Monday, August 15, 2016 10:41 PM Local Time
Steven Snyder and Friends
The first Main Event of the 2016/2017 World Series of Poker Circuit season is in the books, and the first winner of the new season is Steven Snyder. He earns $241,198 and a WSOP Circuit gold ring, and he becomes the first official entrant into the 2017 WSOP Global Casino Championship. That invitation-only tournament has a minimum prize pool of $1,000,000, and Snyder receives a free entry.
Snyder enjoyed success on the Circuit last season as well. He had earned an at-large bid to the 2016 Global Casino Championship (held here at Harrah’s Cherokee last week) based on his place on the season-long leaderboard. A couple days ago, he was trying to make friendly wagers about whether he’d earn enough points to qualify again. It would've been a good bet for him. He's now the season’s first automatic qualifier.
Snyder describes himself as a family man, and as part of his celebration plans to take his family on a vacation. He has a three month old daughter at home (his second child – he also has a 14 year old son), and said he wants nothing more than to spend time with his family after his victory.
This is the largest victory of Snyder’s live tournament career, and he was extraordinarily excited. “I’m not gonna stop smiling for three months,” he said just before the official winner photo. However, he also took a moment for more serious reflection amidst the celebration. He dedicated his victory to the memory of Jonathan Abla, a friend of his who passed away recently. Abla was also a regular fixture on the WSOP Circuit, and if not for his untimely passing he likely would have been here at Cherokee to cheer on Snyder at the final table.
Throughout the final table, the Casino Championship race hovered in the background. Snyder had a shot at the title, having made a final table earlier in the series. However, the Main Event winner receives no points (earning a free entry in the Global Casino Championship instead), so Snyder will not receive that title. Kevin Davis started the day atop the leaderboard, but several players in the money in the high roller event and the turbo event (both still in action as the Main Event wrapped up) have a shot at over taking him.
One of the other highlights of the Main Event is the continued success of Josh Turner. Turner was fresh off a third-place finish in the 2016 Global Casino Championship, and made a final table for the second time in less than a week. He’s been enjoying enormous success on the Circuit lately. He won his third career ring at the Horseshoe Tunica in January, and virtually hasn’t slowed down since. He won his fourth ring at Horseshoe Council Bluffs in April, and followed in up with a Main Event finish in the Council Bluffs Main Event. He ended up winning Casino Champion honors at Council Bluffs, earning a free seat into the GCC. He’s starting the new Circuit season right where he left off, with yet another final table performance in a Main Event.
Three other competitors in the Global Casino Championship made the Main Event final table: Scott Stewart (7th place, $36,578), Jim Juvancic (4th place, $81,707), David Aker (3rd place, $109,625), and Steven Snyder. Turner was the only one who made the money in the GCC.
The tournament attracted 804 entries (307 in Flight A and 497 in Flight B) and had a total prize pool of $1,206,000, easily surpassing the $1,000,000 guarantee. A total of 138 players advanced to Day 2 on Sunday, and 13 made it to the final day.
Other players making the money include Global Casino Championship competitors TJ Thondup (16th place, $12,265), Jason Gooch (17th place, $12,265), John Holley ($10,215), Peter Vitantonio (26th, $7,345), Salvatore DiCarlo (39th place, $4,342), Chris Carey (44th place, $4,342), Neil Scott (56th place, $3,558), Maurice Hawkins (58th place, $3,558), and Cody Pack (24th place, $8,611). Pack finished last season atop the Circuit points leaderboard, and is now off to a solid start to the new season as well.
Here are the final table payouts. Click here for full results.
1 – Steven Snyder - $241,198
2 – Russell Sullivan - $148,700
3 – David Aker - $109,625
4 – Jim Juvancic - $81,707
5 – Roger Jones - $61,711
6 – Joshua Turner - $47,215
7 – Scott Stewart - $36,578
8 – Matthew Higgins - $28,691
9 – Gregory Yeager - $22,781
Monday, August 15, 2016 9:51 PM Local Time
Steven Snyder - Cherokee Main Event Champion
Steven Snyder raises to 325,000 from the button and Russell Sullivan raises all in from the big blind. Snyder quickly calls.
