This page is the hub for information on the WSOP Circuit at Horseshoe Southern Indiana. Check back here (wsop.com/n/779) for updated information and links on this ongoing tournament series.
Elizabeth, Ind. (October 9, 2017) -- Ryan Leng won his first World Series of Poker gold
ring in the last event of the Horseshoe Southern Indiana Circuit series. The professional poker player from Illinois defeated a field of
121 players in Event #12: $365 No-Limit Hold'em at Horseshoe Southern
Indiana.
The tournament was scheduled as a two-day endeavor. However,
with the help of one extra level of play, Leng reaped the rewards in just one day. Along with a debut Circuit title, the 30-year-old also bagged $10,164, bringing his total WSOP earnings to just over $700,000.
Justin Boggs rode his chip lead all the way to the winner's circle in Event #10: $1,675 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event. The 30-year-old teacher from Ohio claimed his first gold ring and $139,920.
Completed Events
Event #1: $365 Double Stack No-Limit Hold'em Turbo
Results | Official Report | Winner's Photo
Event #2: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry
Results | Official Report | Winner's Photo
Event #3: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Turbo
Results | Official Report | Winner's Photo
Event #4: $365 No-Limit Hold'em
Results | Official Report | Winner's Photo
Event #5: $365 No-Limit Hold'em
Results | Official Report | Winner's Photo
Event #6: $580 No-Limit Hold'em Six Max (One Re-Entry)
Results | Official Report | Winner's Photo
Event #7: $365 No-Limit Hold'em
Results | Official Report | Winner's Photo
Event #8: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Monster Stack
Results | Official Report | Winner's Photo
Event #9: $365 Pot-Limit Omaha Rebuy
Results | Official Report | Winner's Photo
Event #10: $1,675 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event
Results | Official Report | Winner's Photo
Event #11: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Turbo
Results | Official Report | Winner's Photo
Event #12: $365 No-Limit Hold'em
Results | Official Report | Winner's Photo
Casino Champion Race
Danny Lawson has locked up the Casino Championship.
Josh Reichard, Lawson's only remaining adversary in the race, busted the Main Event 41st place for five points, while Lawson still had chips in the signature tournament.
Eventually, Lawson was knocked out of the Main Event in 23rd, adding 10 points to his already winning total. The full-time poker player from Appalachia finished the series with five cashes, three final tables, two gold rings, and 137.5 Casino Championship points.
About the Winners
Danny Lawson: Winner of Event #1
Danny Lawson came away with his first World Series of Poker gold ring after winning the first tournament of the Horseshoe Southern Indiana Circuit series. The 45-year-old from Appalachia, Virginia made a miraculous comeback to top Event #1: $365 Double Stack No-Limit Hold'em Turbo, which drew a field of 154 players.
“Feels good, came from an ante to win it,” said Lawson.
Following the loss of an all-in pot, Lawson was left with a single, 5,000 denomination chip, good enough for one ante. The husband, and father of one, was essentially dead in the water, but incredibly surged back to an average stack with the help of multiple double ups. Although it was a highly improbable road to victory, Lawson ultimately prevailed as the last man standing, completing a true “chip and a chair” story.
Aside from a debut gold ring, Lawson also took home $12,474 for his first-place finish. It has been a profitable season so far for a player who has only recently began playing the Circuit full time again.
“I started them back this year. I took ten years off,” said Lawson. “I just had to take a break, started getting old.”
Prior to his recent achievement, Lawson had two other final table appearances this year. At the Harrah’s Cherokee Circuit stop in early August, he placed third in the Monster Stack and made a deep run in the Main Event, finishing in eighth.
Ross Ward: Winner of Event #2
After three days of tournament poker at Horseshoe Southern Indiana, it was Ross Ward standing atop the popular, re-entry event. The Gainesville, Georgia native, outlasted a field of 640 entrants in Event #2: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry to win his first career gold ring and a sizable sum of $39,360.
“I was playing to win. That was my only thought… get to the final table and then play to win, don’t play to latter,” Ward expressed.
Ward’s strategy was fulfilled when as he raked in the last pot of the tournament around 3:00 a.m., Monday morning. When asked how he kept up his focus during the long, and late, hours of player, Ward provided a response.
