Friday, August 23, 2019 2:21 PM Local Time
Andrew Lauer Wins WSOPC Foxwoods Event #2 for His 3rd Gold Ring
While PokerNews is only live reporting the High Roller and Main Event tournaments at the World Series of Poker Circuit Foxwoods stop, there have been plenty of other side events playing out all week long.
One of them was Event #2: $600 NLH 6-Handed, a tournament that drew 92 entrants and created a $47,380 prize pool. Among those to get a piece of it but fall short of the final table were Allen Kessler (14th - $957), John Cautela (13th - $957), Mark Phillips (12th - $1,089), Dan Chalifour (11th - $1,089), and Robert Morton (10th - $1,302).
In the end, it was 29-year-old Andrew Lauer winning the tournament for $14,058 and his third gold ring.
"It feels amazing. I can only play a few events so when I came down I said the six-max is the one," Lauer said after the win. "The third one was kind of elusive. I got heads-up down in Florida – didn't get it. Made a couple other final tables – couldn't get it. So, to actually get it feels amazing. Gotta keep going for more though – get four and five."
It wasn't easy for Lauer, who faced a tough final table including a long heads-up battle.
"When I came into the final table I didn't love my seat. I had one of the chip leaders on my right and then I had, in my opinion, the best player at the table on my left - James Camby. So, I knew I was going to be handcuffed."
Final Table Results
Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
1 | Andrew Lauer | Granby, Connecticut | $14,058 |
2 | Charles Alex Barton | Boston, Massachusetts | $8,690 |
3 | Steve Williams | Athens, Texas | $5,775 |
4 | James Campbell | Marlborough, Massachusetts | $3,975 |
5 | Matthew Cooper | West Haven, Connecticut | $2,838 |
6 | Dennis Brand | Sugar Land, Texas | $2,108 |
7 | Roland Israelashvili | Forest Hills, New York | $1,620 |
8 | David Labriola | Naugatuck, Connecticut | $1,620 |
9 | Vincent Moscati | Verplanck, New York | $1,302 |
Friday, August 23, 2019 2:05 PM Local Time
Ostapchenko Looking to Follow Up on Parx Success
Earlier this week, Andrew Ostapchenko struck it big at Parx Casino in Philadelphia.
He was there for the Parx Big Stax XXX and played the Big Stax 1100, an $1,100 buy-in tournament that drew 455 entries.
Ostapchenko came out on top of that field to win a $97,220 first-place prize. It was his first recorded live victory and second-biggest career cash after scoring over $200k in the 2017 WSOP Main Event.
Ostapchenko has made the journey to Foxwoods and is looking to keep the ball rolling with a deep run, and if he has his way, another victory.
Friday, August 23, 2019 2:01 PM Local Time
First Break of the Day
The players are on their first 15 minute break of the afternoon.
Friday, August 23, 2019 1:55 PM Local Time
Chip Counts
Andrew Ostapchenko | 68,000 | 68,000 |
Bob Ricciuti | 52,000 | 22,000 |
Juan Carlos Ramirez Parodi [Juan Ramirez-Parodi] | 50,000 | 13,000 |
Bhavin Patel | 48,000 | 48,000 |
Gregory Neal | 44,000 | 44,000 |
Dave Stefanski | 43,000 | 5,000 |
Nicholas Palma | 36,000 | 36,000 |
Darrell Lee | 35,000 | 5,000 |
Michael Rossitto | 33,000 | 33,000 |
Roland Israelashvili | 28,000 | 28,000 |
Anthony Leung | 26,000 | 26,000 |
Maurice Hawkins | 15,000 | 15,000 |
Friday, August 23, 2019 1:50 PM Local Time
Heinzl Benefits From Set Over Set
Action was picked up on the turn of a board that read . Steve Sanzaro moved all in and was snap called by Joshua Heinzl.
Heinzl immediately showed for top set. Sanzaro could not believe his misfortune as he slowly rolled over his beaten second set and cursed his luck. The river came an and Heinzl was sent a huge pot and Sanzaro was left without any chips.
