Event #2A/B: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Re-entry

Frank Covich defeated a field of 731 players and did it on just one entry.

Elizabeth, Ind. (Oct. 5, 2015) -- Five cashes and five final tables. That is Frank Covich's WSOP record. All five times Covich has cashed in a WSOP event he has made it to the final table. Up until Sunday his best finish was a 2nd place finish for $8,962. In his four prior chances at the final table he was still without a win. Well Covich's first victory came at a good time because it was in the 731 player re-entry event at Horseshoe S. Indiana. His win earned him a $43,860 payday and his first WSOP Circuit gold ring.

"I came in second last year in one of these events and I was so close. It just feels good," said Covich. It feels like redemption."

Covich stressed how much his patience paid off in this tournament. He found himself short several times as the final table approached. He said he waited for good cards and when they finally came he was able to get his money in good nearly every time.

What makes Covich's story even more impressive is that he was able to win the tournament on just one entry. He played Flight A and never busted. He ran his chip stack real high on Day 1 and finished Fight A as a top five chip stack. He carried the momentum into Day 2, stuck to his game plan of being patient and didn't look back once he acquired the chip lead heads-up.

Four of the five WSOP Circuit cashes to Covich's name have come at this property. The other Circuit cash was recorded at Harrah's Tunica. As mentioned above, all of Covich's cashes are final tables. He now as a first place, second place, fifth place and two ninth place finishes.

Covich is from Murfreesboro, Tennessee and works in security. The 38-year-old has two boys and says he intends to use a portion of his prize money to save for them.

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Event #2 was the second of 12 gold ring events on the WSOP Circuit schedule at Horseshoe S. Indiana. The $365 No-Limit Hold’em Re-Entry tournament attracted 731 players generating a $219,300 prize pool. The top 81 players were paid.

The tournament had two starting flights. Flight A drew 270 players and began Day 1 began Friday at noon. It lasted 13 and one half levels and 32 players survived. Flight B drew 461 players and began Saturday at noon. Flight B played the same length and had 72 players survive. Day 2 began Sunday at 1 p.m. with 104 players remaining. The tournament concluded Monday at about 1:45 a.m. near the end of Level 28.

Final table results:

1st: Frank Covich - $43,860 + WSOP Circuit gold ring
2nd: Michael Foley - $27,040
3rd: Matthew Ernst - $19,934
4th: Kevin Kerr - $14,857
5th: William Watson - $11,222
6th: Gary Emberton - $8,586
7th: Chase Taylor - $6,651
8th: Ronnie Nichols - $5,217
9th: Michael Ratcliff - $4,143

Complete results are available under the “Results” tab above.

There are now just three players remaining, but only one will be crowned champion and be awarded the top prize of $43,860.

Here are the remaining players and their chip counts:

• Seat 1: Matthew Ernst - 1,245,000 (24 BBs)
• Seat 2: Frank Covich - 2,850,000 (57 BBs)
• Seat 3: Michael Foley - 3,300,000 (66 BBs)

- There is 48 minutes remaining in Level 28: 25,000/50,000 with a 5,000

This is what they are playing for:

• 1st place: $43,860 + 50 Casino Championship points + WSOP Circuit gold ring
• 2nd place: $27,040 + 37.5 points
• 3rd place: $19,934 + 30 points

Up-to-date results can be found above under the "Results" tab.

The tournament has just reached its one hour dinner break. There are 16 players remaining and they are all guaranteed at least the 16th place money of $2,230.

Here is a look at the most recent eliminations:

• 17th: Core Diniz - $2,230
• 18th: Zachary Brock - $2,230
• 19th: Jeff Goodrich - $1,857
• 20th: Elie Williams - $1,857
• 21st: Crystal Utley - $1,857
• 22nd: Kurt Jewell - $1,566
• 23rd: Michael Wright - $1,566
• 24th: Michael Shanahan - $1,566
• 25th: Ronald Miller - $1,335

Two-time gold ring winner, Douglas Carli, busted in 30th place and three-time gold ring winner, Robert Hankins, hit the rail in 35th place.

Up-to-date results can be found under the "Results" tab above.

Day 2 will see 104 players return for their shot at a WSOP Circuit gold ring. Only one players will win the gold ring, but the top 81 will earn a cash.

Previous gold ring winners still in contention include, Robert Hankins, Douglas Carli, Joshua Reichard and Kurt Jewell. However, they all will have to catch chip leader, Matthew Kittell, if they want a shot to add to their gold ring collections.

Action begins today in the middle of Level 14: 1,000/2,000 with a 300 ante. Play will continue until a winner is reached.

Complete prize pool information can be found above under the "Prizepool" tab and complete chip counts can be found above under the "Reports" tab.

Good luck, players.

Here is a look at the top 10 chip counts from Flight A and B combined:

1. Matthew Kittell - 293,700
2. Michael Shanahan - 214,400
3. Eric Sutton - 190,800
4. Gary Emberton - 179,100
5. Frank Covich - 171,300
6. Matthew Westfall - 161,900
7. Alan Clunie - 144,100
8. Arnold Mayers - 143,900
9. Robert Skorka - 143,800
10. Robert Hankins - 143,300

Complete chip counts along with the seating assignments can be found above under the "Reports" tab.

Hurry down to Horseshoe S. Indiana before registration officially closes for Event #2 - $365 No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry. Registration closes for this tournament at the start of Level 9, which is expected to be around 4:30 p.m. The two flights combined have already tallied more than 650 entries and the prize pool continues to grow. For perspective, last year this event drew 694 entries and had a first place prize that was over $40,000

Here is a look at the year-by-year participation of this event and the steady growth it has seen:

Flight A of Event #2 - $365 No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry began today at noon. The flight drew 270 players with just 32 advancing to Day 2. Players that did not survive the can play in tomorrow's Flight B.

Here is a look at the top 10 chip stacks from Flight A:

1. Matthew Kittell - 293,700
2. Michael Shanahan - 214,400
3. Eric Sutton - 190,800
4. Gary Emberton - 179,100
5. Frank Covich - 171,300
6. Robert Hankins - 143,300
7. Robert Hickman - 141,600
8. Veronica Shireman - 139,100
9. Douglas Braley - 122,900
10. Neal Harding - 118,000

A complete list of chip counts can be found under the "REPORTS" tab above.

Circuit action resumes at the Horseshoe Southern Indiana casino Saturday at noon with the second (Flight B) of two starting flights in Event #2 - $365 No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry.

The tournament has just reached the first break of they day and there already 198 players signed up. This number is expected to grow on they day as players continue to re-enter. Registration will remain open on the day until the beginning of Level 9, which is expected to be around 4:20 p.m.

Last year's Flight A in this event drew 279 entries. With registration still open for another two plus hours, 279 is very much in reach for this year's Flight A.

Players unable to make it through the day can take another shot tomorrow in Flight B. Flight B begins at noon tomorrow and will follow the same structure as today's Flight A.