Event #11: $365 No-Limit Hold'em (one-day event)

Event #11
No-Limit Hold'em Turbo
Buy-in: $300 (+$65)
Total Entries: 99
Prizepool: $29,700

On-and-off poker player, Corey Bierria, wins the No-Limit Hold’em Turbo to snatch his first Circuit gold ring.

Biloxi, Mississippi (September 18, 2016) – Corey Bierra outlasted a field of 99 players to claim his first career gold ring, and $8,911, in Event #11: $365 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo. The tournament lasted one day and concluded on the IP main stage late Saturday night. Disbelief and joy poured over Bierra after the final river card hit.

“Did I just win this,” Bierra said with a smile on his face. Later, when asked how the win felt, the very first word he conjured was “overdue.”

Before this victory, Bierria had come just in reach of a gold ring when he finished second place at Harrah’s New Orleans. This extremely close call occurred way back in 2005. In the 11 years between now and then, Bierria had an on-and-off relationship with poker.

“I stopped grinding for a while,” said Bierria. When asked why, he responded with “Family, businesses; being a family man.”

Playing poker with an ambitious disposition can be very time consuming and travel oriented. After reducing his time spent on the felt for commendable reasons, Bierria has recently taken up a more ambitious approach to the game again.

“I decided to be more aggressive this year about it. This year I dedicated myself to the game a little bit harder. Decided to play more,” said Bierria

The IP Biloxi was happening the same day as Event #11. In fact, Bierria played in the Main Event the very same morning of his triumph. Following his exit from the Main, Bierria decided to hop in the turbo event, and what a decision it was.

Bierria found himself heads up against Todd Owens, who proved to be a tough competitor throughout the tournament. Early in heads-up play there was some talk from Owens about the prize money both players had already secured by reaching the final two payout positions. However, Bierria did not hesitate to shrug off the idea of a cash-prize. He was one hundred percent in it for the gold ring and Circuit title. The money was not on his mind.

“This was one of the tournaments I told myself ‘I’m going to take it. I’m not going to wait for it. I’m not going to hope it happens,’” stated Bierra “The money really didn’t matter to me. I wanted to win.”

His ambition was met and Bierra can finally say he walked away a Circuit Champ.

here's a look at the final table results:

1st: Corey Bierria - $8,911
2nd: Todd Owens - $5,507
3rd: James "Andrew" Moon - $3,921
4th: Rusty Moorer - $2,848
5th: Russel Duval - $2,110
6th: Nestor Punay -  $1,593
7th: Kristopher Cannatelli - $1,225
8th: James Beetz - $960
9th: Michael Warrington - $765

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

Andrew Moon goes out in third place and pockets $3,921.

This leaves Corey Bierria and Todd Owens to duke it out for the gold ring.

The unofficial final table has commenced. James Beetz has made, yet another, final table appearance. He is guaranteed an increase in his already-leading points total. Corey Bierria looks to finally top a WSOP event. He already has 12 Circuit cashes to his name.

Here is a look at the seating arrangement and chip counts for the final 10 players:

Seat 1: Thuy Djedjos – 28,000
Seat 2: Nestor Bunay – 98,500
Seat 3: Corey Bierria – DNR
Seat 4: Rusty Moorer – 94,000
Seat 5: Andrew Moon – 165,000
Seat 6: Michael Warrington – 85,000
Seat 7: Kristopher Cannatelli – 173,500
Seat 8: Todd Owens – 48,000
Seat 9: DNR – 42,000
Seat 10: James Beetz – 112,000