Tuesday, December 15, 2015 8:56 PM Local Time
Val Vornicu
Bell Gardens, CA (15 December 2015) – As 2015 wraps up for the World Series of Poker Circuit, Valentin Vornicu is making his mark on the season and ending the year on high note. Vornicu won the Main Event at the Bicycle Casino, earning $197,110 and his seventh career WSOP Circuit ring.
“I’m speechless,” an emotional Vornicu said after taking a few moments to compose himself. “This is my first Main Event ring. I’ve been chasing the Main Event. It’s my second ring at the Bike. This is the first casino I’ve won two rings at.”
Vornicu’s seven rings ties him for second place on the all-time list. (Ari Engel and Chris Reslock also have seven.) The only player with more rings is Alex Masek, who recently won his ninth in one of the preliminary events here at the Bicycle Casino. Vornicu and Masek are good friends, and they have a bit of a rivalry on the felt, and on the all-time rings list. In fact, two years ago, Masek earned one his rings by defeating Vornicu heads-up. Vornicu mentioned with a smile that if he’d won that tournament, the two of them would be tied right now. Despite that minor setback in their ongoing competition, Vornicu plans to continue chasing his friend after the holidays.
In addition to the ring and the prize money, Vornicu also earns a free entry into the 2016 Global Casino Championship (formerly known as the National Champion). Each year, 100 players earn free entries, either by winning a Circuit Main Event, earning Casino Champion honors at a Circuit stop, or by ending the season in the top 50 of the year-long leaderboard. The Global Casino Championship has a prize pool with $1,000,000 in added money, and this is now the fourth consecutive year Vornicu has qualified. The player who’s qualified the most consecutive years is Charles “Woody” Moore, who’s made it five years running and is well on his way to a sixth. This is yet another record Vornicu is chasing.
The final day of the Main Event began Tuesday at 1 p.m. with eleven players remaining. Zelman led the way with 2,585,000 in chips. Vornicu was close on his heels with 2,520,000. They both held a big lead over the third-place player, bracelet winner Josh Pollock (1,410,000). Early in the second level of the day, two players had been eliminated, and they were down to the official nine-handed final table.
After two more players had been eliminated, Vornicu got involved in one of the key hands that helped propel him to victory. He got into an all-in preflop confrontation with bracelet winner Josh Pollock. Vornicu held pocket jacks, and Pollock had Ace-King. The jacks won, Vornicu doubled up, and Pollock was crippled. They had been nearly even in chips at the time, and Vornicu took a big chip lead. “Josh was one of the players I was most afraid of,” Vornicu said, adding that he wasn’t happy to have Pollock on his left after the redraw to the final table. “It was a tough final table. Two bracelet winners (Pollock and Shawn Busse). Lots of good players.”
The Main Event attracted a total of 641 entries over two starting days. Day 1A (Saturday) had 235, and another 394 entered on Day 1B (Sunday). Late registration was officially open until the start of Day 2 on Monday, and 12 players took advantage of that by registering Monday morning before the start of play. In total 130 players began Day 2. Roland Israelashvili was the chip leader heading into Day 2, having bagged 252,000 on Day 1B.
The 641 entries generated a prize pool of $961,500, and the top 72 places were paid. The bubble burst early on Day 2 with two concurrent bustouts. Players who busted in the money include Neil Scott (65th place, $2,690), Scott Stewart (51st, $3,210), Tuan Le (36th, $3,980), Ben Keeline (14th, $12,065), Craig Varnell (13th, $12,065), and Roland Israelashvili (12th, $14,825). Players who entered but failed to cash include Matt Salsberg, Cord Garcia, actor Bill Fagerbakke, and Nipun Java, who won the Main Event here in March 2014.
With the conclusion of the Main Event, the WSOP Circuit is on hiatus until January. The next stop is at the Choctaw Durant casino, beginning January 6th.
Here are the final table results from the Main Event. Click here for a full list of results.
