Ring Event #4: $365 No-Limit Hold'em One Day (20-minute levels)

Event #4
No-Limit Hold'em Turbo
Buy-In: $300 (+$65)
Total Entries: 197
Prize Pool: $59,100

Brandon Fish captures his fourth gold ring after winning a crazy three-handed all-in pot that left him with all but one chip.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (April 2, 2017) -- Brandon Fish found two black aces in the hole at the perfect time to propel himself to a fourth career WSOP Circuit victory. He defeated a 197-player field in Event #4: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Turbo to earn the top prize of $15,366 and 50 Global Casino Championship points. Fish, a pro poker player from Kearney, Nebraska, now has 38 career WSOP cashes.

Fish's last two opponents standing between him and ring number four were Jason Balaban and Ali Zakeri. During three-handed play the chip stacks were nearly even and it was any ones game with the blinds increasing rapidly because of the turbo structure. In a flash, the tournament went from the three players being stuck in a stalemate to Fish celebrating another gold ring victory.

The hand that essentially ended the tournament started with Zakeri moving all-in from the button. Then Fish moved all-in for slightly more from the small blind. Balaban said he couldn't fold and called Fish's all-in raise. All three players tabled their hands.

Fish showed two black aces, Balaban showed two kings and Zakeri flipped over two jacks. Fish couldn't believe the great situation he was in, but his hand still needed to hold up. The aces held and after the chips were counted, it was found out that Fish had Zakeri covered by 20,000 chips, but Balaban had Fish covered by 5,000 chips. Zakeri was eliminated in 3rd place for $6,854 and Balaban was left with a single grey tournament 5,000 chip, which amounted to just one ante. Fish won the tournament on the very next hand.

"What an ending to a fun tournament," said Fish.

This isn't the first time Fish has found success in the WSOP Circuit turbos. Fish's last Circuit gold ring came in a turbo event at the 2016 Bally's Las Vegas stop.

"It's not letting myself get too low before making moves. Some people wait too long," said Fish about finding success in turbos. "Don't wait too long to gamble and get a stack."

Fish said that it was nice to win a ring locally with friends supporting him at the final table. He intends to play the remainder of the series. The win awarded Fish 50 Global Casino Championship points. He is now in the position to make a run at earning one of the 50 at-large bids to the 2017 Global Casino Championship. Fish now has 100 points on the season with the bubble expected to end up between 130 and 145 points. He said that he is now considering hitting another Circuit stop before the season is up to chase points.

Fish ended his interview with a prediction. He predicted that fellow Circuit grinder Neil Scott would win a WSOP Circuit gold ring this week here at Council Bluffs.

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Event #4 was the fourth of 12 gold ring events on the WSOP Circuit schedule at Horseshoe Council Bluffs. The $365 No-Limit Hold'em Turbo tournament attracted 197 players generating a $59,100 prize pool. The top 21 players were paid.

This was a one-day event. The tournament started at 3 p.m. Sunday and finished at 1:25 a.m. Monday midway through Level 27.

Final table results:

1st: Brandon Fish - $15,366 + Circuit gold ring
2nd: Jason Balaban - $9,492
3rd: Ali Zakeri - $6,854
4th: Stephan Kats - $5,034
5th: Nikolas Stone - $3,761
6th: Michael Holm - $2,857
7th: Spencer Sanchez - $2,207
8th: Ryan Fetherkile - $1,733
9th: William Byrnes - $1,383

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

The turbo event is down to the unofficial final table of 10 players.

Unofficial final table seating assignments and chip counts:

Seat 1: Stephen Kats - 539,000 (44 bb)
Seat 2: Ryan Fetherkile - 95,000 (7 bb)
Seat 3: Gregory Wilson - 70,000 (5 bb)
Seat 4: Jason Balaban - 265,000 (22 bb)
Seat 5: Spencer Sanchez - 83,000 (6 bb)
Seat 6: Ali Zakeri - 200,000 (16 bb)
Seat 7: Mike Holm - 116,000 (9 bb)
Seat 8: William Byrnes - 315,000 (26 bb)
Seat 9: Brandon Fish - 127,000 (10 bb)
Seat 10: Nikolas Stone - 140,000 (11 bb)

- 15 minutes remain in Level 22: 6,000/12,000 with a 2,000 ante

The turbo event drew 197 entries to generate a $59,100 prizepool. The winner will earn $15,366, a WSOP Circuit gold ring and 50 Casino Championship points. The top 21 spots will earn a payday with a min-cash worth $655.

Here is a look at the payouts:

The series' only turbo event begins Sunday at 3 p.m. The turbo event features 20-minute levels throughout the entire tournament and is only one day long.

Event #4: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Turbo - 3 p.m.

• Players start with 10,000 tournament chips
• Blinds begin at 25/50
• Players are allowed unlimited re-entry
• Registration remains open until the start of Level 9 (5:55 p.m.)
• All levels are 20 minutes long
• This is a one-day tournament
• There is a 30-minute dinner break after Level 12 (7:15 p.m.)