Event #10: $1,675 MAIN EVENT ($500k Guarantee)

Event #10
No-Limit Hold'em Main Event
Buy-in: $1,500 (+$175)
Total Entries: 382
Prizepool: $573,000

Once the number one online poker player in the world, Chris Savage, bagged himself a huge victory in the IP Biloxi Main Event.

Biloxi, Mississippi (September 19, 2016) – Chris Savage navigated through three days of grueling, tournament poker and a field of 382 players to win his first Circuit gold ring. His crowning achievement came in Event #10, the No-Limit Hold’em Main Event, nonetheless. The tournament featured two starting flights. To claim the victory Savage had to get through a tough final table with notable poker pros, such as Tim “T.K.” Miles and Caufman Talley. Savage shed some light on the mindset needed to play against the aggressive, young guns, such as Talley.

“I can change gears with the best of them. You have to adapt to his style,” said Savage.

Talley was the predominant chip leader throughout a majority of the later stages of the tournament and the final table. He lost a large portion of his stack by doubling up Lytle Allen when play was five-handed. Shortly after, a pivotal hand occurred. Talley moved all in on the button with pocket nines, Steve Bierman, with a big stack, shoved as well with ace king suited, and Savage, holding pocket aces, happily called both his opponents. The rockets held, eliminating Talley and crippling Bierman. The hand left Savage with a commanding chip lead, which eventually carried him to victory.

Savage, who is a businessman and father of twins, explained that he does not play poker on a permanent basis, but did once upon a time.

“I used to play professionally. I stopped when my kids were born in ’05,” said Savage. “I’ve always been in business, so for me it was easy for me to step away and get back to the family life and just play recreationally.”

Even though he claims a part-time role in poker over the last decade, Savage’s résumé is still an impressive one. When it comes to live tournaments, Savage sticks to playing the bigger ones exclusively. He has won some other Main Events, outside of the WSOP, and took first place at the Jack Binion World Poker Open in Tunica, Mississippi.

His biggest claim to fame, however, came in the virtual realm. Savage was the number one online player in the world for six to eight months back in 2004/05. He humbly explained that his ranking came during the time before online poker blew up and a younger crowd flooded the scene. Savage mentioned that his number one ranking was eventually relinquished by “JohnnyBax” (Cliff Josephy), another seasoned veteran, who Savage will be routing for when the “November Nine” face off for the 2016 WSOP Main Event Championship.

“The old guard, online people, are pulling for him. I’ll be pulling hard for him at the final table of the World Series of Poker Main,” exclaimed Savage. “I struck for the old school,” said Savage, alluding to his victory being in solidarity with his long time peers.

It was a big win to say the least. Not only did Savage walk away with a Main Event gold ring, he also banked $126,059, which surpasses any of his tournament payouts to date. Savage was also awarded an automatic bid to the 2016/17 Global Casino Championship. He will be one of two, IP Biloxi horses in the prestigious tournament.

Here's a look at the final table results:

1st: Chris Savage - $126,059
2nd: Lytle Allen - $77,899
3rd: Steve Bierman - $56,922
4th: Caufman Talley - $42,264
5th: David Lee - $31,870
6th: Bobby Gunter - $24,393
7th: Tim "T.K." Miles - $18,943
8th: Fikret Kovac - $14,921
9th: Jeffrey Trudeau Jr. - $11,918

Complete results can be found above, under the "Results" tab.

Lytle Allen lost a big hand and was put to the test three hands in a row after that, leaving him short on chips and at risk. 

Allen raises to 200,000 on the button, and Chris Savage shoves all in from the big blind.  Allen calls for his 650,000 stack and the players table their cards. 

Allen:   
Savage:    

The flop comes    , leaving Allen's ace high in the lead.  That lead was increased drastically when the   comes on the turn giving Allen a pair of aces.  The   river is safe for Allen and he doubles up. 

Lytle Allen - 1,400,000 (23 bb)
Chris Savage - 6,200,000 (103 bb)

Chris Savage raises to 150,000 on the button and Lytle Allen calls.

The flop comes    , and both players check.

The turn is the   and both players check a second time.

The river is the  . Savage checks, Allen bets 300,000, and Savage calls.

Allen turns over    for the straight. Savage says, "Oh shit, I let you get there." 

Lytle Allen - 5,075,000 (84 bb)
Chris Savage - 2,525,000 (42 bb)

Steve Bierman raises to 150,000 on the button. Chris Savage and Lytle Allen both call.

All three players go to the flop, which comes    . After two checks the action is on Bierman who says "all in."

Savage folds and Allen calls the shove.

Bierman flips over    and Allen reveals top pair with his   .

The turn comes the   and the river is the  .

Allen banks a huge double up.

Caufman Talley - 4th Place - $42,264

Chris Savage opens under the gun for 150,000. Caufman Talley re-raises for all his chips, which is around 900,000. Steve Bierman leans back, looks at both players and moves all in himself. Bierman has the other two covered in chips. Action moves back to Savage and he does not hesitate to call both opponents.

Players table their hands.

Savage:   
Talley:   
Bierman:   

A relatively tame flop comes    . The turn is the   giving Bierman a nut-flush draw and opportunity to score a double knockout.

The river card is the   and the pocket rockets hold for Savage, eliminating Talley and leaving Bierman with a short stack.

Chris Savage - 5,500,000
Steve Bierman - 890,000
Caufman Talley - Eliminated

It's been a relatively slow level of play as the chip stacks have started to equal out among the last four players. 

Lytle Allen raises to 125,000 on the button and Steve Bierman defends his big blind.

The flop comes     and both players check.

The turn is the  . Bierman bets 150,000, and Allen calls.

The river is the  . Bierman sets a stack out in front of him totaling 500,000, and Allen tosses in a chip to call. 

Bierman shows    and Allen shows   . Both players have straights and will chop the pot. 

Steve Bierman - 3,250,000 (65 bb)
Lytle Allen - 1,900,000 (38 bb)

David Lee - 5th Place - $31,870

David Lee shoves all in from the cutoff for around 500,000, and Lytle Allen calls on the button.

Lee:   
Allen:   

The board runs out      , awarding Allen the pot and eliminating Lee from play in 5th place. 

Lytle Allen - 3,750,000 (75 bb)
David Lee - Eliminated in 5th Place, for $31,870

Bobby Gunter - 6th Place - $24,393

Caufman Talley raises to 100,000 on the button, and Bobby Gunter moves his remaining three big blinds into the middle to call. 

Gunter:   
Talley:   

The flop comes    , giving Talley a pair of nines to take the lead.  That lead is maintained when the turn comes the  , but the turn also prompts Gunter to call for a spade. 

The   river does not improve Gunter's hand and he is eliminated from play in 6th place, taking home $24,393.

Caufman Talley - 3,300,000
Bobby Gunter - Eliminated in 6th Place, for $24,393

Caufman Talley raises to 80,000 in the cutoff, and Bobby Gunter shoves all in from the small blind.

"What is it, about 200?" Talley asks Gunter.  He eyes the stack and then calls.

Gunter:   
Talley:   

"It's a fair fight," a player at the table says as the     flop is placed. 

The turn is the   increasing Gunter's lead to a set. 

The river is the   and Gunter says, "Thank you sir," to Talley as the dealer counts out his 230,000 in chips. 

Bobby Gunter - 505,000 (12 bb)
Caufman Talley - 3,050,000 (76 bb)