Event #7: $365 No-Limit Hold'em

Event #7
No-Limit Hold'em
Buy-in: $300 (+$65)
Total Entries: 158
Prizepool: $47,400

Dale Menghe, after being behind for majority of the later stages, comes from behind to win his first career gold ring.

Stateline, Nevada (November 2, 2016) – Dale Menghe’s third WSOP cash was a huge one. He won his first Circuit gold ring by outlasting a field of 158 players in Event #7: $365 No-Limit Hold’em. The tournament lasted two days and finished under the spotlight at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe on Wednesday evening.

Menghe has been playing cards for a while now, but over the years he has implemented an array of different income-generating trades. From running a custom home building business to owning a chain of successful yogurt spots, it is safe to say Menghe is a true, entrepreneurial spirit. Originally from Wisconsin, Menghe use to scoop up some big action at a local casino in his hometown of Milwaukee.

“Potawatomi had one of the biggest PLO games in the country. I caught my teeth on that for about three years,” said Menghe

After selling the yogurt stores, Menghe has since been playing poker full time.  The occupational plan was suggested by none other than his wife, who Menghe admires and love. His wife sure had the right idea because recently he has been making out like a bandit, stumbling upon maybe the biggest score of his life exactly one week ago at Graton Casino & Resort.

“Wednesday I ended up winning the bad beat jackpot there, $118,470,” exclaimed Menghe. “So I’ve been rolling really good.”

His good run has propelled him from California, to Harvey’s Lake Tahoe, and straight through to the number one spot in Event #7. However, the No-Limit Hold’em tournament was hardly a breeze for Menghe. When play reached the final three tables Menghe’s stack was in critical condition and, for the most part, stayed there even through to the final table where he came in as seventh in chips. Menghe played careful and smart poker, dodging a few crucial hands.

“I always thought… You know these tournaments; it’s not the ones you win, it’s the ones you lay down,” Menghe explained.

A stand out hand for Menghe was when he laid down a set to his opponent who shoved on the river. With an ugly board showing flush and straight opportunities, Menghe’s tournament life could have been extinguished on that very hand. This was never the case though.

Once play was short-handed, Menghe turned up the heat, and his aggressive play late got him the outright victory. He walked away with the top-prize of $12,798, 50 Casino Championship points, and a coveted gold ring to call his own. Menghe is geared up to play the Main Event beginning on Friday, as well as making a trip back to Milwaukee for the Potawatomi Circuit series happening in early February.

Here's a breakdwon of the final table finishers:

1st: Dale Menghe - $12,798
2nd: Dave Plaskett - $7,909
3rd: Edward Cybulski - $5,693
4th: Mike Reed - $4,173
5th: Shawn Roberts - $3,112
6th: James Ramsell - $2,362
7th: Bob Gibson - $1,823
8th: Ehsan Porgharibshahishare - $1,430
9th: William Donovan - $1,140

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

Dave Plaskett goes out in second place with $7,909 and 37.5 Casino Championship points. Plaskett came into Day 2 as the chip leader, but everything was going right for Dale Menghe today.

The three remaining players have hit a 15-minute break.

Tournament staff is introducing 25,000 chips into play during the pause in play.

Here is a look at the current chip counts:

Dale Menghe - 720,000
Dave Plaskett - 528,000
Edward Cybulski - 300,000

The Day 2 restart has already seen two eliminations in James Ramsell and Shawn Roberts, respectively.

5th Place: Bob Gibson - $3,112 and 25 points
6th Place: James Ramsell - $2,362 and 22.5 points

And then there were four.

Back to back knockouts just occurred. Ehsan Porgharibshahisha went out in eighth place and the very next hand sent Bob Gibson to the rail.

7th Place: Bob Gibson - $1,823 and 20 points
8th Place: Ehsan Porgharibshahisha - $1,430 and 17.5 points

And then there were six.

With the exit of Valentin Vornicu, players have redrawn seats and moved to the unofficial final table. Mike Reed has a solid chip advantage over his nine opponents. Reed already has one gold ring to his name and looks to add another. There will be three more levels played before breaking for the end of Day 1.

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

Seat 1: Dale Menghe – 95,500 (19 bbs)
Seat 2: Hai Le – 65,000 (13 bbs)
Seat 3: William Donovan – 179,000 (35 bbs)
Seat 4: Mike Reed – 375,500 (75 bbs)
Seat 5: Edward Cybulski – 89,000 (17 bbs)
Seat 6: Bob Gibson – 121,500 (24 bbs)
Seat 7: Dave Plaskett – 293,000 (58 bbs)
Seat 8:  Ehsan Porgharibshahisha – 155,500 (31 bbs)
Seat 9: Shawn Roberts – 93,500 (18 bbs)
Seat 10: James Ramsell – 110,000 (22 bbs)

A congratulations goes out to the remaining players because they are in-the-money.

With 18 players remaining the field is down to two tables and everyone left will be walking away with at least $636.

Full numbers have been posted for Event #7. The tournament attracted 158 players, which generate a $47,400 prizepool. The eventual champion will earn $12,798, a Circuit gold ring, and 50 Casino Championship points. Eliminations have already brought the field down to 45 players remaining. All players finishing in the top 18 will be awarded a WSOP cash.

Here is a look at the final table payouts:

A complete prizepool can be found above, under the "Prizepool" tab.

Registered players have made their way to their respective table/seat and the first hand of the tournament has been dealt.

First scheduled break will be in approximately two hours.

There have been five gold rings handed out at the Harvey's Lake Tahoe so far. The sixth day of the series marks the midway point and features the start of Event #7: $365 No-Limit Hold'em. No extra quirks, such as re-entry or quick levels, will be involved with this tournament; just a cut and dry, NLHE battle for a Circuit gold ring.

Here is a quick rundown of Event #7:

• Registration is open until the start of Level 9 (~3:30 pm)
• No re-entry is allowed
• Players begin with 10,000 in tournament chips
• Blinds start at 25/50
• Levels 1-12 will be 30 minutes long, Levels 13-21 will be 40 minutes long, and 22+ will be 50 minutes long
• There will be a 15-minute break after Level 4, 8, 15, 18, 23, 25, and 29
• A 60-minute dinner break is scheduled after Level 12
• Day 2 will resume at 2:00 pm on Wednesday
• Global Casino Championship points are awarded to all players earning a cash
• The winner will receive a WSOP Circuit gold ring