Friday, September 30, 2016 7:41 PM Local Time
Part-time player from Ohio earns more than $13,000 and the series’ first gold ring
Elizabeth, Indiana (September 30, 2016) — Scott Fitzhugh is the champion of Event #1 at Horseshoe Southern Indiana, defeating a field of 161 players to earn his first gold ring. In addition to the jewelry, Fitzhugh claimed the top prize of $13,041 and 50 points toward the race for seats in the Global Casino Championship.
The champ is 41 years old, and he has a full-time job as the owner of a pet supply sales firm in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, which is a suburb of Cleveland. “City of Champions,” Fitzhugh smiled as he admired his own version of a Championship ring. Between that full-time job and his part-time commitments as a high school basketball official, he doesn’t have a ton of time to dedicate to the game, but he’s managed to rack up some impressive results as a recreational player.
Fitzhugh’s first WSOP Circuit cash came two seasons ago in the same building, when he finished as the runner-up in another $365 event. “That was a disappointing one,” he remembered, relaying the story of the heads-up match in which he fell victim to his opponent’s gutshot straight draw on the final hand. “A very disappointing one,” he repeated. He went on to make three more final tables over the next two seasons, finishing no better than fourth place. This time around, though, he wouldn’t have to settle for another near miss.
This $365 event began on Thursday, and the starting field of 161 was reduced to just nine before the bags came out for the night. Fitzhugh was third in chips to begin Friday’s final table, but the deep average stacks meant it was still anyone’s game. “Everybody came in with 60 bigs, and we were thinking eight, nine, ten hours,” he said. “All of the sudden, we’re down to four [players]. The pace caught me off guard, so I just kinda sat back. When we got to four, I got a little more aggressive.”
Fitzhugh’s stack had barely moved through those first five eliminations, but he finally started to accumulate some chips during four- and three-handed play. He ultimately found himself heads up with Josh Dobson, with Dobson holding a chip lead of more than 2:1. Fitzhugh rallied quickly, though, and the final hand played out just a few orbits into the duel.
The decisive hand began with Fitzhugh raising the button, then calling a three-bet with queen-jack. He called another bet on the king-ten-eight flop, then made a bet of his own when an ace on the turn gave him the nut straight. The river put a third club on board, and Dobson moved all in for about a pot-sized bet. Fitzhugh considered carefully, not wanting to make a mistake in such a long-awaited spot. When he called, Dobson tabled an inferior two pair, and the match was over as the chips were pushed to Fitzhugh.
“My wife’s been great support,” the new champion was quick to acknowledge in the moments after his win. “She’s had fun as the railbird through my text messages.” Scott and Heather have a tenth anniversary vacation coming up next month, and this well-timed victory should provide a little extra spending money for the happy couple.
Friday, September 30, 2016 5:55 PM Local Time
Scott Fitzhugh (pictured above) wasted no time erasing Josh Dobson's chiplead, and he's just put the finishing touches on his first WSOPC victory.
On the final hand, Fitzhugh opens the button to 30,000 with the blinds at 6,000/12,000. Dobson three-bets to 75,000, and Fitzhugh calls. The flop is . Dobson continues for 75,000, and Fitzhugh calls. The turn is the . Dobson checks, Fitzhugh bets, and Dobson calls. The river is the , and Dobson moves all in for about a pot-sized bet of 520,000. Fitzhugh considers for a couple minutes, then calls to put Dobson at risk.
Dobson shows for two pair, but Fitzhugh tables , winning the pot and the tournament with a Broadway straight. A recap of his victory will be published shortly.
Dobson (below) collects $8,059 for his runner-up finish.
Friday, September 30, 2016 5:08 PM Local Time
Scott Fitzhugh and Josh Dobson are heads-up for the first gold ring to be awarded at Horseshoe Southern Indiana this season. Fitzhugh has come awfully close several times before, and just one opponent stands between him and a breakthrough victory. He has an uphill climb ahead of him, though, as he tries to erase Dobson's 2:1 chiplead.
