Monday, February 20, 2017 9:33 PM Local Time
South Florida IT consultant destroys a tough final table to earn first ring and almost $170,000
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (February 20, 2017) — Raminder Singh is the newest WSOP Circuit Main Event Champion, outlasting a field of 524 entries at the Palm Beach Kennel Club to notch a breakthrough victory. He collected his first gold ring, the top prize of $168,995, and a seat in the 2017 WSOP Global Casino Championship courtesy of a dominant final table performance.
Singh is a 42-year-old IT management consultant who was born in New Delhi, India. He comes from a Sikh family, a religious background that entails a large amount of social service and charity work. He’s lived in the United States for his entire adult life, and he now makes his home in nearby Delray Beach, Florida. He’s been married to his wife, Delia, for 10 years, and the couple has two children, daughter Sonya (age 8) and son Shawn (age 5).
Singh advanced through Day 1B of this Main Event with 116,500 chips, slightly above the average. By the time Day 2 concluded, he was essentially tied for the chip lead with 10 players remaining, just a couple big blinds behind Sam Panzica. After the initial feeling-out period on Day 3, Singh charged to the top and led nearly wire to wire thereafter.
“I got really lucky in a sense,” Singh said. “Well, poker players call it lucky, but I just started getting good hands at the right time. It was a good run.” A good run, indeed. Singh got run over by the deck, as they say, showing down a myriad of huge hands over the course of the six-hour final table.
He ran good, too. Singh won consecutive coin flips early in the day, eliminating Daniel Letts and Eric Bunch within the span of just a couple minutes in eighth and seventh places, respectively. He eliminated William Kopp in fourth place with ace-queen against king-queen, and he found pocket kings against ace-queen to send Jesus Cabrera off in third.
Steven Stout was the other player who had his hands on the chip lead briefly, and he and Singh ended up heads-up for the ring at the end of the day. Singh began the duel with a big lead that he never relinquished, and although Stout battled valiantly, he could not stop the seemingly inevitable.
A little less than an hour into the match, the final hand played out with Stout shoving king-six and Singh calling with jack-ten. It was one last case of run-good for the day, as Singh flopped one ten and turned another to lock up the win one card early.
Singh’s career keeps him occupied from nine to five, so poker is still just a hobby. For now, at least. “I consider myself an amateur poker player,” he said. “But in Florida, the poker action is so good, you leave work at 6 p.m., and there’s a tournament gong on.”
Although he’s not a professional poker player by definition, Singh’s results underscore plenty of talent on the felt. He had two six-figure scores early in 2016, and he’s started off 2017 with another one to further bolster his resume. Both of the previous results were runner-up finishes, but this one comes with a victory, a career-best payday, and a piece of jewelry to mark the accomplishment. “Feels terrific,” he smiled broadly as he admired the ring. “Feels great.”
Singh said he integrates the game into his business, too, often entertaining clients from the opposite side of a poker table. One of those clients, Jack Sumner, was on the rail for the duration of Singh’s final table run, and it was he who helped Singh find poker initially. Sumner was part of a bar league game in Boca Raton in 2006, as Singh tells it: “He calls me one day and he’s like, ‘Come over, play poker, I registered you.’ I knew nothing about poker. Not even the ABCs.”
That was in 2006. Sumner showed Singh the ropes with a quick pregame coaching session, and it turned out to be quite a profitable lesson in the long term. In the last three years, Singh has won a handful of significant tournaments and amassed nearly $700,000 in total earnings. He and Sumner are part of a local poker community called Slum Donkey Poker, and the champ credits that group for supporting him throughout his recent poker conquest.
Monday, February 20, 2017 6:35 PM Local Time
Main Event Winner Raminder Singh ($168,995)
Steven Stout goes all in for 1,450,000 on the button and Raminder Singh asks for a count.
"Is it more than 1.5 million?" Singh asks.
The dealer says, "Right around there," as she is counting it down, and Singh says, "Then I have to call."
Stout is all in and at risk with and Singh has .
The board runs out . Singh flops a pair of tens and turns trips, securing the hand and the tournament win.
Singh finishes in first place and wins $168,995, his first Circuit ring, and an entry into the Global Casino Championship.
