The man they call Woody has qualified for the National Championship each of the last five years.
Elizabeth, Ind. (October 15, 2014) — “I’m just trying to qualify for the National Championship for the fifth year in a row. That’s my goal, and that’s what I’m trying to do. I think if I do that five years in a row it’s going to be a while before someone breaks that [record].”Those were the words of Charles “Woody” Moore midway through the Horseshoe Southern Indiana (HSI) Circuit series only moments after winning his second career gold ring. It wasn’t elation. He wasn’t speechless. At that moment, the 2010 HSI Main Event champion had taken one step toward a goal — nothing more, nothing less.Moore, a 66-year-old retiree and semi-pro, began the 2014/2015 season as the only player to qualify for the National Championship in each of its four years, and as as evidenced by the quote above, had just one thing in mind heading to the Circuit’s newest installment.Fast forward a few days and he’d take a leap toward that goal by earning a spot among the final nine of the HSI Main Event. At that time, Moore laid claim to 60 points toward the Casino Championship and was assured a minimum of 25 more following the conclusion of the Main Event. With Event 5 runner-up, Neal Harding, leading the final eight at the Event 12 finale running congruent to the Main Event, Moore was close, but he wasn’t quite in the clear. If he were to finish ninth he’d need to fade an Event 12 win by Harding. Thus, an eight-place finish or better assured Moore’s spot in the season-ending event by way of the points title or a Main Event victory.A few seats to Moore’s right at the Main Event finale table, one of the table’s short stacks, John Denman, three-bet all in and got a caller. Denman held and was well behind the of his opponent. The board ran out blanks for Denman and he busted ninth officially earning Moore a berth in his fifth-consecutive National Championship.“Now it’s locked up,” Moore said as Denman hit the rail.Moore went on to finish sixth in the Main Event, one of the few railbirds that was all smiles as he waited for his payout.In all, he earned 95 points in the form of first, sixth and 11th-place finishes. His impressive run at HSI means the 66-year-old retiree and semi-pro has now qualified for the season-ending National Championship in each of its five years — a feat accomplished by no other player. Having done it before, Moore understands how difficult it is to wade through 20 Circuit stops and tens of thousands of players to earn a spot among the tour’s 100 elite. Keeping that in mind, Moore’s 2015 berth may just be the most special yet.Moore is set to join the HSI Main Event champion, Gregory Johnson, at the National Championship this spring. There, the pair will compete for their share of an up-to $2 million prize pool and a gold bracelet.
More information on the season-ending event is available on WSOP.com.
A breakdown of Moore's HSI Circuit series cashes:
|
Event |
Finish |
Prize
|
Points |
|
Event #3: $365 no-limit hold'em
|
11th |
$1,059 |
10 |
|
Event #9: $365 no-limit hold'em
|
1st |
$13,446 |
50 |
|
Event #10: The Main Event
|
6th |
$23,938 |
36 |
|
Total |
-- |
$38,443 |
95 |
See Moore's WSOP bio page on WSOP.com.