“Your heart starts to go a little bit. You get a little buzz, especially when you’re about three handed,” said Ward. “The focus kind of comes. The adrenaline was definitely kicking in.”
Ultimately, Ward’s concentration carried him right into the winner’s circle. The 26-year-old is fairly new to the WSOP, but has already found some success. During the most recent presidential election is when Ward got his start in poker.
“Well, I actually worked for the GOP out in Nevada, for the campaign; played poker on the side,” Ward explained. “Had a little luck with the poker. Said let’s give it a shot for a couple years and hopefully pay for Law School."
Set out with a goal in mind, Ward has unquestionably helped his cause during his full-time stint in the poker realm. The nearly $40,000 purse from his recent triumph is sure to aid in his educational aspirations. Ward plans to attend Mercer University for Law School next year.
Brian Roberts: Winner of Event #3
Brian Roberts came away with his second World Series of Poker Circuit title on Sunday. The resident of Ridgeville, Indiana took down a field of 139 players in Event #2: $365 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo.
Although it was Roberts' second career triumph on the Circuit tour, he only just acquired a WSOP gold ring. The 49-year-old stamped his original victory in 2007 at the Caesars Indiana stop.
“I was disappointed because they never actually gave out rings that time,” stated Roberts. “I’ve been chasing this ring all this time and now I finally got it.”
It took ten years for Roberts to ultimately grasp the golden hardware, alleviating the “thorn in his side." Roberts began playing tournament poker in 2006 after catching a glimpse of the game on television.
“I watched it on TV, thought ‘hey that looks easy,’ I got to try it out.” Roberts said. On his first try, Roberts made a final table… “Won one a month later, and it just kind of kept progressing from there,” he explained.
Before his recent win, the Factory Manager laid claim to 20 WSOP cashes. Now, adding in his 21st cash of $11,676, Roberts’ WSOP earnings sit right around $175,000. If Roberts keeps up his Circuit appearances, his résumé will surely continue to develop.
Daniel Jimmerson: Winner of Event #4
Daniel Jimmerson claimed his first World Series of Poker title after going toe-to-toe with a powerhouse player. The native of Atlanta, Georgia navigated through a field of 122 entrants in Event #4: $365 No-Limit Hold'em at the Horseshoe Southern Indiana Circuit series. It was a first-place finish worth $10,248 and a sought-after, WSOP gold ring.
Going into Day 2, Jimmerson was near the bottom of the final seven players when it came chip stacks. He was also a tad late to the final leg, missing the first seven hands of Day 2. Thirdly, the 32-year-old was severely lacking in experience, compared to the competitors around him. With all the odds against him, Jimmerson still managed to hang in and boost his position.
“Got a couple hands early to get it on an average stack… Then the ball just got rolling,” said Jimmerson. “I mean I felt comfortable playing with those folks.”
There were multiple gold ring winners among the seven Day 1 survivors. The most decorated player at the final table was seven-time gold ring winner Josh Reichard, Jimmerson's eventual heads-up opponent. The two battled it out till the last pot where Jimmerson hit trips on the river to win.
“Obviously very, very fortunate run out at the end there against a very, very, very good player that was beating me up all final table, but sometimes luck just can’t be beat,” stated Jimmerson. “Definitely have a tremendous amount of respect for the guy.”
Along with his first gold ring, Jimmerson was awarded 50 points toward the Casino Championship for his achievement. The local player must go back to work in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, but will likely be seen again in the Horseshoe Southern Indiana poker room.
Mark "Pegasus" Smith: Winner of Event #5
Mark "Pegasus" Smith claimed his sixth World Series of Poker gold ring, and $10,668, late in day five of the Horseshoe Southern Indiana Circuit. The 65-year-old conquered Event #5: $365 No-Limit Hold'em, which registered a field of 127 players.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve won one, but… obviously the old boys still got it,” Smith stated with a smile on his face. “The last one I won was in 2011.”
During his many excursions in the world of poker, Smith has racked up a long list of WSOP accolades and just over $630,000 in earnings. His largest score to date came in 2006 at the Grand Casino Tunica Main Event, where Smith bagged $306,0003 and his debut gold ring. From there, the prior horse breeder went on to collect more golden hardware.
