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2016/17 WSOP Circuit - POTAWATOMI (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)

Thursday, February 02, 2017 to Sunday, February 05, 2017

Event #1: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry ($100K Guarantee)

download official reportdownload official winner photo
  • Buy-in: $365
  • Prizepool: $381,600
  • Entries: 1,272
  • Remaining: 0

EVENT UPDATES

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Sunday, February 5, 2017 3:26 PM Local Time

Ty Veras1

Event #1
No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry
Buy-In: $300 (+$65)
Total Entries: 1,272
Prize Pool: $381,600

Wisconsin bartender claims victory in the first event at Potawatomi.

MILWAUKEE (February 5, 2017) -- Ty Veras has won Wisconsin's first-ever World Series of Poker event. The opening event of the Potawatomi series was a record breaker. The four-flight tournament drew 1,272 entries to become Wisconsin's largest poker tournament ever. Besides carving a spot in the Wisconsin poker record books, Veras earned $67,726 and his first WSOP Circuit gold ring for his 1st place finish.

"It feels good [to win]. I am not used to playing in big tournaments like this. It was fun," said Veras.

Veras is from the Green Bay area, but went to school here in Milwaukee at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. He traveled south with a friend for this tournament in particular.

"My buddy and me travel a little bit to play from time to time. This is is the one we wanted to win, so it was cool," said Veras.

Veras' name was at or near the top of the leaderboard for the majority of the tournament. He got off to a great start and bagged as the Flight A chip leader. He held onto the chip lead through Flight B and Flight C. Veras finally lost the overall chip lead after Daniel Bouton was able to bag a larger stack in Flight D of the tournament. Veras entered Day 2 with the second most chips and according to him, a hangover.

The hangover didn't slow down Veras from collecting chips. He built his stack up throughout Day 2 and made it to the final table as the chip leader. Eliminations were far and few between early on at the final table, but Veras didn't slow down collecting chips. The tournament staff decided to bag the six remaining players at 2:30 a.m. Sunday and bring them back for a third day of play. Veras had to sleep on a huge chip lead. He bagged Day 2 with 62% of the chips in play.

He came back for Day 3 at 2 p.m. Sunday. After just 45 minutes of play he had every chip in play and the gold ring around his finger.

"I pretty much ran pure the whole time, it was awesome," said Veras.

The 28-year-old bartender from West De Pere, Wisconsin said that he had no plans for the prize money other than now maybe playing in the series' Main Event.

"Then it's back to bartending. I like bartending," said Veras.

Veras had a sizeable rail, including his father, rooting him on today. The celebration will consist of watching the Super Bowl back in Green Bay.

--------

Event #1 was the first of 12 gold ring events on the WSOP Circuit schedule at Potawatomi. The $365 No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry tournament attracted 1,272 players generating a $381,600 prize pool. The top 135 players were paid.

The tournament featured four starting flights. Flights A and B were on Thursday and drew a combined 379 entries. Flights C and D were Friday and added another 893 entries to the field. There were 156 players that advanced to Saturday's Day 2. Day 2 was a long 14 and half hour day of play and saw six players make it to Day 3. Day 3 started Sunday at 2 p.m. and finished after 45 minutes of play.

Final table results:

1st: Ty Veras - $67,726 + Circuit gold ring
2nd: Carlos Monteiro - $41,976
3rd: Kenny Nguyen - $30,807
4th: Sean Chapman - $23,278
5th: Brandon Johnson - $17,763
6th: Nicholas Lemke - $13,673
7th: Michael Lewis - $10,647
8th: Dimitri Lutsker - $8,388
9th: Brandon Schimelpfenig - $6,686

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

Sunday, February 5, 2017 2:58 PM Local Time

VerasFT

Ty Veras (pictured) has just won the opening event at the Potawatomi World Series of Poker Circuit. The 28-year-old bartender bested 1,272 players in the $365 No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry event to pocket $67,726 and earn his first career WSOP Circuit gold ring. He also earns 50 Casino Championship points for his victory.

A full report on Veras' win will be made available shortly. In the meantime, here's a look at the final table results:

1st: Ty Veras - $67,726 + Circuit gold ring
2nd: Carlos Monteiro - $41,976
3rd: Kenny Nguyen - $30,807
4th: Sean Chapman - $23,278
5th: Brandon Johnson - $17,763
6th: Nicholas Lemke - $13,673
7th: Michael Lewis - $10,647
8th: Dimitri Lutsker - $8,388
9th: Brandon Schimelpfenig - $6,686

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

Sunday, February 5, 2017 2:55 PM Local Time

<MonteiroFT

Carlos Monteiro was unable to overcome Ty Veras' huge chip lead. Monteiro has to settle for runner-up and $41,976.