1 – Valentin Vornicu - $197,110
2 – Michael Zelman - $121,965
3 – Salvatore DiCarlo – 89,460
4 – Geffrey Klein - $66,525
5 – Hermilo Vargas - $50,140
6 – Shawn Busse - $38,295
7 – Josh Pollock - $29,625
8 – Erhart Edquist – 23,230
9 – Orlando Romero - $18,440
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 7:54 PM Local Time
Valentin Vornicu - 1st Place - $197,110
Valentin Vornicu limps on the button, and Michael Zelman checks his option.
The flop comes . Zelman bets 125,000, Vornicu raises to 350,000, Zelman shoves all in, and Vornicu quickly calls.
Vornicu: (pair of jacks)
Zelman: (king high)
The turn and river do not improve Zelman's hand and he is eliminated in second place, taking home $121,965.
Valantin Vornicu wins the Main Event for $197,110, and his Seventh World Series of Poker Circuit ring.
A full recap will be posted shortly.
Valentin Vornicu - 12,820,000
Michael Zelman - Eliminated
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 7:36 PM Local Time
Michael Zelman raises to 250,000 from the button, and Val Vornicu calls.
The flop comes , and Vornicu checks. Zelman continues for 250,000, and Vornicu calls again.
The turn is the , and both players check. The falls on the river, and Vornicu now leads out for 575,000. Zelman thinks for a minute, then calls.
Vornicu shows for a flush, and Zelman mucks.
Val Vornicu - 8,660,000
Michael Zelman - 3,940,000
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 7:30 PM Local Time
Valentin Vornicu raises to 225,000 on the button. Michael Zelman reraises to 700,000, and Vornicu calls.
Zelman checks the flop, and Vornicu bets 550,000. Zelman pauses for a moment before announcing that he is all-in.
Vornicu take a brief moment before sliding his cards into the muck.
Michael Zelman - 4,895,000
Valentin Vornicu - 7,925,000
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 7:21 PM Local Time
Salvatore DiCarlo - 3rd Place
Val Vornicu raises to 205,000 from the button, and Salvatore DiCarlo moves all in from the small blind. Vornicu calls, and the cards are tabled.
Vornicu:
DiCarlo:
The board comes . DiCarlo pairs his queen, but Vornicu wins with his pocket kings.
Salvatore DiCarlo is eliminated in 3rd place, earning $89,460.
Val Vornicu - 8,060,000
Salvatore DiCarlo - Eliminated
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 7:11 PM Local Time
Michael Zelman raises to 275,000 from the small blind, and Val Vornicu calls from the big blind. Both players check the flop, and the turn is the . Zelman bets 250,000. Vornicu thinks for a minute, then raises to 700,000. Zelman folds, and the dealer pushes Vornicu the pot.
Val Vornicu - 5,150,000
Michael Zelman - 4,250.000
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 7:04 PM Local Time
Valentin Vornicu limps in on the button. Salvatore DiCarlo folds the small blind, and Michael Zelman checks his option in the big blind.
The flop comes . Zelman bets 150,000, and Vornicu calls.
When the turn comes the , Zelman checks, Vornicu bets 225,000, and Zelman calls.
Both players check the river.
Zelman says, "Nine," as he turns over . Vornicu mucks his cards.
Michael Zelman - 4,950,000
Valentin Vornicu - 5,050,000
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 6:44 PM Local Time
Level: 31
Blinds: 50,000/100,000
Ante: 10,000
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 6:38 PM Local Time
Level 30 is complete, and players are taking a short break.
Here are the chip counts heading into the next level:
Val Vornicu - 5,350,000
Michael Zelman - 4,480,000
Salvatore DiCarlo - 2,840,000
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 6:19 PM Local Time
Geffrey Klein - 4th Place
Geffrey Klein raises to 165,000, and Val Vornicu three-bets to 500,000 from the small blind. Klein moves all in, and Vornicu quickly calls.