Snyder:
Sullivan:
The board rolls out . Snyder's kings hold up. He wins the pot and the tournament, becoming the first Main Event winner of the 2016/2017 Circuit season. He earns $241,198 for his victory, along with his second career Circuit ring and his second consecutive entry into the Global Casino Championship.
Russell Sullivan (pictured below) is eliminated in second place, earning $148,700.
Full results are available here. A full recap of Snyder's victory will be posted shortly.
Russell Sullivan - 2nd Place
Monday, August 15, 2016 9:45 PM Local Time
Steven Snyder raises on the button and David Aker (pictured) calls in the big blind. The flop comes and Aker checks. Snyder bets 300,000 and Aker check-raises all in for around 4,000,000 total. Snyder instantly calls with . Aker has for a pair and a flush draw.
"Oh crap, he has a pair and a flush draw to my aces," Snyder yells to his rail.
The on the turn gives Aker two pair and he begins to celebrate hitting his card.
"Pair the board," Snyder yells.
"Hold," Aker responds with a yell.
The river does pair the board wth the and Snyder pumps his fist and runs from the table to his rail to celebrate the big KO that gives him the massive lead going into heads-up play.
Steven Snyder - 12,565,000 (79 bb)
David Aker - Eliminated in third place for $109,625
Monday, August 15, 2016 9:23 PM Local Time
Steven Snyder raises to 325,000 on the button and David Aker calls fromthe big blind. Aker checks the flop, then Snyder bets 350,000. Aker calls.
The turn is the . Aker checks, Snyder bets 775,000, Aker folds, and Snyder takes the pot.
Steven Snyder - 7,950,000 (50 bb)
David Aker - 3,350,000 (21 bb)
Monday, August 15, 2016 9:17 PM Local Time
David Aker raises to 350,000 on the button and Steven Snyder calls from the small blind. The duo checks the flop and turn of a board, then Snyder bets 525,000 on the river. Aker calls, Snyder shows for top pair, Aker mucks, and Snyder takes the pot.
Steven Snyder - 6,720,000 (42 bb)
David Aker - 4,180,000 (26 bb)
Monday, August 15, 2016 9:09 PM Local Time
Steven Snyder folds the button and Russell Sullivan (pictured) moves all in from the small blind for 3,325,000. David Aker is in the big blind and calls immediately.
Sullivan holds and Aker has . The sevens hold on the board and Sullivan doubles into the chip lead.
Russell Sullivan - 6,900,000 (43 bb)
David Aker - 3,600,000 (23 bb)
Monday, August 15, 2016 9:05 PM Local Time
In a three-way limped pot, all three players check the flop. The turn is the and David Aker leads out for 225,000 from the small blind. Steven Snyder calls from the big blind and Russell Sullivan folds his button.
The river is the and Aker continues for 430,000. Snyder quickly calls and Aker tables for a straight. Snyder mucks.
David Aker - 6,650,000
Steven Snyder - 5,770,000
Monday, August 15, 2016 9:02 PM Local Time
Russell Sullivan completes the small blind and David Aker (pictured) raises to 460,000 total out of the big blind. Sullivan calls, then checks the flop. Aker bets 275,000 and Sullivan calls.
Both players check the on the turn, then the river brings the . Sullivan bets 325,000 and Aker raises, making it 1,200,000 to play. Sullivan folds.
"Phew," Aker says, as he shows for just queen-high.
David Aker - 5,700,000 (36 bb)
Russell Sullivan - 3,520,000 (22 bb)
Monday, August 15, 2016 8:52 PM Local Time
Level: 33
Blinds: 80,000/160,000
Ante: 20,000
Monday, August 15, 2016 8:51 PM Local Time
David Aker raises to 260,000 from the button. Steven Snyder calls from the small blind and Russell Sullivan calls from the big blind.
All three players check the and the turn is the . Snyder leads out for 325,000 and both other players call.
The river is the and Snyder continues for 450,000. Sullivan and Aker both fold, and Snyder takes the pot.
Steven Snyder - 6,750,000
Russell Sullivan - 5,800,000
David Aker - 3,450,000
Monday, August 15, 2016 8:48 PM Local Time
Russell Sullivan raises to 260,000 on the button and Steven Snyder calls from the big blind. The flop comes and Snyder checks. Sullivan bets 180,000, Snyder check-raises to 500,000 total, and Sullivan calls.