Carlos Monteiro - Eliminated in 2nd place

Sunday, February 5, 2017 2:23 PM Local Time

NguyenFT

Kenny Nguyen has hit the rail in 3rd place. This marked Nguyen's 30th career WSOP cash and pushes his WSOP tournament earnings over the $300,000 mark. Born in Vietnam, Nguyen now lives in Lansing, Illinois.

Kenny Nguyen - Eliminated in 3rd place

Sunday, February 5, 2017 2:16 PM Local Time

ChapmanFT

Day 3 has quickly taken another casualty. Sean Chapman has busted in 4th place for $23,278.

Gorilla Gaming
Sunday, February 5, 2017 2:13 PM Local Time

In the first 10 minutes of Day 3 two players have hit the rail. Nick Lemke was eliminated in 6th place for $13,673 and Brandon Johnson was eliminated in 5th place for $17,763.

JohnsonFT

Brandon Johnson

LemkeFT

Nick Lemke

Brandon Johnson - Eliminated in 5th place
Nick Lemke - Eliminated in 6th place
Sunday, February 5, 2017 2:02 PM Local Time

Cards are now in the air for Day 3 of Event #1: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry. The final six players are all guaranteed a payout of at least $13,763. The last man standing will earn $67,726 and the first gold ring of the series.

Start of Day 3 Chip Counts:

Seat 1: Nick Lemke - 390,000 (3 bb)
Seat 2: Brandon Johnson - 300,000 (3 bb)
Seat 3: Kenny Nguyen - 840,000 (8 bb)
Seat 4: Ty Veras - 7,925,000 (79 bb)
Seat 5: Sean Chapman - 990,000 (9 bb)
Seat 6: Carlos Monteiro - 2,260,000 (22 bb)

- Day 3 will begin at the start of Level 31: 50,000/100,000 with a 10,000 ante

Sunday, February 5, 2017 2:46 AM Local Time
End of Day 2
Sunday, February 5, 2017 2:26 AM Local Time

Veras2

Ty Veras

It's been a long day of poker for the six remaining players in Event #1. The day began for them Saturday at noon with the start of Day 2. After 14 and a half hours of play they are finally bagging. Day 3 of the tournament will begin tomorrow at 2 p.m. Returning for Day 3 with the chip lead is Ty Veras. Vergas has a big lead and over half of the chips in play.

Day 3 seating assignments and chip counts:

Seat 1: Nick Lemke - 390,000 (3 bb)
Seat 2: Brandon Johnson - 300,000 (3 bb)
Seat 3: Kenny Nguyen - 840,000 (8 bb)
Seat 4: Ty Veras - 7,925,000 (79 bb)
Seat 5: Sean Chapman - 990,000 (9 bb)
Seat 6: Carlos Monteiro - 2,260,000 (22 bb)

- Day 3 will begin at the start of Level 31: 50,000/100,000 with a 10,000 ante

Sunday, February 5, 2017 1:59 AM Local Time

LewisFT

Michael Lewis has been eliminated in 7th place for $10,647. Lewis is an investment advisor from West Bend, Wisconsin.

Michael Lewis: Eliminated in 7th place
Gorilla Gaming
Sunday, February 5, 2017 1:46 AM Local Time

Level 30 has just begun.

It's just been announced that the players will bag at end of this level. Tomorrow's restart time has yet to be determined.

Sunday, February 5, 2017 1:31 AM Local Time

LutskerFT

Dimitri Lutsker is the second player eliminated from the final table. His 8th place finish earned him $8,388 and his first career WSOP cash. Lutsker is from here in Milwaukee and works as a graphic designer.

Dimitri Lutsker - Eliminated in 8th place

Sunday, February 5, 2017 12:55 AM Local Time

SchimelpfenigFT

The final table has finally seen its first elimination after more than two hours of play. Brandon Schimelpfenig has been eliminated in 9th place for $6,686. Schimelpfenig is an Army veteran from Kaukauna, Wisconsin.

Brandon Schimelpfenig - Eliminated in 9th place

Sunday, February 5, 2017 12:39 AM Local Time

Ev1FinalTable

Play is nearly through another level without a bustout. At this rate it looks like the tournament may need another day to finish. It is up to the tournament staff to decide if and when to bag the players. That decision is still a couple hours away though.