Steven Stout is out in second place, and he takes home $104,483 for his very deep run in the Main Event.
2nd Place Finisher Steven Stout ($104,483)
Monday, February 20, 2017 6:26 PM Local Time
Raminder Singh limps on the button and Steven Stout checks his option.
The flop comes and Stout checks. Singh bets 200,000 and Stout calls.
On the turn, Stout checks, Singh bets 300,000, and Stout calls.
The river is the . Stout checks once more, Singh bets 825,000, and Stout folds.
Singh shows for a flush.
Raminder Singh - 8,990,000 (89 bb)
Steven Stout - 1,490,000 (14 bb)
Monday, February 20, 2017 6:18 PM Local Time
Raminder Singh raises to 240,000 on the button and Steven Stout three-bets to 700,000 in the big blind. Singh calls and they head to the flop.
On the flop, Stout bets 600,000 and Singh goes all in. Stout counts down his stack, which is right around 1,900,000. He thinks it over for awhile and folds.
Singh shows the for top pair and Stout tells him nice hand.
Raminder Singh - 8,580,000 (85 bb)
Steven Stout - 1,900,000 (19 bb)
Monday, February 20, 2017 6:07 PM Local Time
Raminder Singh has Steven Stout back down under one million chips to start this hand, and he open-shoves the button for 970,000 effective. Stout quickly calls to put himself at risk.
Singh:
Stout:
The flop is a fine sight for Stout, giving him a big lead with a pair of nines. The on the turn makes things interesting, though, giving Singh a flush draw to try to chase down. The river is the blank , though, and Stout doubles up with nines up.
Steven Stout - 1,960,000 (20 bb)
Raminder Singh - 8,520,000 (85 bb)
Monday, February 20, 2017 6:02 PM Local Time
Raminder Singh makes it 240,000 on the button and Steven Stout thinks for awhile in the big blind. He calls.
On the flop, Stout checks, Singh bets 350,000, and Stout folds.
Singh shows and tells Stout he was hoping he would shove preflop.
"I thought about it," Stout replies.
Raminder Singh - 8,945,000 (89 bb)
Steven Stout - 1,535,000 (15 bb)
Monday, February 20, 2017 5:59 PM Local Time
Raminder Singh completes on the button and Steven Stout checks his option.
On the flop, Stout bets 100,000, Singh raises to 225,000, and Stout calls.
The turn is the and Stout checks. Singh bets 325,000 and Stout calls.
On the river, Stout checks, Singh bets 550,000, and Stout thinks for a couple minutes.
He calls and Singh shows for two pair, good for the pot.
Raminder Singh - 8,705,000 (87 bb)
Steven Stout - 1,775,000 (17 bb)
Monday, February 20, 2017 5:56 PM Local Time
Raminder Singh goes all in on the button and Steven Stout immediately calls in the big blind for his remaining stack of 1,700,000.
Stout:
Singh:
The board runs out , and Stout gets the double up.
Steven Stout - 3,600,000 (36 bb)
Raminder Singh - 6,780,000 (67 bb)
Monday, February 20, 2017 5:50 PM Local Time
Jesus Cabrera (pictured) opens the button to 400,000, and Raminder Singh three-bet shoves from the big blind. "Did he say, 'All in?'" Cabrera double-checks with the dealer. When he confirms, Cabrera instantly calls all in for about 2,000,000 total, putting himself at risk.
Cabrera:
Singh:
"What am I supposed to do with ace-queen three-handed?" Cabrera laments to his rail.
The board runs out , and Singh wins the pot with a set of kings. Cabrera is eliminated with another near-miss in a WSOP Circuit Main Event, finishing in third place this time.
Singh and Steven Stout are now heads-up for the title, and Singh begins the duel with a commanding lead.
Raminder Singh - 8,650,000 (87 bb)
Steven Stout - 1,830,000 (18 bb)
Jesus Cabrera - Eliminated in 3rd place ($76,328)
Monday, February 20, 2017 5:35 PM Local Time
Level: 31
Blinds: 50,000/100,000
Ante: 10,000
Monday, February 20, 2017 5:34 PM Local Time
Raminder Singh completes in the small blind and Jesus Cabrera checks.
