Event #11: $250 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack

Michael Sanders, of Russellville, Arkansas, has earned the fourth Circuit gold ring of his career by closing out Event #11, $250 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack 1-Day. Sanders' triumph in this fast-paced, single-day event was worth $13,779.

Sanders found what was the best possible result after busting out of the first flight of the Tunica Main Event. Though he'll play the 1B starting flight of the Main tomorrow, his bustout at about 5 pm gave him plenty of time to late-register the ongoing Event #11, which had begun at 4 pm, and still have a very playable stack.

Sanders ground steadily forward from there except for a major hiccup just outside the final table that left him with just under ten big blinds. "I lost with ace-king against pocket fives," he said. "It ran out queen, jack, seven, king, five. So it was a rollercoaster of emotions after I hit the turn. It was a million-chip pot and it left me with 90,000."

He quickly recovered, however, and after taking down several big pots in the next couple of levels he found himself leading with eight players remaining. From there on he applied the pressure to the shorter stacks as the blinds continued to rise. 

Sanders' final opponent was Atlanta's Cynthia Compton, who was well out-chipped when the event reached heads-up play. Compton got the last of her chips in ahead with    to Sanders'   , but the board ran out all for Sanders --        .

Compton earned $8,514 as the runner-up while Philip Walsh, of Gulfport, MS, took third for $6,177.

Sanders will have a shortish night of sleep before he gives the 1B flight of the Main Event  on Saturday, but he's got a freshly reloaded bankroll no matter what.

Registration has closed for Event #11 and prizepool information has been posted. Here are the topline numbers:

Entries: 287
Prizepool: $57,400
Places Paid: 30
1st Place: $13,779
Min-cash: $389

A complete listing is available under the "Prizepool" tab above.