Tuesday, December 5, 2017 1:19 AM Local Time
Atlanta grinder snags the ring and almost $275,000 for his landmark victory
Charles Johnson has just become the WSOP Circuit’s newest Main Event Champion. Johnson outlasted a field of 957 entries in the series’ flagship event, collecting his first gold ring and the top prize of $272,744. He also earned one of the precious tickets for the season-ending Global Casino Championship.
“We’re here, man!” the champ opened his postgame interview. “It’s really a dream.”
Despite putting on a stern face as he posed for photos, Johnson let his emotions take over once he started talking. “There are a lot of people who’ve been doing this for a lot longer than I have and have never been here,” he said, struggling to keep his composure. “I feel blessed. Like… just blessed.”
Johnson, 37, is the manager of a contact center in Atlanta, Georgia. That’s just his day job, though. By night, he’s a poker player. He’s new to the game, having only discovered it within the last four years.
Atlanta is home to a thriving and talented community of poker players, and Johnson has embedded himself into it. He plays in charity tournaments at the American Legion several times a week, facing off against a rotating cast of characters that includes ring winners Hamid Izadi, Cody Pack, David Aker, and Bubba Dukes. It’s not your typical home game.
Johnson credits that group (and Dukes in particular) for helping shape his own strategy over the past four years. “I feel like that got me ready to be here tonight,” he said after his win. “I’m a pretty decent player, but there’s something about the experience those guys have.”
As Johnson tells it, this breakout came on the heels of one of the worst downswings he’s experienced as a poker player. He recounted some of his recent results: “I went to Tampa. I was the chip leader late in Day 2. Dumped off my chips. Went to Jacksonville. Ran it up, dumped off my chips. You see the pattern here?”
The trip to Cherokee started off pretty poorly, too. Johnson bricked everything he played early in the series, and he decided to leave town and head back home to get his head straight. He almost skipped the Main Event entirely.
“It just wasn’t happening for me,” he explained. “I’m like, I’m done. I had to get my shit right.”
After playing at the Legion on Thursday night, Johnson decided to make the drive back to Cherokee to try to satellite into the Main. “Ended up getting a seat, and that’s all she wrote,” he beamed.
Johnson did not dump off his chips in this one. He ended Day 1 with 159,500 chips on a single entry, and he had climbed into the chip lead by the end of Day 2. From there on out, he said he executed his game plan to perfection.
“Learning from all those mistakes, learning from those guys,” Johnson said, “it finally all came together over these last three days. It got me this ring.”
Johnson’s previous best score came in last year’s Monster Stack event at the same venue. He made the final table, finishing in ninth place for about $5,400. He intended to use that as a stepping stone to a larger result.
“My goal was a five-figure cash,” he said, glancing down at his payout card in front of him. “We just skipped over that,” he laughed. Johnson went straight to six figures.
Winning a quarter of a million dollars is enough to change the lives of most folks, but Johnson said he doesn’t want it to change his: “I’m going back to work,” he said. “I may not be there tomorrow, but I’ll be there this week.”
He lingered on that thought for a while, too. “I’ve seen a lot of people win a lot of money, and the next thing you know, they’re broke. I’m not trying to do that,” he continued. “I’m not going to do anything stupid. I’m going to continue doing what I’m doing now. Grinding.”
Despite rubbing shoulders with Atlanta’s elite players, Johnson said he’s never played an event quite as taxing as this one. “This shit is hard,” he admitted. “This tournament was by far the most difficult tournament I’ve ever played. It’s a mental grind. It’s draining.”
The Main Event field was littered with bracelet winners, ring winners, and other tournament poker standouts for the duration. The final table alone included three former WSOP Circuit winners, Ryan Jones (2 rings), Krzysztof Stybaniewicz (2), and David Jackson (1).
For Johnson, his victory is the culmination of four years of hard work on the felt. He explained how far he’s progressed since he began playing the game.
“Four years ago, I didn’t know what a big blind was,” he said. “A year ago, I didn’t know what a three-bet was. I had no clue. I had to go and read, study, and all that good stuff. We all gotta come from somewhere.”
As he shook hands with the staff and soaked in his friends’ congratulations, Johnson had a final thought for the reporters: “One thing I want you to know is that I’m going to be back,” he said. “I promise.”
Final table results:
1st: Charles Johnson - $272,744
2nd: James Moon - $168,700
3rd: John Whitlow - $124,515
4th: Ed Yancey - $93,164
5th: Krzysztof Stybaniewicz - $70,584
6th: Nate Gentry - $54,147
7th: David Jackson - $42,046
8th: Ryan Jones - $33,060
9th: Trung Pham - $26,298
Click here for the full results.
