Friday, April 26, 2019 3:55 AM Local Time
Michael Ledford Wins Event #1, $400 No-Limit Hold'em Big-Blind Ante 1-Day ($21,023)
Michael Ledford, of Dickson, TN, has claimed the victory in Event #1, $400 No-Limit Hold'em Big-Blind Ante (1 Day). Ledford, a 65-year-old retiree, collects $21,023 with the triumph, the largest poker payday of his career, along with his first career gold Circuit ring.
Ledford took down the win after a lengthy heads-up battle against regional Circuit regular Steve Bierman, who was searching for his own first Circuit triumph. Bierman, from New Orleans, collected $12,988 as the runner-up, while two-time ring winner Carl Masters, from Clarksville, TN, finished third for $9,384.
Ledford and Bierman battled for well over two hours before the final hand. With the blinds already high, Bierman moved all in with pocket sixes, and Ledford pondered, then called with , having Bierman outchipped. A nine arrived on the flop, no draws emerged, and Bierman couldn't find another six, ending the event.
Ledford almost finished off Bierman almost as soon as heads-up play began, but a Bierman double-through gave him the edge and marked the start of a fast-paced, seesaw affair. The two swapped the chip lead several times, but Ledford again moved to the verge after taking a 9:1 lead after taking down an all-in pot in a straight-over-straight hand. However, Bierman then doubled up twice, and briefly moved into the lead before Ledford edged back into the lead and finally closed out the win.
The heads-up duel featured a marked contrast in style between Bierman, who put all his chips into the middle many times, while Ledford patiently waited and folded, searching for better spots. "He's a great player," said Ledford, referring to Bierman, "and I was just lucky to beat him."
Ledford's published results might make him seem the inexperienced player, but he's been playing a long time -- "since about age six," as he described it. Still, it's only been the last four or so years that he's been playing the game in an organized, serious manner, mixing it up with the pros at some of the region's Circuit stops. He'll be at the tables for the rest of this series as well, hoping to add to a great start in the days to come.