The flop comes . Singh bets 150,000, Cabrera makes it 300,000, and Singh re-raises to 750,000.
Cabrera lets it go and Singh takes down the pot.
Raminder Singh - 5,900,000 (98 bb)
Jesus Cabrera - 2,600,000 (32 bb)
Monday, February 20, 2017 5:32 PM Local Time
Raminder Singh raises to 205,000 in the small blind and Jesus Cabrera calls in the big blind.
The flop is and Singh bets 200,000. Cabrera raises to 500,000 and Singh calls.
On the turn, Singh checks, Cabrera bets another 500,000, and Singh folds.
Jesus Cabrera - 3,100,000 (38 bb)
Raminder Singh - 5,400,000 (67 bb)
Monday, February 20, 2017 5:12 PM Local Time
William Kopp (pictured) opens the button to 165,000, and Raminder Singh three-bets to 470,000 in the big blind. Kopp four-bet shoves for about 2,100,000 total, and Singh calls to put him at risk.
Kopp:
Singh:
The board runs out , which is no help at all to Kopp. Singh wins the pot with ace-high, sending Kopp to the payout desk in fourth place.
Raminder Singh - 5,890,000 (74 bb)
William Kopp - Eliminated in 4th place ($56,584)
Monday, February 20, 2017 5:01 PM Local Time
In a three-way pot, the flop comes and the three players check.
On the turn, William Kopp checks in the small blind, Steven Stout checks in the big blind, and Raminder Singh bets 315,000 on the button. Kopp calls and Stout folds.
The river is the . Kopp checks, Singh bets 650,000, and Kopp calls.
Singh shows for a flopped set and Kopp mucks.
Raminder Singh - 3,300,000 (41 bb)
William Kopp - 2,100,000 (26 bb)
Monday, February 20, 2017 4:58 PM Local Time
Raminder Singh raises to 205,000 on the button and Jesus Cabrera calls in the small blind. The big blind folds and they are heads up.
The flop is and Cabrera bets 210,000. Singh calls.
On the turn, Cabrera goes all in for 1,150,000 and Singh folds.
Jesus Cabrera - 1,850,000 (23 bb)
Raminder Singh - 2,300,000 (28 bb)
Monday, February 20, 2017 4:56 PM Local Time
William Kopp raises to 160,000 in the cutoff and Raminder Singh goes all in from the small blind. The big blind folds, Kopp quickly double-checks his hole cards, and calls for his remaining 1,760,000.
Kopp:
Singh:
The board runs out . Singh picks up straight outs on the turn, but Kopp's top pair, top kicker holds up and he doubles through. That pot gives Kopp the current chip lead.
William Kopp - 3,640,000 (45 bb)
Raminder Singh - 2,700,000 (33 bb)
Monday, February 20, 2017 4:34 PM Local Time
Level: 30
Blinds: 40,000/80,000
Ante: 10,000
Monday, February 20, 2017 4:30 PM Local Time
The remaining four players are on their second 15-minute break of the day.
Monday, February 20, 2017 4:30 PM Local Time
Steven Stout raises to 150,000 under the gun and Raminder Singh calls on the button. The blinds fold and they are heads up.
The flop comes and both players check.
They also check the turn.
On the river, Stout checks, Singh bets 315,000, and Stout thinks it over. He has found himself in a similar spot against Singh several times.
"You going to do it to me again? It's such a good spot to bluff," Stout says, and eventually calls.
"You got me this time," Singh replies, and shows .
Stout shows for a pair of jacks and wins the pot.
Steven Stout - 2,360,000
Raminder Singh - 5,025,000
Monday, February 20, 2017 4:29 PM Local Time
Raminder Singh raises to 140,000 under the gun and Steven Stout calls in the big blind.
The flop comes . Stout checks, Singh bets 175,000, and Stout calls.
Both players check the turn and the comes on the river.
Stout checks and Singh bets 415,000. Stout thinks it over for about a minute and calls.
Singh shows for a flush and Stout mucks.
Raminder Singh - 5,900,000 (98 bb)
Steven Stout - 1,850,000 (30 bb)