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Saturday, December 5, 2015 3:10 PM Local Time
Los Angeles is synonymous with show business. Most of the country’s television and movie networks have headquarters in the area and Hollywood is filled with stars of screens big and small.
It only seems fitting that on Saturday afternoon, an entertainment lawyer and poker enthusiast takes home the second WSOP Circuit ring awarded at the Bicycle Casino and Hotel. Alan Myerson topped a field of 140 players to take home $7,830 and his first career Circuit title in the $365 Bounty No Limit Hold’em.
While the score was only four-figures, it’s significant to Myerson as it moves him over the $1 million mark in career tournament earnings. The Sherman Oaks, CA native has been playing tournament poker over the last decade, accumulating results mostly in the Southern California area.
“I’ve been playing poker for 10 years,” said Myerson after the tournament. “It’s always nice to win a tournament and it’s nice to go over the million mark. I’m heading on a trip next week, so it’s a good way to end the year.”
In this format, each player picked up $100 for every knockout they scored, but Myerson didn’t let the extra cash affect his play.
“I didn’t get my second bounty until the final hand,” said Myerson. “I basically only had one bounty the whole tournament until the final table.”
Myerson picked up one bounty prior to the final table and then earned his second when he defeated Circuit regular Wendy Freedman for the title. He also gets to cash in on his own bounty, bringing his bounty total to three and giving him an extra $300 in prize money.
The tournament got cards in the air on Friday at noon and at the completion of the scheduled 21 levels, there were only four players remaining. In order to continue play down to a winner, finishing the event in a single day, it required a unanimous vote from the players.
Myerson was the only one who objected to continue play.
“I always want to play,” said Myerson. “But last night I was feeling a little off and I think [the extra rest] helped. I felt better today and I didn’t feel like playing last night. It’s very rare for me. Usually, I’m the one that is begging everyone to stay and play all night.”
When play concluded at the end of Day 1, it was Myerson and Freedman neck and neck at the top of the chip counts. They were joined by Jim Jarvis and accomplished professional poker player Timothy Cramer.
When play resumed on Saturday, Cramer was the first player hit the rail, finishing in fourth place for $2,570 and Jarvis followed him to the cage in third place for $3,500. Both players lost their stacks to Freedman, who took a chip lead into heads-up play against Myerson.
Myerson was able to gradually overcome the chip deficit and deny Freedman of her second career Circuit ring.
Along with the hardware and the cash, Myerson earns 50 points and moves into a tie for first place in the Casino Championship race. Myerson is tied with Dave Banerjee, winner of the first event here, with 50 points each. The winner of that title, along with the winner of the main event earns an automatic bid into the Global Casino Championship (previously called the National Championship).
Saturday, December 5, 2015 2:19 PM Local Time
After Timothy Cramer was eliminated in fourth place, Wendy Freedman eliminated Jim Jarvis in third place, leaving Freedman heads-up with the chip lead against Alan Myerson.
Saturday, December 5, 2015 1:03 PM Local Time
Day 2 of the $365 Bounty No Limit Hold'em have cards in the air and the final four players are playing down to a winner.
Saturday, December 5, 2015 2:14 AM Local Time
The $365 Bounty No Limit Hold'em saw 140 players come out for their shot at a Circuit title. After the scheduled 21 levels, those 140 were trimmed down to its final four players. Alan Myerson (pictured above) holds a slight lead on the field ending the night with 403,000, just a hair more than Wendy Freedman, who finished the night with 400,000.
Jim Jarvis and Timothy Cramer round out the final four with 334,000 and 263,000 in chips, respectively. They will come back to the Bike on Saturday at 1 p.m. to play down to a winner.
The final four are guaranteed a payday of $2,570 plus $100 for each bounty they collected, but they all have their sights set on the first place prize of $7,830 and a Circuit ring.
Friday, December 4, 2015 10:42 PM Local Time
The $365 Bounty No Limit Hold'em has reached its final 9 players and Charles Moore is still pacing the field. Here is a look at the seating arrangement and chip counts for the official final table:
Seat 1: Craig Chait - 131,000
Seat 2: Brandi Baldwin - 167,000
Seat 3: Wendy Freedman - 174,500
Seat 4: Adam Volen - 58,500
Seat 5: Jim Jarvis - 173,500
Seat 6: Charles "Woody" Moore - 240,000
Seat 7: Timothy Cramer - 169,000
Seat 8: Alan Myerson - 66,000
Seat 9: Julian Bach - 230,000
The final nine are guaranteed at least a payday of $710 plus whatever they have accumulated in bounties, but everybody has their eyes on the $7,830 first place prize and the Circuit ring that comes with it.
Friday, December 4, 2015 6:33 PM Local Time
With about 15 minutes before the remaining players head on their 45-minute dinner break, it is Charles Moore leading the field with 127,000.
More commonly known as "Woody" among his peers, Moore is a fixture on the Circuit. He is the only player to qualify for the National Championship all five years of its existence and has racked up over $611,000 in tournament earnings on the Circuit alone. Moore is searching for his fourth career ring and adding another cash to his already impressive resume.
Friday, December 4, 2015 5:46 PM Local Time
With late registration having been officially closed for a few hours, the cage has released the official numbers for the $365 Black Chip Bounty No Limit Hold'em.
There are officially 140 players that entered the event, generating a prizepool of $42,000 and $14,000 in available bounties. The top 15 players earn a payday with a min-cash being worth $475, gradually increasing to a first place prize of $7,830 and a Circuit ring.
With the about 15 minutes left in level 11, their dinner break is approaching in about 45 minutes and there are 31 players remaining.
Friday, December 4, 2015 3:26 PM Local Time
Level 7 has begun and late registration for the $365 Black Chip Bounty No Limit Hold'em is officially closed. According to the clock, there are 110 players remaining from a starting field of 130. Official field size and prizepool numbers will be released by the staff shortly.
Among those still in the hunt for a ring include Circuit regulars Wendy Freedman, Neil Scott and Charles "Woody" Moore.
Friday, December 4, 2015 2:51 PM Local Time
Here is a look at the Day 1 schedule and structure for the $365 Black Chip Bounty No Limit Hold'em. Play concludes at the end of level 21.
Friday, December 4, 2015 1:33 AM Local Time
The second day of the WSOP Circuit at the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles starts at noon on Friday with the kickoff of the $365 Black Chip Bounty No Limit Hold'em. Here's a look at the details:
- Players start with 10,000 in tournament chips
- For every player you eliminate, you receive $100
- There are 10-minute breaks after every three levels, except for a 45-minute dinner break after level 12
- Levels 1-12 are 30 minutes long
- Levels 13-21 are 40 minutes long
- Day 1 will wrap up at the conclusion of level 21, at about 1:40 a.m.
- Survivors of Day 1 will come back on Saturday at 1 p.m. for Day 2 and play down to a winner
- Levels on Day 2 will be 50 minutes long