Both players check the on the turn. The river is the . Snyder checks, Sullivan bets 875,000, and Snyder quickly calls.
Sullivan silently flips over for a straight. Snyder slams his cards on the table, yells out "Damnit," and mucks.
Russell Sullivan - 6,175,000 (51 bb)
Steven Snyder - 6,070,000 (50 bb)
Monday, August 15, 2016 8:36 PM Local Time
David Aker raises on the button and Russell Sullivan calls in the big blind. The two players check the flop and the turn brings the . Sullivan bets 250,000 and Aker calls.
The river is the . Sullivan bets 350,000 and Aker calls.
Sullivan shows for trip fours to take the pot.
Russell Sullivan - 4,480,000 (37 bb)
David Aker - 4,585,000 (38 bb)
Monday, August 15, 2016 8:27 PM Local Time
Steven Snyder raises to 250,000 on the button, Russell Sullivan calls in the small blind, and David Aker calls in the big blind. The flop comes and action checks to Snyder, who bets 360,000. Sullivan folds and Aker calls.
The two players check the on the turn, then the river brings the . Aker checks, Snyder bets 360,000, and Aker calls.
"Jack-high," Snyder announces. Aker shows for a pair of sixes and takes the pot.
David Aker - 4,700,000 (39 bb)
Steven Snyder - 6,325,000 (53 bb)
Monday, August 15, 2016 8:22 PM Local Time
Steven Snyder raises to 250,000 from the button. Russell Sullivan calls and David Aker reraises to 800,000 from the big blind. Snyder moves all in and Sullivan quickly folds. Aker thinks for a minute, then mucks his cards.
Steven Snyder - 7,500,000
David Aker - 3,100,000
Russell Sullivan - 5,400,000
Monday, August 15, 2016 8:20 PM Local Time
David Aker raises to 250,000 from the button and Russell Sullivan calls from the big blind. The flop comes and Sullivan checks. Aker continues for 275,000 and Sullivan calls.
The turn is the and Sullivan checks again. Aker bets 425,000. Sullivan then check-raises too 1,000,000 and Aker folds.
Russell Sullivan - 5,600,000
David Aker - 3,700,000
Monday, August 15, 2016 8:17 PM Local Time
Russell Sullivan raises to 260,000 on the button and Steven Snyder calls in the big blind. Both players check the flop and Snyder checks again when the turn brings the . Sullivan bets 300,000, Snyder check-raises to 900,000 total, and Sullivan calls.
The river is the and both players check. Snyder remarks "what a river," before showing for a flopped full house. Sullivan has and Snyder takes the pot.
Steven Snyder - 6,800,000 (57 bb)
Russell Sullivan - 4,520,000 (38 bb)
Monday, August 15, 2016 8:15 PM Local Time
Steven Snyder raises to 250,000 on the button and David Aker defends the big blind. Both players check the flop, then the turn brings the . Aker bets 140,000 and Snyder calls.
The river is the . Aker bets 420,000, Snyder folds, and Aker takes the pot.
David Aker - 4,950,000 (41 bb)
Steven Snyder - 5,590,000 (47 bb)
Monday, August 15, 2016 8:07 PM Local Time
Russell Sullivan raises to 250,000 from the small blind and David Aker calls in the big blind.
The flop comes . Sullivan continues for 175,000 and Aker calls again.
The turn is the . Sullivan bets again, this time for 250,000, and Aker folds.
Russell Sullivan - 5,970,000 (49 bb)
David Aker - 4,300,000 (35 bb)
Monday, August 15, 2016 8:04 PM Local Time
David Aker completes the small blind and Steven Snyder checks his option in the big blind. The flop comes and Aker checks. SNyder bets 120,000 and Aker calls.
The turn is the . Aker checks, Snyder bets 300,000, and Aker calls. The river is the and both players check.
"Pair of sevens," Aker announces. Snyder tables for two pair and takes the pot.
Steven Snyder - 5,875,000 (49 bb)
David Aker - 4,850,000 (40 bb)
Monday, August 15, 2016 8:00 PM Local Time
David Aker raises to 240,000 from the small blind and Steven Snyder calls from the big blind.
The flop comes and Aker continues for 275,000. Snyder calls. Both players check the on the turn and the river is the . Aker bets 375,000 and Snyder folds.
David Aker - 5,675,000 (47 bb)