Event #10: $1,700 MAIN EVENT

May 6, 2019 (Tunica) - The latest ring winner in the World Series of Poker Circuit is Blake Whittington, who has taken down the Horseshoe Tunica Main Event for $151,789. This is Whittington's first circuit Main Event win as well as his first WSOP six-figure cash. He adds ring number five to his resume and brings his WSOP career earnings over $750,000. The Chattanooga-based pro also locks in a seat to the 2019 Global Casino Championship to go along with all the big cash and two new rings, including the one he collected in Event #9 the night before playing in Day 1A of the main.

There were 466 entries into the Tunica main event, and by Day 3 only eight remained. Whittington began the day second in chips and quickly started to catch fire, sending Schuyler Thornton out first with a pair of kings. He would go on to eliminate four of his final-table opponents and build a massive lead with four players remaining. He chose his spots well, finding max value with almost every monster hand he found.... READ MORE

Blake Whittington opens to 250,000 from the button, Asaf Ben Shushan calls in the big blind and the flop comes down    . Both players check and the   comes as a turn card.

Both players check, the   hits on the river and Shushan pushes in 325,000. Whittington raises to 1,475,000 an Shushan calls. Whittington slams down    for a full house and Shushan looks of disgust as he throws his hand into the muck.

Blake Whittington - 12,780,000 (127 bb)
Asaf Ben Shushan - 1,150,000 (11 bb)

Blake Whittington calls the small blind, Michael Rossitto checks the big and     comes down as a flop. Both players check and the   peels off as the turn card.

Whittington bets 130,000, Rossitto raises to 360,000 and Whittington calls. The   falls on the river, Whittington pushes in 575,000 and Rossitto thinks for a few moments but ultimately he calls.

Rossitto tables    for two pair and Whittington turns over    for a straight on the turn, taking down the pot with his straight and adding to his chip lead in the process.

Blake Whittington - 9,630,000 (96 bb)
Michael Rossitto - 1,250,000 (12 bb)

 

Fourth Place Finisher Roger Foley

Blake Whittington opens to 190,000 from the cutoff, Roger Foley calls in the big blind and the dealer fans out     on the flop. Foley moves all in for 1,310,000 and Whittington takes just a few seconds to think before he calls the all in.

Foley tables    for a pair of fours and Whittington shows    for middle pair of nines and the current lead. The   comes on the turn and Foley will need to hit to stay alive.

An   peels off as a river, changing nothing as Foleys falls victim to Whittington and is eliminated from the tournament in fourth place for $50,824.

Blake Whittington - 8,150,000 (101 bb)
Roger Foley - Eliminated

Michael Rossitto opens to 160,000 from the button, Asaf Ben Shushan calls in the small blind and Roger Foley defends his big blind. The dealer spreads out     on the flop, action checks to Foley who moves all in for 735,000.

Rossitto folds and Shushan calls, players turn over their hands with Foley at risk. Shushan tables    for a pair of nines and Foley shows    for a flush draw.

A   lands as a turn and Foley will need to hit to stay alive. The river comes down the  , giving Foley exactly what he needs to win the pot with his flush, doubling through Shushan on the river.

Roger Foley - 1,850,000 (23 bb)
Asaf Ben Shushan - 4,300,000 (53 bb)

Jesse Jones

Jesse Jones' tough Day 3 end with his exit in fifth place for $38,222. Roger Foley opens from under the gun for 150,000, and, next to act, Jones moves all in for 1.16 million. Action folds to Asaf Bin Shushan in the big blind, who has both Foley and Jones well outchipped but asks to see both players' stacks. He then moves all in himself.

Foley is then put a decision, as his stack was about the same as Jones'. Finally, he gets out of the way, quickly flashing what he later said was pocket nines:

Jesse Jones -   
Asaf Bin Shushan -   

Bin Shushan hits a king on the flop as the full board eventually shows        

Asaf Bin Shushan - 4,000,000
Jesse Jones - Eliminated 

Michael Rossitto

Michael Rossitto opens to 120,000 from the cutoff, Jesse Jones calls in the big blind and the dealer spreads out     on the flop.

Action checks to Rossitto, he bets 100,000, Jones calls and a   peels off as a turn card. Both players check, an   hits the felt on the river and Jones pushes in 400,000.

Rossitto snap-calls and Jones tables    for a missed straight. Rossitto shows    for two pair and more than enough to scoop in another pot.

Michael Rossitto - 5,600,000 (93 bb)
Jesse Jones, 1,100,000 (18 bb)

The chip counts have been shifting early on the final day, especially in the last two rounds of play. 

Updated Counts:

Michael Rossitto - 4,800,000
Blake Whittington - 3,600,000
Asaf Ben Shushan - 2,150,000
Jesse Jones - 1,675,000
Roger Foley - 1,100,000
Timothy Burt - 875,000