17 February 2020 (Tampa) - The first ever World Series of Poker Circuit stop at the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa came to an end on Monday evening. Over the course of 12 days, there was a total of 13 points-earning ring events and all these events drew 7,466 entrants creating a total prize pool of 5,226,735.
The opening event of the series was a multi-flight event. Event #1: $600 No-Limit Hold’em Double Stack (5 Flights) drew a massive field of 2,433 players smashing its $500,000 guarantee and creating a total prize pool of $1,252,995.
When all was said and done, it is Byron Johnson, a 35-year old insurance agency owner who was the last man standing. Johnson grabbed his first Circuit ring and the top prize of $166,176 in his second WSOP cash ever. Although for Johnson poker is more of a hobby, he’s been working on his game with fourteen-time ring winner Maurice Hawkins and gave him credit for his victory.
The next two events were taken down by repeat winners. First, Mike Raimon, mostly a PLO cash game player, emerged victorious in Event #2: $400 Pot-Limit Omaha after outlasting 166 entrants to claim his second Circuit ring and $13,894.
The following day, David Tuthill also added a second ring to his collection after winning Event #3: $400 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo. Tuthill used to be a full-time poker professional but decided to switch to a different career to purse a more stable life a couple of years ago. The 31-year old with over $740,000 in WSOP earnings is still playing part-time though, and he showed that his poker skills were still undebatable when he outlasted 190 players to collect his second ring and $15,272.
As for Event #4: $1,125 No-Limit Hold’em, this event had a $50,000 guarantee in the prize pool that was surpassed within half a level. A total of 227 entry slips were sold creating a prize pool of $227,000. After two days of play, Ryan Yu claimed the title, his first ring and $53,725. The 36-year old who spends most of his time with his son and doesn’t travel much for poker, gets impressive results when he does. He made a deep run in the World Series of Poker 2019 Main Event and ended up getting 36th for $261,430. He also added multiple five-figure scores to his resume in the last few months before booking a victory in Event #4.
Two bracelet winners also stepped back into the spotlight this series. Bracelet winner Arkadiy Tsinis captured his fifth Circuit ring and $39,527 after navigating his way through a 352-player field in Event #5: $600 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed. Tsinis didn’t plan on keeping the ring to himself. In fact, he had gifted all his Circuit rings except the first one and intends to keep on doing so in the future.
The next day, bracelet winner David Prociak was the one to shine again after cruising to a victory in Event #7: $1,125 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed. He topped a field of 212 players to take home his second Circuit ring and $51,400.
Concerning Event #6: $400 No-Limit Hold’em Monster Stack, the two starting legs drew $1,371 entrants for a prize pool of $452,430. After two days of play, it is Kevin Ho who emerged victorious, picking up his first ring and $70,567.
The next two events on schedule were two High Roller events. Both events more than tripled the $100,000 guarantee. Event #8: $2,200 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller brought 173 entrants and included phenomenal players. The eventual winner was high stakes cash game player Romeo Mendoza and he claimed his first gold ring and $88,717 in his home casino. He had to defeat his friend, three-time Circuit ring Andrew Kelsall as his last opponent, depriving him from a fourth title.
The second High Roller event of the series, Event #9: $3,250 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller 8-Handed was taken down by cash game player Mark Zullo in his first ever live victory. He came out on top of the 104-player field to earn his first trophy ring and $89,150.
Event #10: $1,700 No-Limit Hold’em Main Event was the highlight of the final weekend of the stop. A total of 1,162 entry slips were sold for both flights crushing the $1 million guarantee with a prize pool of $1,760,430. After three days of play, Isaac Kempton claimed the title and the top prize of $290,974 in his second ever live tournament. Kempton got introduced to poker four years ago while watching youtube videos of the old high stakes poker days and he quickly became passionate about the game. He also earned his first Circuit ring and a seat into the 2020 Global Casino Championship with his victory.
As for the second seat, David Tuthill confidently said early in the series that he was going to win the Casino Champion title after his victory in Event #3, and he did just so. He secured six cashes at this stop including three final tables, one victory, and one deep run in the Main Event, accumulating a total of 130 points to win the Casino Champion race.
