TUNICA, MS – Barry Schultz is the winner of Event #18 of the World Series of Poker Circuit Events at Harrah’s Tunica.
Schultz teaches statistics at a college in his hometown of Cordova, TN. He has been playing poker for 21 years and has six prior Circuit Event cashes and two WPT final table appearances.
This was his first final table on the WSOP Circuit.
The $1,080 buy-in event attracted 202 entrants and generated a prize pool of $195,940.
While the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints were preparing to take the field on this Superbowl Sunday, the remaining nine players of Event #18 began final table play with Schultz sitting on more than a 2-1 chip lead over his nearest opponent.
|
Name |
Hometown |
Seat |
Chip Count |
|
Ray Martin |
Bargersville, IN |
1 |
145,000 |
|
Kenneth Blanton |
Caddo Mills, TX |
2 |
127,000 |
|
Chris Sullivan |
Conway, AR |
3 |
85,000 |
|
Matt Laurence |
Tulsa, OK |
4 |
283,000 |
|
Gary Lucht |
Cissna Park, IL |
5 |
87,000 |
|
Damian Radanov |
Memphis, TN |
6 |
131,000 |
|
Jeremy Drewery |
Arlington, TN |
7 |
217,000 |
|
Marcus Barnes |
Huntsville, AL |
8 |
240,000 |
|
Barry Schultz |
Cordova, TN |
9 |
614,000 |
Ninth Place
Blinds and antes were at 5,000/10,000/2,000. There were a number of short stacks at the final table, each biding their time, looking to double up or the least climb a spot or two up the prize ladder. Kenneth Blanton made the jump when he moved his remaining 53,000 all-in pre-flop with from the button. Chris Sullivan called from the small blind with . A nine on the board did not improve Blanton’s hand, making him the first elimination of the afternoon. Blanton earned $4,409.
Eighth Place
Marcus Barnes saw his marginal stack reduced to 69,000, which he moved all-in before the flop with . Damian Radanov called with most of his chips and showed . The flop came , giving both players top pair. But with the lower kicker, Radanov was looking to pair his ten, or catch a running straight or flush. A and on the turn and river came through for Radnov who made the flush and Barnes was eliminated. Barnes is a paper maker from Huntsville, AL. Over his two day run, he made $5,192 worth of it.
Seventh Place
Gary Lucht moved his short stack all-in with pocket tens. Barry Schultz shoved his monster stack to isolate the all-in player. After Schultz turned over , the flop came king high with blanks on the turn and river. Lucht’s second final table in as many days earned him $6,407.
Sixth Place
Chris Sullivan was eliminated in 6th after Matt Laurence flopped quad fours on him all-in. The 41-year old pest control company owner collected $9,601 for sixth place.
Fifth Place
35-year old sheriff’s deputy, Jeremy Drewery was eliminated in fifth place. He took home $12,795.
Fourth Place
After doubling up a number of times to move up the prize ladder, Radinov’s streak ended after he was all-in with against Matt Laurence’s . Both players paired their five, but with the lower kicker, Radinov was sent to the payout table to collect $15,989 for fourth.
Third Place
Down to three players, Schultz had over a 3-1 chip lead over his two opponents, Ray Martin and Matt Lawrence. The two smaller stacks got it all-in with Martin showing pocket tens and Lawrence turning over . Martin spiked the 10 on the flop for a set along with a jack and a queen and was looking pretty good until an hit the turn. A king on the river left Martin in disbelief as Lawrence rivered the straight. Martin is a 56-year old farmer from Bargersville, IN. He earned $22,396 in his second final table appearance at the 2009-2010 Harrah’s Tunica Circuit.
Second Place
As the final minutes of the first half of Super Bowl XLIV ticked away, Schultz offered to chop first and second prize with Lawrence for the ring.
"I have money," Schultz told Lawrence. "What I don’t have is a ring."
It was an incredibly generous offer for Lawrence, who had just caught a river straight to survive and had less chips than his opponent.
Even still, he tanked for a while before deciding to forfeit the Circuit Event gold ring and take the money. First and second places paid $51,534 and $31,644, respectively.
"Feels great," Schultz said about his win. "I squandered a lot of chip leads and a lot of opportunities so I’m glad to have this."
The 42-year old statistician sees the deal as an investment the he expects to pay dividends in the long run.
"Everybody is always telling each other I’m better than you, but when I go to my home game and throw those chips out there and they see the ring, well I’m hoping to get a few more folds from here on out."
Still to come is the Harrah’s Tunica $5,150 Main Event. The WSOP Circuit at Harrah’s Tunica runs through February 10th.