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Monday, August 31, 2015 9:30 PM Local Time
Ting Xiao is the newest champion of the WSOP Circuit, rallying from one of the shortest final table stacks to win the Horseshoe Baltimore Main Event.
Xiao is a poker pro from nearby Frederick, Maryland, and it’s fitting that he’d earn his largest career cash in his home casino. Primarily a cash game player, Xiao’s previous tournament highlight was a 21st-place finish in a $1,500 WSOP event in 2010. He had just over $30,000 in total career tournament earnings prior to this final table.
That’s all changed now with a new crowning poker achievement and a big paycheck. Xiao’s win was worth $147,699 in cash, the diamond-studded gold ring, and one of the precious seats in the 2016 WSOP Global Championship.
Xiao finished Day 1 with 184,000 chips, putting him among the leaders for the long road to the final table. By the time Day 2 ended, though, he was near the bottom of the counts, and he began the final table with less than 20 big blinds. Xiao flopped a set of fours to earn a big knockout pot with eight players left, then won a flip with ace-king to eliminate DJ MacKinnon and shrink the table to five. He entered heads-up play with about a 3:2 chip lead over Sandeep Patel, and about an hour later, it was all over.
After the last hand was dealt, the soft-spoken Xiao finally let a bit of emotion show as he posed for the winner’s photos. “I’ve always wanted a ring,” he said. “I wanted a ring really badly. I play cash games for money and tournaments for the glory. That’s what the ring is about.”
Monday, August 31, 2015 7:52 PM Local Time
On the button, Sandeep Patel (pictured below) raises to 200,000 and Ting Xiao (above) three-bets to 575,000. Patel calls and the two see a flop.
Xiao bets 675,000 and Patel moves all in for 2,400,000. Xiao quickly calls and tables for a pair of jacks. Patel holds and will need a three to hit the board. The turn is the and the river is another blank for Patel.
With that, Xiao is the Champion of the Baltimore Main Event, taking home $147,699.
Sandeep Patel earns $91,323 for his second place finish.
Monday, August 31, 2015 7:47 PM Local Time
On the button, Ting Xiao raises to 200,000 and Sandeep Patel calls. The flop is
and Patel leads out for 300,000. Xiao folds and Patel will take this one.
Monday, August 31, 2015 7:46 PM Local Time
Sandeep Patel raises to 205,000 from the button and Ting Xiao folds.
Monday, August 31, 2015 7:45 PM Local Time
Ting Xiao opens to 225,000 from the button and Sandeep Patel folds.
Monday, August 31, 2015 7:43 PM Local Time
From the button, Sandeep Patel raises to 240,000 and Ting Xiao calls.
On the flop, Xiao checks and Patel bets 405,000. Xiao folds and Patel will take this pot.
Monday, August 31, 2015 7:42 PM Local Time
Ting Xiao raises to 200,000 from the button. Sandeep Patel calls and the two see a flop.
Patel checks. Xiao bets 225,000 and Patel folds.
Monday, August 31, 2015 7:40 PM Local Time
Sandeep Patel limps from the button and Ting Xiao checks his option. The flop is and Xiao checks.
Patel bets 225,000 and Xiao folds.
Monday, August 31, 2015 7:39 PM Local Time
Ting Xiao raises to 200,000 from the button and Sandeep Patel raises to 580,000. Xiao tanks for a moment, but folds.
Monday, August 31, 2015 7:38 PM Local Time
Ting Xiao gets a walk.
Monday, August 31, 2015 7:38 PM Local Time
Ting Xiao raises to 200,000 from the button and Sandeep Patel calls.
On the flop, Patel checks and Xiao bets 225,000. Patel calls and the turn is the . Both players check and the dealer burns and turns the river. Once again, both players check and Xiao flips to scoop the pot with a pair of fives.
Monday, August 31, 2015 7:36 PM Local Time
Sandeep Patel limps from the button and Ting Xiao checks his option. Both players check the flop.
The turn is the and, once again, both players check. The river is the and Xiao bets 125,000. Patel folds and Xiao wins this pot.
Monday, August 31, 2015 7:34 PM Local Time
Ting Xiao raises to 200,000 and Sandeep Patel folds.
Monday, August 31, 2015 7:34 PM Local Time
Sandeep Patel opens with a raise to 240,000 from the button and Ting Xiao folds.
Monday, August 31, 2015 7:33 PM Local Time
Sandeep Patel gets a walk.
Monday, August 31, 2015 7:32 PM Local Time
On the button, Sandeep Patel raises to 240,000. Ting Xiao three-bets to 600,000 and Patel calls.
On the flop, Xiao bets 600,000. Patel calls, and players see a turn. Xiao continues, this time betting 1,200,000. Patel tanks, but eventually folds and Xiao will take the sizable pot.
Monday, August 31, 2015 7:28 PM Local Time
Ting Xiao limps from the button and Sandeep Patel raises to 280,000. Xiao calls and the two see a flop.
Both players check and the hits the turn. Patel bets 100,000 and Xiao calls. The river is the and Patel bets 450,000. Xiao folds and Patel rakes in another pot.
Monday, August 31, 2015 7:26 PM Local Time
Ting Xiao gets a walk.
Monday, August 31, 2015 7:26 PM Local Time
Ting Xiao raises to 190,000 from the button and Sandeep Patel three-bets to 580,000. Xiao folds and Patel takes this pot.
Monday, August 31, 2015 7:25 PM Local Time
Ting Xiao gets a walk.