Joshua Heinzl | 78,000 | 78,000 |
Friday, August 23, 2019 1:34 PM Local Time
Giulino Busts Opponent
The chips got all in on the turn with the board reading . Joseph Giulino's was exposed and as the came on the river it confirmed his hand as the best one as his opponents hand was whisked away quickly by the dealer and all of his chips were sent over to the stack of Giulino.
Joseph Giulino | 63,000 | 63,000 |
Friday, August 23, 2019 1:27 PM Local Time
Hogan Leads Into Two
In a three-bet pot, three players saw a flop of . Edward Hogan led out into two opponents with a bet of 2,200. Henry Valentine and Matthew Brady both folded their hands to give the pot over to Hogan.
Edward Hogan | 42,000 | 42,000 |
Matthew Brady | 32,000 | 32,000 |
Friday, August 23, 2019 1:09 PM Local Time
Valentine Busts Opponent With Kings
Rapid action was picked up on the flop of as Henry Valentine bet 1,500 and was raised to 3,500 by John Sitton. Valentine then three-bet to 8,500 and Sitton made the call.
The turn came the . Sitton bet 10,000 and Valentine moved all in. Sitton slowed down the rapid-fire action that had occurred up to that point by thinking for a few moments. He then put in his chips for the call.
Valentine turned over the which was ahead of the of Sitton. The river did not help Sitton as the rolled off and Valentine collected the rest of Sitton's chips, who was forced to walk away busted.
Henry Valentine | 72,000 | 72,000 |
John Sitton | 0 | 0 |
Friday, August 23, 2019 12:56 PM Local Time
Ramirez-Parodi Takes Pot, But Wanted More
Action was picked up on the turn of a board that read . Stephen Gardner made a bet of about 2,600 which Juan Ramirez-Parodi called. The river came the . Ramirez Parodi checked and Gardner checked behind.
Gardner showed but Ramirez-Parodi had that beat as he revealed for two pair.
"Barrel that river!' said Ramirez-Parodi. "I was ready to make the check raise" he said with a smile as he collected the smaller pot than he would have liked.
Juan Carlos Ramirez Parodi [Juan Ramirez-Parodi] | 37,000 | 37,000 |
Stephen Gardner | 25,000 | 25,000 |
Friday, August 23, 2019 12:51 PM Local Time
Choi Takes From Georato
Robert Georato bet 1,200 with three other opponents in the pot on a flop that read . Only Yoon Choi called. The turn was the and Georato checked.Choi bet 2,000 and Georato called.
The river came the . Both players checked. Georato showed the which was beaten by the of Choi.
Yoon Choi | 36,000 | 36,000 |
Robert Georato | 27,000 | -3,000 |
Friday, August 23, 2019 12:39 PM Local Time
Andrew Heckman Wins Event #1: $400 NLH for His Second Gold Ring
While PokerNews is only live reporting the High Roller and Main Event tournaments at the World Series of Poker Circuit Foxwoods stop, there have been plenty of other side events playing out all week long.
One of them was Event #1: $400 No-Limit Hold'em, a tournament that attracted 207 runners and created a $68,310 prize pool. One player that made a deep run was famed poker lawyer and frequent PokerNews contributor Maurice "Mac" VerStandig of the VerStandig Law Firm. He wound up taking fifth place for $3,812.
In the end, it was 24-year-old Andrew Heckman who emerged victorious to win the tournament for $16,566 and his second gold ring.
"It feels really good because I told this kid I wasn't gonna duplicate my other ring, just to give me more motivation to win that one – and that was two years ago," said an elated Heckman, after explaining that his first ring was stolen.
"I'm definitely a better tournament player than cash, but I play cash a lot. It feels good to win tournaments," said Heckman, who learned to play from his dad. "He was really good. He won tournaments all the time. I used to stay up long nights and watch him when I was a kid before school and stuff. He'd tell me 'go to bed' and this and that."