“I tied the world record in 2009, then got it by myself. Then, held the world record till January 2013 with five [gold rings],” Smith recollected.
Usually wearing his signature “Pegasus” hat, Smith graced the WSOP Circuit for many over a decade. However, he did contemplate a cease to it all in recent years.
“Well, I had almost retired from the Circuit,” said Smith. “I’ve been doing a lot of public service, kind of getting on with life.”
The resident of Georgetown, Kentucky may one day hang up his hat when it comes to poker, but for now he plans to continue his positive run in Southern Indiana. Four of the six gold rings highlighting Smith's résumé were won at a Southern Indiana Circuit stop, which is why it comes as no surprise that it is his self-proclaimed, favorite location on the annual tour.
Simon Samokovski: Winner of Event #6
Simon Samokovski won his first World Series of Poker gold ring after holding his own against a handful of Circuit giants. The 35-year-old, born in Sofia, Bulgaria, defeated a field of 99 entrants in Event #6: $580 No-Limit Hold'em Six Max (One Re-Entry) at the Horseshoe Southern Indiana Circuit stop.
Going into Day 2 of the tournament, there were a total of 14 gold rings spread among the five finalists, none of which belonged to Samokovski. When Samokovski was shown a post referring to him as the “odd man out” among the remaining Circuit title holders, he thought “I’m glad to be the odd man out because I’m going to get my first ring today.”
Motivated by the challenge, Samokovski did exactly what he set out to do, ultimately outlasting his decorated opponents.
Aside from the gold ring, Samokovski also walked away with $14,849 and 50 Casino Championship points. The momentous achievement was deeply gratifying for the resident of South Point, Ohio who only just began playing poker full time.
“I had a really good career and I left my career almost three years ago to pursue poker. I gave up a really good job,” Samokovski stated. “So, I took a big chance, and we’ll see how it keeps going.”
Not only was it a stamp of validation for Samokovski’s decision to leave his previous occupation to become a professional poker player, the win was also a nice tribute to his loving mother, and late father. In fact, his father’s passing was a factor in his life change.
“It was after my dad passed away. I decided to just go for it. Life is short,” said Samokovski. “My mom is a big supporter.”
Andrew Gurley: Winner of Event #7
Andrew Gurley traveled to the World Series of Poker Circuit at Horseshoe Southern Indiana and captured gold. The 27-year-old poker pro topped a field of 139 players in Event #7: $365 No-Limit Hold'em to win $11,676 and his first WSOP gold ring.
“First ring feels magnificent,” expressed Gurley. “Today the cards fell in the right spot”
It was Gurley’s first recorded cash with the WSOP, aside from Deepstacks and Circuit Nightly winnings. Once a Medical Machinist, Guely only recently started playing cards full time. The triumph will be a nice milestone on the young, professional poker player's resume.
“Truthfully, I just linked up with the right guys. I had a couple of big cashes and had a couple people that liked to travel,” said Gurley. “I just kind of fell into an opportunity to roll with some backers.”
Gurley has been traveling the Circuit with a couple buddies by his side. Currently a resident of Louisville, Colorado, Gurley has been away from home for the past month. Now he has memorable trophy to show for the grinding journey.
Josh Reichard: Winner of Event #8
Josh Reichard claimed his eighth career gold ring by conquering a field of 292 players in Event #8: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Monster Stack. It was the young poker pro's first Monster Stack title and the win merely topped off an already-impressive run at the 12-event series. Prior to his first-place finish, Reichard took second place in Event #4 and third place in Event #6.
“I would say three things have been working in my favor. I’ve been running really well, I’ve been playing really well, and the style that I play has been working well against the tables that I’ve been seated at,” Reichard said, elaborating on his string of deep runs.
Whatever the formula, Reichard uses it to his advantage time and time again. Good results are certainly a reoccurring theme for the 26-year-old. He now has a total of 29 final table appearances on the WSOP Circuit.
Reichard's Monster Stack triumph was worth a $21,024 payday, raising his overall WSOP earnings to $575,000. Circuit title number eight also brings Reichard within two gold rings of tying the record held by Maurice Hawkins.
“I’m getting there. I like my chances. If things keep going the way they are, at my age, I’m probably going to be on that list somewhere for a long time.
