop comes , giving Hinkle a virtual stranglehold on the hand with his trips. The turn is the , and the river the . Hinkle wins the pot and double up again.
Blair Hinkle: 3,150,000
Matt Bond: 1,750,000
Monday, April 21, 2014 10:55 PM Local Time
Matt Bond open shoves all in from the button. He has Blair Hinkle outchipped, so this is an effective bet of about 770,000.
Hinkle class and turns over . Bond shows . The board rolls out , and Hinkle doubles up with his pocket queens.
Blair Hinkle: 1,560,000
Matt Bond: 3,350,000
Monday, April 21, 2014 10:50 PM Local Time
Matt Bond limps the button and Blair Hinkle makes it 160,000 from the small blind. Bond calls and they head to the flop.
The board comes and Hinkle checks. Bond bets 165,000 and Hinkle calls.
The dealer reveals the on the turn and both players check.
A river elicits another check out of Hinkle and Bond makes it 280,000. Hinkle rechecks his hole cards, verifies the bet and decides on a fold.
Matt Bond - 4,100,000 (68 BBs)
Blair Hinkle - 840,000 (14 BBs)
Monday, April 21, 2014 10:36 PM Local Time
Matt Bond open shoves from the button and action is on Blair Hinkle who looks down at and calls his last 885,000 chips. Bond reveals and they're off to the races.
The flop comes and Bond refers to the coming streets as a "super sweat."
Whatever sweat there was is long gone when the falls on the river completing broadway for Hinkle and leaving Bond drawing dead.
The river brings the meaningless and the dealer counts down Hinkle's stack.
Blair Hinkle - 1,805,000 (30 BBs)
Matt Bond - 3,135,000 (52 BBs)
Monday, April 21, 2014 10:31 PM Local Time
Matt Bond limps from the button, and Blair Hinkle checks his option in the big blind.
The flop is , and Hinkle checks. Bond bets 75,000, and Hinkle then check-raises to 150,000. Bond calls.
The turn is the , and both players checks. The then completes the board on the river. Hinkle bets 375,000, and Bond goes into the tank. He rechecks his cards, then counts out chips to call, but doesn't push them forward. After a full minute, he announces he's all in, and Hinkle quickly folds.
Matt Bond - 4,000,000
Blair Hinkle - 870,000
Monday, April 21, 2014 10:13 PM Local Time
Matt Bond calls from the button and Blair Hinkle checks his option.
The flop comes and Hinkle checks. Bond bets 75,000 and Hinkle calls.
The turn brings the and Hinkle checks again. Bond bets 165,000 and Hinkle calls.
Hinkle checks a third time when the river comes the and Bond pounces, betting out 225,000. Blair takes a peek into his stack, but thinks better of it as he sends his cards to the muck.
Matt Bond - 3,365,000 (56 BBs)
Blair Hinkle - 1,575,000 (26 BBs)
Monday, April 21, 2014 9:46 PM Local Time
Level: 29
Blinds: 30,000/60,000
Ante: 5,000
Monday, April 21, 2014 8:50 PM Local Time
The players are now taking their dinner break. The tournament will resume in about an hour.
Monday, April 21, 2014 8:45 PM Local Time
Matt Bond limps from the button, and Blair Hinkle checks his option in the big blind. The flop comes , and Hinkle checks. Bond continues for 60,000, and Hinkle calls.
Both players check the on the turn, and the river is the . Hinkle leads out for 75,000, and Bond raises to 315,000. Hinkle thinks for a minute, then folds.
Bond has been slowly eating away at Hinkle's stack, and now enjoys a chip lead of almost 3-1.
Matt Bond - 3,600,000
Blair Hinkle - 1,270,000
Monday, April 21, 2014 8:37 PM Local Time
Twice in the last few hands Matt Bond opened for 100,000 and Blair Hinkle three-bet all in. On both occasions, Bond folded.
Monday, April 21, 2014 8:19 PM Local Time
Matt Bond raises to 100,000 on the button, and Blair Hinkle three-bets to 250,000 from the big blind. Bond calls.
The flop comes . Hinkle continues for 175,000, and Bond calls again.
Both players check the turn, and the river is the . Hinkle checks, and Bond bets 570,000. Hinkle thinks for a minute, then pushes out a call. Bond turns over for top full house, and Hinkle mucks..
Matt Bond - 3,500,000
Blair Hinkle - 1,400,000
Monday, April 21, 2014 7:54 PM Local Time
On the tenth hand of the new level, Blair Hinkle (pictured) limps on the button. Matt Bond raises to 125,000, and Hinkle calls.
The flop is , and Bond continues for 75,000. Hinkle raises to 180,000, and Bond calls.
The turn is the , and Bond checks. Hinkle then announces he's all in, and Bond quickly calls. Bond shows for top pair. Hinkle turns over for top pair as well, but Bond has him outkicked.
The river is the , pairing Hinkle's kicker and giving him a winning two pair. He doubles up on the hand.
Blair Hinkle - 1,900,000 (38 BBs)
Matt Bond - 3,000,000 (60 BBs)
Monday, April 21, 2014 7:34 PM Local Time
Level: 28
Blinds: 25,000/50,000
Ante: 5,000
Monday, April 21, 2014 7:24 PM Local Time
The players are now on a break. Play will resume in 15 minutes at Level 28. The blinds will be 25,000/50,000 with a 5,000 ante.
Here are the chip counts heading into the next level:
Matt Bond: 3,365,000 (67 BBs)
Blair Hinkle: 1,585,000 (31 BBs)
Monday, April 21, 2014 7:01 PM Local Time
Blair Hinkle raises to 80,000 from the button. Matt Bond thinks for a few moments before three-betting to 185,000. Hinkle then thinks for a minute, and reraises to 325,000. Bond pushes all in, and Hinkle calls immediately.
Bond:
Hinkle:
The flop comes , pairing Bond's jack, but he still needs help to overtake Hinkle's pair of queens. He gets exactly what he needs, as the fell on the turn. The river is the the , and Bond wins the pot with his trip jacks.
The dealer counts down Bond's stack, which is exactly 1,940,000. Bond now has about 80% of the chips in play.
Matt Bond - 3,900,000
Blair Hinkle - 950,000
Monday, April 21, 2014 6:52 PM Local Time
Monday, April 21, 2014 6:29 PM Local Time
Blair Hinkle opens for 80,000 from the button. Bond calls from the big blind and they head to the flop.
The dealer lays the board and Bond checks. Hinkle continues for 65,000 and Bond calls.
The turn brings the and Bond switches gears, leading for 90,000 and sending the action to Hinkle. Hinkle calls and they're off to the river.
The river brings the and Bond goes into the tank before he checks. Action is on Hinkle and he takes his time putting together a bet of 225,000. Bond announces "call" and Hinkle tables for aces up. Bond's cards hit the muck.
Blair Hinkle - 3,350,000 (83 BBs)
Matt Bond - 1,600,000 (40 BBs)