Monday, April 14, 2014 7:09 PM Local Time
After four days and 664 eliminations, Jason Sandling earns $204,487, a gold ring, and a seat into the WSOP National Championship by winning the $1,675 No Limit Hold'em WSOP Circuit Cherokee main event.
The Clayton, NC native came into the final day second in chips of the 11 players who came with just under two million in chips and never seemed to be on the short stack. He took over the chip lead about half way through the final table and never relinquished it.
Sandling topped a final table that was highlighted by two of the Circuit's most familiar faces, Ralph Massey and Tripp Kirk. Massey was crippled by William O'Neal when Massey's A-Q couldn't outrun O'Neal's A-K. Massey finished in seventh place and Kirk was eliminated soon after in sixth place when he ran K-Q into Sandling's pocket kings.
Zack Caldwell and Harold Evans were eliminated in fourth and fifth place, respectively, which left Sandling, O'Neal, and Erik Gorman three-handed for the title. Sandling eliminated Gorman in third to leave Sandling heads-up with O'Neal for the title. Sandling won the first few hands that went to showdown to extend his chip lead and then had his A-4 hold up against O'Neal's Q-8 for the title.
This is Sandling's biggest score of his poker career and his first WSOP Circuit ring. He is guaranteed a seat in the National Championship which takes place in Atlantic City May 22-24.
Here are a look at the final table results:
1. Jason Sandling - $204,487
2. William O'Neal - $126,533
3. Erik Gorman - $92,807
4. Zack Caldwell - $69,017
5. Harold Evans - $52,020
6. Tripp Kirk - $39,730
7. Ralph Massey - $30,743
8. Robert Park - $24,100
9. Travis Turner - $19,132
Monday, April 14, 2014 6:45 PM Local Time
William O'Neal moves all in for about 1,600,000 from the button and Jason Sandling calls from the big blind. O'Neal shows and is up against Sandling's .
The flop comes , keeping Sandling's ace-high out in front. The pairs the board on the turn, leaving O'Neal looking for a queen or an eight to stay alive. The finishes off the board on the river, ensuring Sandling's victory and O'Neal's runner-up finish.
Jason Sandling - 13,330,000
William O'Neal - Eliminated in second place for $126,533.
Monday, April 14, 2014 6:39 PM Local Time
Jason Sandling raises to 190,000 on the button and William O'Neal defends his big blind. The flop is and O'Neal check-calls a bet from Sandling. The turn is the and O'Neal check-called again, this time 475,000 from Sandling.
The river is the and O'Neal leads out for 800,000. Sandling snap-calls and shows . O'Neal flashes and mucks his hand. Sandling takes the pot and leaves O'Neal very short on chips.
Jason Sandling - 11,700,000 (146 BBs)
William O'Neal - 1,600,000 (20 BBs)
Monday, April 14, 2014 6:30 PM Local Time
On a flop of , Jason Sandling checks and William O'Neal bets 325,000. Sandling check-raises to 800,000 and O'Neal calls. The turn is the and Sandling checks. O'Neal bets 800,000 and Sandling check-calls. The river is the and both players check.
"I think I turned you," said Sandling as he tables .
O'Neal mucks his hand and Sandling is pushed the pot.
Jason Sandling - 10,050,000 (125 BBs)
William O'Neal - 3,250,000 (40 BBs)
Monday, April 14, 2014 6:04 PM Local Time
Action folds to Erik Gorman in the small blind and he raises to 180,000. Jason Sandling three-bet ships all in over the top and Gorman snaps for his tournament life of approximately 1,500,000.
Gorman:
Sandling:
The flop comes down , pairing Gorman's ace and putting him in a commanding position in the hand. Fourth street is the , giving Sandling a pair of jacks and giving him outs for the win going to the river.
Just like that, the strikes the felt on the river, giving Sandling two pair of kings and jacks. Gorman is eliminated from play in third place, leaving Sandling and William O'Neal to play for heads up for the title.
Jason Sandling - 8,470,000 (105 BBs)
William O'Neal - 4,860,000 (60 BBs)
Erik Gorman - Eliminated
Monday, April 14, 2014 6:01 PM Local Time
With roughly 1,300,000 in the pot, Jason Sandling bets 675,000 on the river with the board reading . Erik Gorman goes into the tank for over a minute before calling. Sandling tables and Gorman mucks.
The next hand, Gorman moves all in from the button for his last 790,000 and is called by Jason Sandling in the small blind. Gorman is in bad shape with his against Sandling's .
The flop brought something for everybody as it comes . Gorman flops the nut flush draw, but Sandling flops top pair. The on the turn leaves Sandling drawing dead and Gorman ships the pot.
Jason Sandling - 6,600,000 (83 BBs)
Erik Gorman - 1,500,000 (19 BBs)
Monday, April 14, 2014 5:55 PM Local Time
Level: 30
Blinds: 40,000/80,000
Ante: 10,000
Monday, April 14, 2014 5:34 PM Local Time
The final three players are now on a 15-minute break.
Monday, April 14, 2014 5:24 PM Local Time
Jason Sandling raises to 125,000 from the cutoff and Zack Caldwell three-bets to 310,000 on the button. William O'Neal cold four-bets all in from the small blind and Caldwell calls off his stack of roughly 1,800,000 after Sandling gets out of the way.