Additionally, all players who cash in ring events earn points that apply toward the season-long race to claim one of the limited at-large bids. Rushing has 50 points from his victory in the Monster Stack. More information on the points system is available on WSOP.com.
Completed Events
Event #1: $600 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack (5 Flights) - Byron Johnson navigated through a field of 2,433 players to win his first Circuit ring and $166,176.
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #2: $400 Pot-Limit Omaha - Michael Raimon defeats 166 players to win his second Circuit ring and $13,894.
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #3: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Turbo - David Tuthill captured his second trophy ring after outlasting 190 competitors.
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #4: $1,125 No-Limit Hold'em - Ryan Yu claimed his first Circuit ring and $53,725 after battling through a field of 227 players.
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #5: $600 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed - Bracelet winner Arkadiy Tsinis picked up his fifth Circuit ring and $39,527 after coming out on top of a field of 352 competitors.
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #6: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Monster Stack - Kevin Ho conquered his first Circuit title and $70,567 after defeating a field of 1,371 entrants.
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #7: $1,125 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed - Bracelet winner David Prociak added a second Circuit ring to his collection and $51,400 after topping a field of 212 players.
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #8: $2,200 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller - Romeo Mendoza emerged victorious claiming his first trophy ring and $88,717 after outlasting 173 competitors.
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #9: $3,250 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller 8-Handed - Mark Zullo came out on top to win his first ring and $89,150 in his first live victory.
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #10: $1,700 Main Event - Isaac Kempton wins a Circuit ring and $290,974 in his second live tournament ever after navigating through a field of 1,162.
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #11: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Turbo - Anthony Guagliardo picked up his first ring and $18,417 after outlasting a field of 247 players.
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #13: $600 No-Limit Hold'em - David DiBernardi captured his second Circuit ring and $40,079 after battling through 374 entrants.
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #14: $250 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack - Harmeet Singh claimed his first trophy ring and $17,990 after defeating 455 players.
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Casino Champion Update
David Tuthill wins the Casino Champion title.
About the Winners
Event #1 - Byron Johnson
Byron Johnson came out on top of a combined total of 2,433 competitors in Event #1: $600 No-Limit Hold’em Double Stack (5 Flights) at the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa World Series of Poker Circuit to take home his first Circuit ring and the top prize of $166,176.
The newly crowned champion gave credit to fourteen-time Circuit ring winner Maurice Hawkins, who’s been helping him improve his game.
“This means a lot, specially with the training I’ve been getting, I’ve been working with Maurice Hawkins. These were all some great players, so it was just a blessing to take this down.”
Event #2 - Michael Raimon
Michael Raimon just became the first ring winner of the World Series of Poker Circuit at Seminole Hard Rock Tampa after taking down Event #2: $400 Pot-Limit Omaha.
He outlasted a field of 166 players claiming his second Circuit ring and the top prize of $13,894.
“It’s nice. I don’t really play Circuit events anymore, mostly cash.”
Event #3 - David Tuthill
David Tuthill won his first ring in 2013 after winning the WSOP Circuit Main Event at Caesars Palace. Today, he adds a second one to his collection after taking down Event #3: $400 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo at the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa World Series of Poker Circuit. He defeated 190 competitors to claim his second trophy ring and the top prize of $15,272.
“I’m happy I won the money. It was a turbo so I just won a bunch of all ins, I got very lucky and fortunate to win.”
Event #4 - Ryan Yu
After two days of play, Ryan Yu was the last man standing in Event #4: $1,125 No-Limit Hold’em. He battled through a field of 227 players to grab his first Circuit ring, earning $53,725 for his victory.
“I’m happy. It was fun. It was a nice little way to start the series.”
Event #5 - Arkadiy Tsinis
The five-ring club now has a new member. Bracelet winner Arkadiy Tsinis just emerged victorious in Event #5: $600 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed after navigating his way through a 352-player field.