With his apparent level of skill and young career, it seems to be only a matter of time till Reichard is once again posing for a victory photo.
David Thurston: Winner of Event #9
David Thurston came away with his first World Series of Poker Gold ring at the Horseshoe Southern Indiana Circuit stop. The 44-year-old poker pro defeated 83 players in Event #9: $365 Pot-Limit Omaha Rebuy to win $23,327.
The tournament took two days to complete. By the end of the night on Day 1 there were only five players remaining. “We all wanted to play it out,” said Thurston. Despite their drive to finish, the handful of players were forced to a Day 2.
The native of Fort Wayne, Indiana began the Event #9 finale with an outright chip lead. It was less than an hour of Day 2 before Thurston was deemed the PLO victor. Afterwards, Thurston was asked how the win felt.
“Feels pretty good,” Thurston stated. “I grew up playing Omaha Hi-Lo with guys around town, so I kind of like playing Omaha even though it’s PLO.”
Thurston has been playing poker for over two decades and it is not his first triumph in Elizabeth, Indiana. In 2008, Thurston won the Mid America Poker Classic's Main Event here. His recent victory marks his fourth cash with the WSOP and largest to date.
Danny Lawson: Winner of Event #11
Danny Lawson struck at the Horseshoe Southern Indiana Circuit series. The 45-year-old cruised through a field of 114 players in Event #11: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Turbo on Saturday, winning $10,260 and his second gold ring in at the series.
Throughout the entire Event #11 final table, and for most of the series, the small-town Virginian had a figure of support on his rail. During the post-win interview, the onlooker was revealed to be Lawson’s younger brother.
“He thinks he’s a coach,” said Lawson jokingly. When asked if he played poker as well, Lawson’s brother replied “Nah, I sit back and let him do all the playing.” “He don’t even know how to add up two cards,” Lawson added as some brotherly banter.
Not only did the triumph boost his ring count and WSOP earnings, more importantly, it grants him 50 more points toward the Casino Championship.The additional points were enough to place Lawson in the top spot of the venue leaderboard, reclaiming his position from Josh Reichard.
“I feel good. It's been a long two weeks” stated the two-time gold ring winner.
Ryan Leng: Winner of Event #12
After almost leaving the Horseshoe Southern Indiana Circuit, Ryan Leng added a debut, World Series of Poker title to his flourishing résumé. The poker pro player from Illinois defeated a field of 121 players in Event #12: $365 No-Limit Hold'em, the last ring event of the series and one Leng almost did not enter.
“I was going to head home last night,” said Leng. “I planned on driving home. It was pouring and I was a little tired and I decided to stay one more night and play the $356 at noon.”
The tournament was scheduled as a two-day endeavor. However, with the help of one extra level of play, a champion was crowned in just one day. It was Leng reaping the rewards when all was said and done.
Along with a gold ring, the conquest earned Leng $10,164 and 50 Casino Championship. Although it was his first outright victory with the WSOP, Leng has had no lack of success so far in his career.
The resident of Wheeling, Illinois benefited from a fantastic summer-run at the 48th annual WSOP in Las Vegas, Nevada. Leng cashed four times, including a runner-up finish worth $237,776 and a $176,399 prize for finishing 41st out of 7,221 in the Main Event.
“I mean the money is obviously not as big, but I just love winning poker tournaments. It is so much fun to win a poker tournament, to be the last man standing,” Leng said, comparing the differing achievements.
The 30-year-old has been playing poker full time for about eight years. Leng, admittedly, travels to four, or five Circuit stops per year, but his favorite on the schedule is undoubtedly the one in his own backyard.
“It’s got to be Chicago, it is my hometown,” Leng divulged. “I don’t have to stay in a hotel. If I take a bad beat I get to go hang out with my girlfriend and my dogs, and relax.”
Horseshoe Hammond has been a regular stop on the WSOP Circuit schedule since 2008. In fact, the Chicago-area stop is next up on the docket, beginning in just three days. Leng will certainly be attending the 12-event series and can now sport a golden symbol of Circuit victory while he is there.
For the full schedule of events here at Horseshoe Southern Indiana and/or for more information on the WSOP Circuit, please use the links below.