It is a race situation with O'Neal holding against Caldwedll's . The flop is good for O'Neal as the dealer spreads a flop of . The turn keeps O'Neal in the lead with the and the seals the hand for O'Neal on the river.
Caldwell takes home just over $69,000 for his final table efforts and O'Neal moves up the chip counts.
William O'Neal - 4,150,000 (69 BBs)
Zack Caldwell - Eliminated
Monday, April 14, 2014 5:05 PM Local Time
After a series of raises before the flop, Erik Gorman finds himself all in and at risk against Zack Caldwell for his last 1,4350,000. Gorman shows and is racing with Caldwell's .
The board runs out and Gorman lands the double up with a set of tens.
Erik Gorman - 3,000,000 (50 BBs)
Zack Caldwell - 2,450,000 (40 BBs)
Monday, April 14, 2014 4:53 PM Local Time
Jason Sandling and William O'Neal get all in preflop for O'Neal's last 1,480,000 in chips. Sandling tables and O'Neal is in great shape with his .
The dealer burns and turns a board of to keep O'Neal's big slick in the lead and give him the double up.
William O'Neal - 3,100,000 (51 BBs)
Jason Sandling - 5,100,000 (85 BBs)
Monday, April 14, 2014 4:31 PM Local Time
Level: 29
Blinds: 30,000/60,000
Ante: 10,000
Monday, April 14, 2014 4:18 PM Local Time
Jason Sandling raises to 115,000 from the button and it folds over to William O'Neal who cuts out a three-bet to 275,000 from the big blind. Sandling flats and the two see a flop of . O'Neal continues out for 350,000 and Sandling calls to see fourth street.
Thet urn is the and O'Neal slows with a check. Sandling tosses out 450,000 and sends O'Neal straight into the tank. After about a minute, O'Neal announces an all in raise. Sandling calls for his tournament life of 2.145 million.
Sandling:
O'Neal:
The river brings the [3], ensuring Sandling doubles with his trip tens. Sandling now sits in the chip lead with about 5.54 million in chips.
Jason Sandling - 5,540,000 (110 BBs)
William O'Neal - 1,860,000 (37 BBs)
Monday, April 14, 2014 4:08 PM Local Time
Harold Evans moves all in from the cutoff for 810,000 and action folds to Erik Gorman in the small blind. Gorman asks for a count and then calls.
Gorman is in the lead with his against Evans' . Evans couldn't find any help from the dealer as the board runs out and Gorman scoops to the pot to leave the table four-handed.
Erik Gorman - 2,400,000 (48 BBs)
Harold Evans - Eliminated
Monday, April 14, 2014 3:43 PM Local Time
Harold Evans moves all in under-the-gun for 480,000 and is called by Jason Sandling in the big blind. It's a classic race situation with Evans' against Sandling's .
The board runs out and Evans doubles up.
Harold Evans - 1,100,000 (22 BBs)
Jason Sandling - 3,600,000 (72 BBs)
Monday, April 14, 2014 3:40 PM Local Time
Jason Sandling raises to 105,000 under-the-gun and action folds around to Tripp Kirk in the small blind.
"3.2 million," said Kirk as he moves all in for roughly 900,000.
Sandling snap-calls and tables and is in great shape against Kirk's . The board runs out and the most accomplished player left in the field is eliminated in sixth place, while Sandling moves up to the top of the chip counts.
Jason Sandling - 4,100,000 (82 BBs)
Tripp Kirk - Eliminated
Monday, April 14, 2014 3:25 PM Local Time
Ralph Massey tosses his last 20,000 all in before the flop. Jason Sandling completes his small blind and Zack Caldwell checks his option in the big blind.
The flop comes and both Sandling and Caldwell check to see a turn. The turns and they both check for a second time.
Two more checks occur after the rivers and the dealer instructs all players to open their hands.
"Good game, guys," says Massey, showing for six-high. Caldwell tables and takes down the pot with a pair of fours.
Zack Caldwell - 3,200,000 (64 BBs)
Ralph Massey - Eliminated
Monday, April 14, 2014 3:23 PM Local Time
Ralph Massey opens the action with a raise to 105,000. William O'Neal, in the next seat over, three-bets to 280,000. Action folds back around to Massey who announces a four-bet ship all in for roughly 2.12 million. This is actually a bet for O'Neal's tournament life of 2.09 million. O'Neal sits in the tank for a moment before calling for his tournament life.
O'Neal:
Massey:
Massey is behind and needs help in order to score the knockout. The board falls down , providing no help to Massey and forcing him to ship just about all of his stack over to O'Neal. O'Neal is now the chip leader while Massey holds less than one small blind.
William O'Neal - 4,280,000 (85 BBs)
Ralph Massey - 20,000 (<1 BB)
Monday, April 14, 2014 3:14 PM Local Time
Zack Caldwell raises on the button and Robert Park moves all in from the big blind for his last 750,000. Caldwell snap calls and the cards are turned on their back.
Park asks, "You don't have aces or kings or something?" Then he tables .
Caldwell doesn't respond and tables . The window card is an ace for Caldwell to put him further in the lead as the flop is . The turn gives Park some hope with the , but the falls on the river to eliminate Park and pad Cadlwell's chip lead.
Zack Caldwell - 3,100,000 (62 BBs)
Robert Park - Eliminated
Monday, April 14, 2014 3:03 PM Local Time
Level: 28
Blinds: 25,000/50,000
Ante: 5,000