Final Table Results
Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
1 | Andrew Heckman | W. Bridgewater, Massachusetts | $16,566 |
2 | Joseph Taylor | Redford, Michigan | $10,239 |
3 | David Erban | N/A | $7,221 |
4 | Michael Bohmerwald | Stamford, Connecticut | $5,198 |
5 | Maurice "Mac" Verstandig | Gaithersburg, Maryland | $3,812 |
6 | Bruno Kreuschdesouza | Revere, Massachusetts | $2,855 |
7 | Matthew Zola | Riverside, Connecticut | $2,186 |
8 | David Valone | New Haven, Connecticut | $1,708 |
9 | Aleksey Filatov | Norwood, Massachusetts | $1,374 |
Friday, August 23, 2019 12:29 PM Local Time
Stefanski Takes Early Pot
Dave Stefanski and his opponent saw a flop of . Stefanski, who was out of the small blind, led with a bet that his opponent called.
The turn was the . Stefanski checked and his opponent bet 2,800 which Stefanski called.
The river came the to put a third club on the table. Both players checked and Stefanski showed the winner with the to take the pot.
Elsewhere, well known circuit grinder Robert Georato was seen on the felt.
Dave Stefanski | 38,000 | 38,000 |
Robert Georato | 30,000 | 30,000 |
Friday, August 23, 2019 12:10 PM Local Time
Recent Ring Winners Among Entrants
Bob Ricciuti has been spotted in the field. He was the winner of the Foxwoods Event #3: $600 NLH, a tournament which attracted a gargantuan field of 1,754 entries. Ricciuiti took home the grand prize of $134,413 and the WSOP Circuit Ring as a reward for his victory.
Darrell Lee is also in the field as he won a ring by winning Event #7: $400 Omaha Hi/Lo 8 or Better.
Bob Ricciuti | 30,000 | 30,000 |
Darrell Lee | 30,000 | 30,000 |
Friday, August 23, 2019 12:00 PM Local Time
Shuffle Up and Deal
The tournament director has announced shuffle up and deal and the cards are now in the air in the Main Event. Button is in the 1 seat.
Friday, August 23, 2019 9:54 AM Local Time
WSOP Circuit Foxwoods $1,700 Main Event Set to Begin at Noon
The 2019/20 season of the World Series of Poker Circuit rolls on with Event #10: $1,700 Main Event at Foxwoods (Connecticut). What has already been a busy circuit stop will culminate with the Main Event, which will be played over a total of four days.
Last year, this Main Event at Foxwoods was won by Gordon Wilcox. The Boston native navigated a field of 519 entries to take home a first-place prize totaling $169,052.
The structure for the Foxwoods Main Event follows the pattern of many other WSOPc stops. There will be two starting days, Flight A and Flight B. Both begin at noon local time, with Flight A beginning today. Players have the option of one re-entry per flight, equaling a maximum of four entries. Day 1 will consist of 15 levels of play, lasting 40 minutes each. There is a 15-minute break every three levels with a 75-minute dinner break after level 9. Registration is open until the start of level 13 (approximately 9:45 p.m.).
PokerNews live reporting team will be on hand to bring you all of the action for this important WSOP Circuit Main Event. In the meantime, here's a look at all those who've captured gold rings thus far at the WSOP Circuit Foxwoods stop.
Tournament | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Prize |
Event #1: $400 NLH | 207 | $68,310 | Andrew Heckman | $16,566 |
Event #2: $600 NLH 6-Handed | 92 | $47,380 | Andrew Lauer | $14,058 |
Event #3: $600 NLH | 1,754 | $903,310 | Bob Ricciuti | $134,413 |
Event #4: $400 NLH Turbo | 322 | $106,260 | Max Wiosna | $23,664 |
Event #5: $600 NLH | 156 | $80,340 | Michael Zaino | $21,050 |
Event #6: $400 NLH One-Day | 237 | $78,210 | Luke Graham | $18,364 |
Event #7: $400 Omaha Hi/Lo 8 or Better | 124 | $40,920 | Darrell Lee | $11,143 |
$250 Seniors Event | 464 | $92,800 | Scott Robbins | $18,811 |