He collected $39,527 and his fifth Circuit ring for his victory, and he pushed his WSOP earnings to over $1,660,000. However, he doesn’t plan on keeping the ring to himself. In fact, he has gifted three of his previous Circuit rings already.
“It’s going to a special person, I’m giving away all my rings except the first one. I gave the second one to my father, the other two to my very close friends who are like my brothers, and this one is going to their father. They are so special to me.”
Event #6 - Kevin Ho
Kevin Ho just joined the circle of World Series of Poker Circuit winners after taking down Event #6: $400 No-Limit Hold’em Monster Stack at the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa.
He navigated through a field of 1,371 competitors to pick up his first Circuit ring and the five-figure top score of $70,567.
Although Ho only plays poker for fun, he had accumulated more than $160,000 in WSOP earnings prior to his victory, including a third place finish worth over $100,000 in a Pot-Limit Omaha event.
“I’m excited, and shocked. I just play tournaments for fun."
Event #7 - David Prociak
Bracelet winner David Prociak just stepped back into the spotlight after cruising to a victory in Event #7: $1,125 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed at the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa World Series of Poker Circuit.
He topped a field of 212 players to earn his second Circuit ring and the first-place prize of $51,400.
“It means a lot. Everytime you win, it’s like you revalue yourself and you just feel better, just built up."
Event #8 - Romeo Mendoza
Romeo Mendoza just captured his first World Series of Poker Circuit title after battling through a field of 173 players in the $2,200 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller at the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa. He earned $88,717, his biggest recorded cash to date, for his victory.
The newly crowned champion is mostly a high stakes cash game player and he picked up his first WSOP Circuit victory in his home casino.
“Hopefully it is one of many. It means a lot, specially because I won it here in my hometown. I’ve been playing in this casino since it opened.”
Event #9 - Mark Zullo
Mark Zullo just joined the circle of World Series of Poker Circuit ring winners after taking down the $3,250 No-Limit Hold’em 8-Handed at the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa. He came out on top of the 104-player field to earn his first trophy ring and $89,150 in his first live victory.
“It feels great. I’ve been playing a long time and I’ve never won a live tournament, so that’s pretty cool.”
Event #10 - Isaac Kempton
Isaac Kempton just stepped into the spotlight at the World Series of Poker after taking down the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Circuit Main Event in his second ever live tournament. He battled through a field of 1,162 players and earned $290,974 in addition to his first Circuit ring and a seat into the 2020 Global Casino Championship.
The newly crowned winner got introduced to poker four years ago while watching youtube videos and quickly became passionate about the game.
“I probably got into poker four years ago right as I was heading off to college. I saw some youtube videos of the old high stakes poker days, and once you watch one, you start watching more, and then you get drawn into the rabbit hole, you just want to keep watching."
Event #11 - Anthony Guagliardo
The World Series of Poker Circuit welcomed Anthony Guagliardo into the catalog of winners on Sunday morning. Guagliardo outlasted a field of 247 players in Event #11: $400 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo at the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Circuit series to earn his first trophy ring and $18,417.
Although for Guagliardo poker is more of a hobby, he started playing poker when he was eighteen and he’s been around it for years.
“It feels great, specially getting heads-up with my old backer who got me started out a few years ago. It feels unbelievable, just surreal."
Event #13 - David DiBernardi
David DiBernardi was crowned the champion of Event #13: $600 No-Limit Hold’em at the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa on Monday evening. He defeated a field of 374 players to win his second Circuit ring and the top prize of $40,079.
Dibernardi didn’t intend on playing this event but it all worked out in his favor.
“I feel great, I almost didn’t play this event. I was waiting in line because I min-cashed the Main and my buddy was like: ‘Dude, you got to hop in this’ and of course, I run deep in this, it’s crazy how poker is."
Event #14 - Harmeet Singh
Harmeet Singh was the one to take down the final ring event of the World Series of Poker Circuit at Seminole Hard Rock Tampa. He battled through a field of 455 competitors in Event #14: $250 No-Limit Hold’em Double Stack to walk away with the first-place prize of $17,990 and his first WSOP gold ring.
“It’s pretty good, it’s the best feeling for any poker player.”