Saturday, February 4, 2017 11:49 PM Local Time

Just over an hour into the final table and there has still yet to be any eliminations. Brandon "Deeno" Johnson has worked his way to the chip leader, while Dimitri Lutsker has fallen to the short stack. Players are currently on 15-minute break. Here are the chip stacks they will be returning to:

Seat 1: Nick Lemke - 2,000,000 (40 bb)
Seat 2: Brandon "Deeno" Johnson - 2,300,000 (46 bb)
Seat 3: Kenny Nguyen - 1,925,000 (38 bb)
Seat 4: Ty Veras - 2,050,000 (41 bb)
Seat 5: Brandon Schimelpfenig - 675,000 (13 bb)
Seat 6: Michael Lewis - 865,000 (17 bb)
Seat 7: Sean Chapman - 1,500,000 (30 bb)
Seat 8: Carlos Morteiro - 1,500,000 (30 bb)
Seat 9: Dimitri Lutsker - 350,000 (7 bb)

- 50 minutes remain in Level 28: 25,000/50,000 with a 5,000 ante

Up-to-date results can be found above under the "Results" tab.

Playtika - Jason Alexander
Saturday, February 4, 2017 10:16 PM Local Time

The opening event of the Potawatomi series has finally reached the final table. The nine remaining players are all vying for the first place prize of $67,726, a WSOP Circuit gold ring and 50 Casino Championship points. The winner will also have the bragging rights of winning the first-ever WSOP event in Wisconsin and winning the state of Wisconsin's largest poker tournament ever.

For making it this far, the final nine players are guaranteed a payday of at least $6,686.

Final table chip counts and seating assignments:

Seat 1: Nick Lemke - 1,390,000 (46 bb)
Seat 2: Brandon "Deeno" Johnson - 1,600,000 (53 bb)
Seat 3: Kenny Nguyen - 1,600,000 (53 bb)
Seat 4: Ty Veras - 2,000,000 (66 bb)
Seat 5: Brandon Schimelpfenig - 880,000 (29 bb)
Seat 6: Michael Lewis - 765,000 (25 bb)
Seat 7: Sean Chapman - 1,300,000 (43 bb)
Seat 8: Carlos Morteiro - 1,850,000 (61 bb)
Seat 9: Dimitri Lutsker - 1,020,000 (34 bb)

- 20 minutes remain in Level 26: 15,000/30,000 with a 5,000 ante

Up-to-date results can be found above under the "Results" tab.
Saturday, February 4, 2017 8:25 PM Local Time

IraniNguyen2

Left: Zal Irani    Right: Kenny Nguyen

The 17 remaining players are back from dinner break and cards are in the air. Once the final table is reached chip counts and seating assignments will be posted.

Saturday, February 4, 2017 6:44 PM Local Time

 The field has just been reduced the to final 18 players and final two tables. At this point all remaining players still in the tournament are guaranteed a payout of at least $3,621. The dinner break is right around the corner. After players take their one-hour dinner break they will return to play toward a final table and eventually a winner.

A few familiar face still alive include gold ring winners Kenny Nguyen and Zal Irani. Also still with chips is Ty Veras. Veras bagged Flight A with a huge chip stack and entered today's play second in chips overall.

Just recently busting was Dennis Phillips in 24th place and today's start of day chip leader, Daniel Bouton, in 23rd place.

Tournament results can be found above under the "Results" tab.

Saturday, February 4, 2017 5:25 AM Local Time

.

Carter Myers

Cards for Day 2 are set to go in the air at noon with 156 players remaining. Leading the pack to begin the day will be Flight D's chip leader Daniel Bouton. The eventual champion is set to earn a hefty payday of $67,726 and a Wisconsin's first WSOP Circuit gold ring. The top 135 players will earn a cash with a min cash worth $569.

Top ten Day 2 chips stacks:

1. Daniel Bouton - 286,000
2. Ty Veras - 243,500
3. Daniel Bekavac - 227,200
4. Brandon Johnson - 224,200
5. Evan Bethyo - 221,000
6. Dennis Phillips - 212,300
7. Carter Myers - 210,000
8. Alex Shelton - 204,500
9. Craig Trost - 183,500
10. Ken Garbowicz - 182,200

Complete Day 2 chip counts and the table draw can be found above under the "Reports" tab.

Saturday, February 4, 2017 1:28 AM Local Time
End of Day 1
Gorilla Gaming
1