Monday, October 19, 2015 7:30 PM Local Time
Event #3
Pot-Limit Omaha
Buy-In: $500 (+$80)
Total Entries: 106
Prize Pool: $53,000
October 18-19, 2015
Chicago pro victorious in PLO; Pockets $15,902 and joins the ranks of gold ring winners in the process.
Hammond, Ind. (October 19, 2015) — Kennii Nguyen was the last man standing Monday evening at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ind. Nguyen bested 106 players in Event #3 of the property’s WSOP Circuit series, a $580 pot-limit Omaha tournament, earning $15,902 along with his first Circuit gold ring and 50 points toward the Casino Championship.
Nguyen, a professional poker player who splits his time between Chicago and Las Vegas, laughed following the victory admitting PLO is not his game of choice. By his own estimation, he’d only played three tournaments before breaking through for a win in the Chicago area.
“It’s funny,” Nguyen said. “The prize is not that big, but I love it for the ring. All my friends – all my friends – have rings. It’s my first ring and it comes in PLO. I play no-limit hold’em all day long.”
Having played poker fulltime since 2011 and traveling with a close circle of accomplished pros, it’s fair to describe Nguyen’s previous lack of a gold ring as a monkey on his back. With 22 WSOP-related cashes totaling nearly $470,000 in earnings prior to Event #3, the pro had no shortage of deep runs, but the hardware had yet to come. Most notably, he finished runner up in a 2012 $1,500 bracelet event earning $347,036. Again, the score was there, but no gold.
“Sooner or later it’s going to come,” Nguyen said of his mindset. “Skill is going to win over luck.”
Nguyen used a lot of skill en route to the winner’s circle Monday. Joining him during the late stages of Event #3 were ring winners Jason Mayfield (12th), Mark Fink (eighth) and Paul Mattioda (sixth) as well as Chicago Poker Classic champions Michael Younan (third) and David To (second). Having bagged the Day 1 chip lead and maneuvered his stack to a commanding advantage during four-handed play, the title was never really in jeopardy for Nguyen.
“I was having fun and the cards were running my way,” Nguyen said. “I kept having good hands and people gave me chips.”
Nguyen is 39 years old. The Event #3 win marks his 23rd WSOP-related cash and moves him over $480,000 in career earnings on the tour.
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Event #3 was the third of 12 gold ring events on the WSOP Circuit schedule at the Horseshoe. The $580 pot-limit Omaha event attracted 106 players. The total prize pool came to $53,000 and the top 12 finishers were paid.
The tournament began Sunday, October 18 at 5 p.m. CT and Day 1 wrapped at the 10-handed final table. Day 2 resumed the following day at 3 p.m. and action concluded at about 6:30 p.m.
Final results:
1st: Kennii Nguyen - $15,902 + Circuit gold ring and $1,675 Main Event seat
2nd: David To - $9,827
3rd: Michael Younan - $6,997
4th: Vlaznim Islami - $5,083
5th: Paul Dobrisan - $3,765
6th: Paul Mattioda - $2,842
7th: John Seyferth - $2,186
8th: Mark Fink - $1,712
9th: Blake Whittington - $1,365
10th: Min Park - $1,107
11th: Jason Mayfield - $1,107
12th: Alexander Ziskin - $1,107
Monday, October 19, 2015 6:30 PM Local Time
Kennii Nguyen bested David To heads up in Event #3, a $580 pot-limit Omaha tournament, at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ind. Monday evening. Nguyen, a professional poker player who splits his time between Las Vegas and Chicago, earned $15,902 along with his first gold ring.
More on the victory will be posted shortly. In the meantime, here's a look at the tournament's final results:
1st: Kennii Nguyen - $15,902 + $1,675 Main Event seat and Circuit gold ring
2nd: David To - $9,827
3rd: Michael Younan - $6,997
4th: Vlaznim Islami - $5,083
5th: Paul Dobrisan - $3,765
6th: Paul Mattioda - $2,842
7th: John Seyferth - $2,186
8th: Mark Fink - $1,712
9th: Blake Whittington - $1,365
10th: Min Park - $1,107
11th: Jason Mayfield - $1,107
12th: Alexander Ziskin - $1,107
Monday, October 19, 2015 4:52 PM Local Time
Not much has changed as start-of-day chip leader Kennii Nguyen retains his advantage with four remaining in Event #3, a $580 pot-limit Omaha tournament. Nguyen now sits at 756,000 chips good for 126 big blinds. The next closest stack belongs to Chicago police officer Michael Younan. Younan has 204,000 chips good for 34 big blinds and holds a slight edge over third place Vlaznim Islami. The table's short stack, David To, has 132,000 chips or 22 big blinds.
Here's a closer look at the finale:
Four-handed chip counts
Kennii Nguyen - 756,000 (126 bb)
Michael Younan - 204,000 (34 bb)
Vlaznim Islami - 180,000 (30 bb)
David To - 132,000 (22 bb)
Remaining payouts
1st - $15,902 + $1,675 Main Event seat and Circuit gold ring
2nd - $9,827
3rd - $6,997
4th - $5,083
Updated results
5th: Paul Dobrisan - $3,765
6th: Paul Mattioda - $2,842
7th: John Seyferth - $2,186
8th: Mark Fink - $1,712
9th: Blake Whittington - $1,365
10th: Min Park - $1,107
11th: Jason Mayfield - $1,107
12th: Alexander Ziskin - $1,107
Additional information will be provided when a winner is determined.