Klein:
Vornicu:
The board rolls out . Vornicu makes a full house to win the pot, and Klein is eliminated. He finishes in fourth place for $66,525.
Val Vornicu - 6,000,000
Geffrey Klein - Eliminated
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 6:12 PM Local Time
Valentin Vornicu raises to 160,000 from under the gun, and Michael Zelman calls in the big blind.
Both players check the flop.
When the turn comes the , Zelman leads for 225,000. Vornicu thinks for a few moments before releasing his hand.
Michael Zelman - 3,250,000
Valentin Vornicu - 4,525,000
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 5:49 PM Local Time
Geffrey Klein raises to 175,000 from under the gun, and Val Vornicu calls from the small blind. The flop comes , and both players check.
The turn is the , and Vornicu checks again. Klein bets 200,000, and Vornicu calls. The river is the , and Vornicu checks a third time. Klein continues for 300,000. Vornicu thinks for a minute, then folds.
Geffrey Klein - 2,150,000
Val Vornicu - 5,000,000
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 5:35 PM Local Time
Level: 30
Blinds: 40,000/80,000
Ante: 10,000
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 5:24 PM Local Time
Players are now on a ten-minute break.
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 5:24 PM Local Time
Geffrey Klein raises to 135,000 from the button, and Michael Zelman calls from the small blind. Val Vornicu then three-bets to 400,000 from the big blind. Klein calls, Zelman folds, and they see the flop heads-up.
The flop is , and Vornicu continues for 500,000. Klein thinks for a minute, then folds.
Val Vornicu - 4,950,000
Geffrey Klein - 1,500,000
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 5:13 PM Local Time
Michael Zelman raises to 135,000 from the button, and Val Vornicu calls from the small blind. Salvatore DiCarlo three-bets to 390,000 from the big blind.
Zelman thinks for a minute, then puts in another raise, making it 960,000 to play. Vornicu folds. DiCarlo thinks for about two minutes, then folds as well.
Michael Zelman - 3,800,000
Val Vornicu - 3,800,000
Salvatore DiCarlo - 2,400,000
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 5:04 PM Local Time
Valentin Vornicu raises to 125,000 from under the gun, and Michael Zelman calls in the big blind.
The flop comes . Zelman checks, Vornicu bets 150,000, and Zelman calls.
Both players check the turn and river.
Zelman shows , and Vornicu mucks his cards.
Michael Zelman - 2,600,000
Valentin Vornicu - 4,600,000
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 4:51 PM Local Time
Salvatore DiCarlo raises to 130,000, and Val Vornicu calls from the big blind. The flop comes , and Vornicu checks. DiCarlo continues for 140,000, and Vornicu calls.
Both players check the on the turn, and the river is the . Dicarlo bets 185,000. Vornicu calls and shows . DiCarlo mucks his cards.
Val Vronicu - 5,250,000
Salvatore DiCarlo - 3,300,000
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 4:45 PM Local Time
Hermilo Vargas - 5th Place - $50,140
Action folds to Hermilo Vargas in the small blind who shoves all in for 795,000. Salvatore DiCarlo picks his cards up off of the table, seeing the , and then slowly peeling that back to reveal the . He looks over at Vargas and says, "Do you have a good hand?" Vargas immediately responds, "No." DiCarlo pauses a few more seconds, and then throws in a chip to call.
DiCarlo:
Vargas:
The board runs out . DiCarlo will take it down with ace high, and Vargas is eliminated in 5th place.
Salvatore DiCarlo - 4,200,000
Hermilo Vargas - Eliminated
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 4:37 PM Local Time
Michael Zelman raises to 150,000 from under the gun, and Val Vornicu calls from the cutoff. The flop comes , and Zelman continues for 180,000. Vornicu calls.
The turn is the , and Zelman checks. Vornicu bets 300,000. Zelman thinks for a minute, then announces he's all in. Vornicu folds, and Zelman takes the pot.
Michael Zelman - 2,200,000
Val Vornicu - 4,250,000