Monday, December 4, 2017 10:06 PM Local Time
Hand #184:
James Moon limps in on the button.
"Whatever you do brother, I'm still gonna be here," Charles Johnson (above) says. Johnson then moves all in. Moon calls.
James Moon:
Charles Johnson:
"Oh, this is gonna be a good flip," Moon says.
The flop comes down which gives Johnson a gutshot straight draw, but keeps Moon in the lead with his pair.
"Give him a set," Johnson says. "Give him a set!!!"
The turn is the which gives Johnson a few extra outs. But the river is the granting Johnson's wish, giving him a straight, and making him the champion of the Harrah's Cherokee Main Event. For his win, Johnson collects $272,744.
James Moon (below) is eliminated in 2nd place and collects $168,700 for his run in this event.
Monday, December 4, 2017 9:58 PM Local Time
Charles Johnson moves all in from the button and James Moon folds.
Monday, December 4, 2017 9:58 PM Local Time
James Moon limps in on the button and Charles Johnson checks his option.
The flop comes down and Johnson leads out with a bet of 350,000. Moon shoves all in and Johnson folds.
Monday, December 4, 2017 9:56 PM Local Time
Charles Johnson limps in. James Moon raises to 525,00 from the big blind. Johnson calls.
The flop comes and both players check.
On the turn, Moon checks. Johnson shoves all in and Moon folds quickly.
Monday, December 4, 2017 9:54 PM Local Time
James Moon makes it 600,000 to go and Charles Johnson calls. The flop comes
, Johnson checks, Moon bets 615,000 and Johnson moves all-in. Moon tank-folds.
Monday, December 4, 2017 9:52 PM Local Time
Charles Johnson moves all-in and James Moon folds.
Monday, December 4, 2017 9:51 PM Local Time
James Moon calls and Charles Johnsonmakes it 400,000 to go. Moon calls. The flop comes
, Johnson bets 300,000 and Moon calls. The turn is the
and both players check. The river is the
, Johnson checks, Moon bets 850,000 and Johnson folds.
Monday, December 4, 2017 9:50 PM Local Time
Charles Johnson calls and James Moon makes it 440,000. Johnson folds.
Monday, December 4, 2017 9:50 PM Local Time
James Moon calls and Charles Johnson checks. The flop comes
and both players check to the
on the turn. Johnson bets 300,000 and Moon folds.
Monday, December 4, 2017 9:49 PM Local Time
Charles Johnson raises to 700,000 and James Moon mucks.
Monday, December 4, 2017 9:45 PM Local Time
Level: 34
Blinds: 100,000/200,000
Ante: 30,000
Monday, December 4, 2017 9:44 PM Local Time
Players are on a 15 minute break and will return shortly.
Current ship counts:
Charles Johnson - 16,470,000 (82 bb)
James Moon - 2,670,000 (13 bb)
Monday, December 4, 2017 9:43 PM Local Time
James Moon limps in, then folds to a raise of 460,000 from Charles Johnson who's in the big blind.
Monday, December 4, 2017 9:42 PM Local Time
Charles Johnson limps in and James Moon checks.
The flop comes out and both players check. The turn is the and Moon checks again. Johnson fires 310,000 and Moon folds.
Monday, December 4, 2017 9:41 PM Local Time
James Moon limps in from the small blind, Charles Johnson checks his option from the big blind.
The flop comes down and both players check. On the turn, Johnson leads out for 500,000. Moon calls.
The river is the and both players check. Moon shows but it's no good against Johnson's .
Monday, December 4, 2017 9:39 PM Local Time
Charles Johnson moves all in on the button for 7,715,000.
"Damn," James Moon says, slapping the table. "I got a good calling hand too."
Moon drops into the tank and counts his chips, and gets an exact count from Johnson.
"I'm pretty sure you got pocket fives," Moon says. "I call."
Moon:
Johnson:
Moon takes the lead when the flop comes and he retains that lead on the turn. The river is the though and that gets Johnson out of his chair yelling and screaming as he takes the lead and doubles up through Moon.
Charles Johnson - 15,645,000 (98 bb)
James Moon - 3,500,000 (22 bb)
Monday, December 4, 2017 9:34 PM Local Time
Charles Johnson gets a walk in the big blind.
Monday, December 4, 2017 9:34 PM Local Time
Charles Johnson shoves all in on the button and James Moon folds.
"If you wanna push all in, we can just push all in," Johnson says. "Let's do it."
"Nah," Moon says. "Wait 'til after break. I'll buy you a mimosa."
Monday, December 4, 2017 9:32 PM Local Time
James Moon limps in on the button and Charles Johnson checks.
The flop is and Johnson bets 400,000. Moon shoves all in with a covering stack and Johnson folds.