Josh Dobson - 1,105,000
Scott Fitzhugh - 505,000
Blinds are moving to 6,000/12,000 with a 2,000 ante, so there are still about 135 big blinds in play.
Friday, September 30, 2016 2:06 PM Local Time
The final nine players are in their chairs, and the final table is under way in Event #1.
Friday, September 30, 2016 12:10 AM Local Time
Friday, September 30, 2016 12:07 AM Local Time
About midway through Level 16, the field has been reduced to nine players, and action has been suspended for the night. Louisville native Chris Brawner is the chipleader at the moment, the only player with a stack north of 300,000 chips.
Here's the full final table lineup:
Seat 1: Kevin Parker - 256,500 (86 bb)
Seat 2: Chris Brawner - 302,500 (101 bb)
Seat 3: Jared Palmer - 170,500 (57 bb)
Seat 4: James Byard - 90,000 (30 bb)
Seat 5: Brett Dowell - 186,500 (62 bb)
Seat 6: Dan Keller - 170,500 (57 bb)
Seat 7: Josh Dobson - 182,000 (36 bb)
Seat 8: Scott Fitzhugh - 219,000 (73 bb)
Seat 9: James Pastor - 32,500 (11 bb)
Everyone left is guaranteed to earn at least $1,162 on Friday, but all eyes are on the gold ring and the top prize of more than $13,000 awaiting the champion. Blinds will be 1,500/3,000 with a 500 ante when Day 2 begins, so the average stack is nearly 60 big blinds.
Play resumes at 2:00 PM and will continue until a winner is determined.
Thursday, September 29, 2016 9:53 PM Local Time
The starting field of 161 players has been reduced to just 18, and they're now all in the money. Everyone left is guaranteed to earn at least $648.
Blinds are 1,500/3,000 with a 500 ante in the current level, and the average stack is just less than 30 big blinds.
Thursday, September 29, 2016 6:25 PM Local Time
The first 12 levels are complete, and the remaining field is on a one-hour dinner break. The board shows 30 players remaining, with Day 1 action scheduled to continue until the end of Level 21.
Thursday, September 29, 2016 4:46 PM Local Time
Registration has closed for this event, and the staff has finalized the numbers.
This $365-buy-in event drew a field of 161 players, generating a prizepool worth $48,300. That money will be shared by the final 18 players, with a min-cash worth $648. The eventual winner will collect the series' first gold ring and the top prize of $13,041.
A full breakdown of the payouts can be found in the "Prizepool" tab above.
Thursday, September 29, 2016 3:40 PM Local Time
Level 8 is just getting under way, and the field has filled in nicely since play began. The board shows 159 players so far, with about a half hour of late registration still available. There is a short break following this level, after which the field will be locked at the start of Level 9. The prizepool and payout information will be posted shortly thereafter.
Thursday, September 29, 2016 11:45 AM Local Time
Horseshoe Southern Indiana is playing host to the World Series of Poker Circuit for the ninth consecutive season, and the 2016/17 edition is set to begin on "The Boat". Today is the first of 12 days of action, during which 12 gold rings and two Global Casino Championship seats will be awarded.
This series begins just like the last one did, with a $365 no-limit hold'em event opening the action. Joseph Mattingly (pictured) is the defending champion of this event. Mattingly, a grain farmer from Kentucky, defeated a field of 167 players last season, earning his first ring and the top prize of $13,527. He went on to win a second ring earlier this year, and he's a likely candidate to return today in defense of his title.
Here are the vitals for Event #1:
- Players begin with 10,000 tournament chips
- Late regisration is available until the start of Level 9 (~4:30 PM)
- Levels 1-12 are 30 minutes apiece
- Levels 13-21 are 40 minutes apiece
- This is a two-day event
- View the Structure Sheet
Cards go in the air at 12:00 PM.