Event #2: $580 No-Limit Hold'em

Event #2
No-Limit Hold'em
Buy-In: $500 (+$80)
Total Entries: 235
Prize Pool: $117,500

Yousef Anbar's positive focus leads him to victory.

MILWAUKEE (February 5, 2017) -- Yousef Anbar won the second event at Potawatomi series for $29,371. This was only the second WSOP Anbar had ever played in. His victory earned him his first WSOP cash, a WSOP Circuit gold ring and 50 Casino Championship points.

Anbar attributed patience to his victory. He said that for the first six hours of the tournament he was card dead, but then cards started going his way. He took advantage of the good run of cards to build up a big stack and make the final table. Once at the final table his focus was on winning the ring and nothing else.

"To be honest, I am here for the ring," said Anbar.

The nearly $30k first place prize is still quite nice addition to winning the ring. He said that he may use some of the money to take his kids on a vacation. For now, the celebration consists of a smoke and dinner with his wife.

From the start of the tournament Anbar had a positive feeling he was going to win. He told his wife early on into the tournament that he was going to win this one.

"Think positive, that's what I do," said Anbar.

At the final table with Anbar was eight-time gold ring winner Valentin Vornicu. Just like Anbar, Vornicu's main focus was playing for the ring. One more gold ring for Vornicu would mean tying Alex Masek for the all-time gold ring lead. Vornicu's time at the final table didn't last long. He was the first player eliminated.

Anbar is from Huntley, Illinois. He is an engineer by trade, but has a side jewelry business. Anbar said that he wants to come back and play in next weekend's $1,675 Main Event.

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Event #2 was the second of 12 gold ring events on the WSOP Circuit schedule at Potawatomi. The $580 No-Limit Hold'em tournament attracted 235 players generating a $117,500 prize pool. The top 24 players were paid.

Day 1 began Saturday at 3 p.m. and lasted 18 levels. Day 2 began Sunday at 3 p.m. with 13 players remaining. The tournament concluded at about 9:30 p.m. Sunday.

Final table results:

1st: Yousef Anbar - $29,371 + Circuit gold ring
2nd: Don Carrillo - $18,156
3rd: Matt Traudt - $13,214
4th: Daniel Marszalek - $9,772
5th: Joseph Revelle - $7,340
6th: Kevin Vail - $5,599
7th: Steve Liarakos - $4,336
8th: Phillip Li - $3,408
9th: Valentin Vornicu - $2,718

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

Eight-time gold ring winner Valentin Vornicu was eliminated in 9th place for $2,718. This means that Alex Masek's record of nine career gold rings is safe for now. Vornicu said he intends to stay the remainder of the series and keep chasing rings.

The field has worked its way down to the final three players. Matt Traudt, Yousef Anbar and Don Carrillo are the final three players remaining and they are all competing for their first career gold ring.

Here is what is at stake for the final three players:

1st: $29,371 + 50 Global Casino Championship points + WSOP Circuit gold ring
2nd: $18,156 + 37.5 points
3rd: $13,214 + 30 points

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

The tournament is getting close to the money bubble. The clock currently reads that one minute remains in Level 15 with 28 players left. Only the top 24 finishers will earn a cash.

After this level players are headed on a 15-minute break. After the break play will last three more 40-minute levels before players bag for the night. The players that survive until the end of the night will return for Day 2 tomorrow at 3 p.m. where they will compete for the top prize of $29,371 and a WSOP Circuit gold ring.