Monday, October 19, 2015 3:03 PM Local Time
Players take their seats and cards are in the air for Day 2 of Event #3, a $580 pot-limit Omaha tournament. Kennii Nguyen (pictured), best known in WSOP circles for his runner-up finish and $347,000 score in a 2012 $1,500 bracelet event, leads the way holding 333,500 of the 1,272,000 chips in play. The chip leader has a tough task in front of him, though, as the likes of Mark Fink, Paul Mattioda, and Chicago's Mike Younan join him at the unofficial final table.
Complete start-of-day chip counts are available one post below.
Play began just a short time ago with 21 minutes left in the 1,500/3,000 level. All Day 2 players have locked up $1,107 while the tournament's champion earns $15,902 and a WSOP Circuit gold ring.
Remaining payouts:
1st - $15,902 + $1,675 Main Event seat and Circuit gold ring
2nd - $9,827
3rd - $6,997
4th - $5,083
5th - $3,765
6th - $2,842
7th - $2,186
8th - $1,712
9th - $1,365
10th - $1,107
We will provide an update on the final table as play progresses.
Monday, October 19, 2015 2:23 AM Local Time
Monday, October 19, 2015 2:22 AM Local Time
Just 10 remain from 106 starting in Event #3, a $580 pot-limit Omaha tournament, and Day 1 is through. Kennii Nguyen is out in front of a decorated final table that includes Mark Fink, Paul Mattioda and Michael Younan.
Nguyen holds an impressive stack of 333,500 and has a healthy advantage over second place Vlaznim Islami who claims 209,500. The two chip leaders are the only players over 200,000 as third place Paul Dobrisan sits at 161,500.
Complete seating assignments with chip counts:
Seat 1: John Seyferth - 50,000
Seat 2: Mark Fink - 64,000
Seat 3: Paul Mattioda - 92,500
Seat 4: Paul Dobrisan - 161,500
Seat 5: Blake Whittington - 43,000
Seat 6: Min Park - 135,500
Seat 7: Vlaznim Islami - 209,500
Seat 8: Michael Younan - 123,000
Seat 9: David To - 58,500
Seat 10: Kennii Nguyen - 333,500
Play resumes Monday at 3 p.m. with 21 minutes remaining in the 1,500/3,000 level. Each of the 10 remaining players has locked up $1,107 with $15,902, a Circuit gold ring, 50 points toward the Casino Championship and a $1,675 Main Event seat courtesy of the Horseshoe heading to first.
Full payout information and updated results are available under their respective tabs above.
Monday, October 19, 2015 12:53 AM Local Time
Twelve players remain and Event #3 is officially in the money. Some of those still in contention include Jason Mayfield, Mark Fink and Paul Mattioda.
Chip counts and updated results will be posted when Day 1 concludes.
Sunday, October 18, 2015 10:03 PM Local Time
Event #3, a $580 pot-limit Omaha tournament, drew 106 players generating a prize pool of $53,000. Each of the top 12 players finish in the money going home with at least $1,107. The tournament's champion, set to take his or her throne tomorrow evening, earns $15,902 along with a Circuit gold ring and 50 points toward the Casino Championship.
Full prize structure:
The tournament clock reads 30 players remaining toward the end of Level 9. A few of the notable faces still jockeying for Circuit gold include all-time cashes leader Doug Carli, five-time ring winner Valentin Vornicu, Mark Fink and Michael Sanders.
Day 1 is set to wrap around 3 a.m. CT following Level 16. Complete chip counts and updated results from the tournament will be posted shortly after play concludes.
Sunday, October 18, 2015 6:56 PM Local Time
Cards are freshly back in the air following the first break in Event #3, a $580 pot-limit Omaha tournament. The clock currently reads 94 players entered with late registration open until 9:30 p.m. CT. The complete attendance figure as well as the finalized prize pool will be posted shortly after its made available.
Sunday, October 18, 2015 5:09 PM Local Time
Cards are in the air for Day 1 of Event #3 ($580 pot-limit Omaha) of the World Series of Poker Circuit at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ind. The registration desk remains open through Level 8 (until about 9:30 p.m. CT) and we'll provide an updated look at the field size following the first break.
Good luck, players!
Sunday, October 18, 2015 12:41 PM Local Time
Event #3 of the World Series of Poker Circuit at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ind. begins at 5 p.m. CT. Players start the $580 pot-limit Omaha tournament with 12,000 chips and blinds of 25/50. Late registration remains open through Level 8 (until about 9:30 p.m.). Here's more on the event:
5 p.m. - Event #3: $580 pot-limit Omaha - Day 1
-One $1,675 Main Event seat added
-$580 buy-in gets players 12,000 chips
-Registration remains open through Level 8 (until about 9:30 p.m.)
-Day 1 is set to conclude following Level 16 (at about 3 a.m.)
-Levels 1-10 are 30 minutes, Levels 11-19 are 40 minutes, all remaining levels are 50 minutes
-Advancing players return for Day 2 Monday at 3 p.m.
We will touch base with you again when the tournament gets underway.
Sunday, October 18, 2015 10:27 AM Local Time
