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Tuesday, March 10, 2015 4:39 AM Local Time
Chris Csik earned the biggest score of the biggest score of his poker career during the early hours of Tuesday morning after taking down the World Series of Poker Circuit Baltimore main event.
The 27-year-old poker professional took down the $1,675 No Limit Hold’em event and topped a field of 670 players to take home $206,020, a gold ring and a seat into the WSOP National Championship. Csik defeated Faisal Sidiqui in a heads-up battle that lasted 97 hands and outlasted a final table that included top pros Steve Karp and Roland Israelashvili, who finished in ninth and seventh place, respectively.
“It’s really just surreal,” said Csik after his win. “I couldn’t even tell you right now. It’s hard to understand the gravity of the situation. Obviously it’s a lot of money and I work hard for a score like this and it feels really cool to get it.”
Csik nearly doubles his previous career tournament earnings of $276,523 with the win, but even though he picks up his first six-figure score, he doesn’t think much will change.
“It’s the biggest of my life, but it’s hard to say that the lifestyle is going to change,” said the Martinsville, NJ native. “Because every score that you get you think it’s going to be the be all and end all, but then you just keep looking for more and just keep going out there. I’ve been going at it a while and it’s a tough sport to stick with.”
The final day of this four-day, two starting flight event got underway on Monday at 2 pm with 13 players remaining and Csik entering the day third in chips. After Ben Foster, Roger Brooks and Theodoros Manolatos quickly hit the rail, they were combined at the unofficial final table of 10.
By the time Kevin Johnson went home in 10th place, Csik had picked up the chip lead and at the final table of nine and then never looked back.
He held that chip lead for most of the final table, but got heads-up against Siddiqui at a 2-to-1 chip disadvantage. After chipping away at the lead, he was able to score a double up with pocket fours against Siddiqui’s A-2 after getting it all in preflop and then never let go of it until he was able to river a flush and get the rest of the chips against Siddiqui’s top pair.
Csik also earned the distinction of winning the first WSOP Circuit main event in the state of Maryland, which had plenty of top tier pros come out for. Aside from Karp and Israelashvili, Phil Hellmuth, Christian Harder, Nathan Tuthill, Joe McKeehen, and Amanda Musmeci all made their way to Baltimore and earned a cash in the event. Other top pros to play the event included Darryll Fish, Vinny Pahuja, Ralph Massey, Jake Schwartz and Timothy Miles.
“There were some great players,” said Csik of the field strength in Baltimore. “Especially towards the end. But you were deep and you had plenty of room to work with.”
Here are a look at the final table results:
1. Chris Csik - $206,020
2. Faisal Siddiqui - $127,484
3. Daniel Fisher - $93,505
4. Jonathan Gilliam - $63,536
5. Jason Rogers - $52,411
6. John Moore - $40,029
7. Roland Israelashvili - $30,974
8. Trevor Deeter - $24,281
9. Steve Karp - $19,276
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 3:20 AM Local Time
Fasial Siddiqui raises to 400,000 on the button and Chris Csik calls. The flop is and both players check. The turn is the and Csik checks again. Siddiqui bets 600,000 and Csik calls.
The river is the and Csik checks. Siddiqui bets 1,100,000 and Csik raises to 2,600,000. Siddiqui moves all in and Csik calls. Csik tables and Siddiqui tables .
Csik takes the pot with a queen-high flush and after counting down the stacks, the dealer confirmed that Csik has Siddiqui covered and he takes home the lion's share of the prizepool, the ring and the seat into the National Championship.
Siddiqui earns $147,484 for his runner up finish and Csik takes home $206,020 for his win in Baltimore. A complete recap will be posted shortly.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 2:57 AM Local Time
Chris Csik limps in on the button and Fasial Siddiqui raises to 500,000 on the button. Csik shuffles chips while tanking for a moment before three-betting to 1,400,000. Siddiqui folds and Csik takes the pot.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 2:56 AM Local Time
Fasial Siddiqui limps in on the button and Chris Csik checks his option. The flop is and Csik check-folds to a 200,000 bet from Siddiqui.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 2:55 AM Local Time
Chris Csik raises to 400,000 on the button and Fasial Siddiqui defends his big blind. The flop is and Siddiqui checks. Csik bets 350,000 and wins the pot.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 2:53 AM Local Time
Fasial Siddiqui raises on the button to 400,000 and Chris Csik calls out of the big blind. The flop is . Siddiqui bets 300,000 and Csik check-calls. The turn is the and Csik checks. Siddiqui bets 600,000 and Csik check-calls again. The is the river and Csik checks again. Siddiqui checks back and , but Csik takes the pot with .
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 2:51 AM Local Time
Chris Csik raises on the button and takes the pot.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 2:50 AM Local Time
Fasial Siddiqui limps in from the button and Chris Csik checks his option. The flop is and Csik check-folds to 300,000 from Siddiqui.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 2:48 AM Local Time
Chris Csik raises to 450,000 and Fasial Siddiqui calls. The flop is and both players check. The turn is the and Siddiqui checks. Csik bets 390,000 and Siddiqui folds.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 2:46 AM Local Time
Fasial Siddiqui raises to 500,000 on the button and Chris Csik calls. The flop is and Csik check-folds to a bet from Siddiqui.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 2:45 AM Local Time
Chris Csik raises to 450,000 on the button and and Fasial Siddiqui three-bets to 1,200,000 and takes the pot.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 2:44 AM Local Time
Fasial Siddiqui raises to 400,000 on the button and takes the pot.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 2:43 AM Local Time
Chris Csik raises to 450,000 on the button and takes the blinds and antes.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 2:42 AM Local Time
Fasial Siddiqui raises on the button and Chris Csik calls out of the big blind. The flop is and both players check. The turn is the and Csik bets 360,000. Siddiqui folds and Csik takes the pot.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 2:41 AM Local Time
Chris Csik limps in and Fasial Siddiqui raises to 600,000 and takes the pot.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 2:40 AM Local Time
Level: 34
Blinds: 100,000/200,000
Ante: 30,000
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 2:27 AM Local Time
The players are taking a 15 minute break.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 2:25 AM Local Time
Fasial Siddiqui limps in on the button and The flop is the and both players check. The turn is the and Csik wins just by grabbing his chips.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 2:25 AM Local Time
Chris Csik limps in on the button and Fasial Siddiqui checks his option. The flop is and Siddiqui both players check. The turn is the and Siddiqui bets 200,000. Csik calls and the river is the . Siddiqui checks and Csik bets 200,000. Siddiqui calls and Csik shows and takes the pot against Siddiqui's .
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 2:22 AM Local Time
Fasial Siddiqui raises to 380,000 and Chris Csik defends his big blind. The flop is and Csik check-folds to a 300,000 chip bet from Siddiqui.