Monday, December 9, 2019 10:01 PM Local Time
Erik Gorman Wins WSOP Circuit Harrah's Cherokee Main Event ($260,480)
The World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's Cherokee $1,700 Main Event is now history and taking home the top prize of $260,480 was Erik Gorman, who topped a field of a smooth 1,000 entries to win his first gold ring.
Donning his Baltimore Ravens apparel throughout his run, the Maryland resident captured the ring after he had come close on a few other occasions, particularly in 2014 when he finished third in the same tournament. This win more than doubles his career WSOP earnings, adding $260,480 to his previous total of $216,606.
Final Table Results
Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
1 | Erik Gorman | Maryland | $260,480 |
2 | Hannah Guthrie | Montgomery, AL | $160,978 |
3 | Michael Kassem | Kingsport, TN | $120,770 |
4 | Ryan Jones | Burlington, NC | $91,459 |
5 | Fikret Kovac | Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina | $69,920 |
6 | Kyle Cartwright | Bartlett, TN | $53,968 |
7 | Marshall White | Boone, NC | $42,058 |
8 | Ken Aldridge | Pleasant Garden, NC | $33,098 |
9 | Randall Rothwell | Dayton, TN | $26,304 |
10 | Spencer Champlin | Scarborough, ME | $21,114 |
Road to Title
It was a classic worst-to-first story as Gorman began the day dead last in chips out of the returning 15 players. However, on the second and fourth hands of the day he immediately shot his stack up toward the top. That quickly changed his perspective moving forward on the day.
"Yeah. Those two hands were sick. I was like, I have a chance now," he said after the win.
Gorman would remain among the chip leaders for the rest of the day, helped in large part by the hand he identified as a key one to help him win. It happened when Kyle Cartwright shipped pocket nines right into Gorman's pocket aces with two tables remaining. Gorman battled his way down to the final table and from there played solid poker, often maneuvering his way to getting the best of his competitors during short-handed play.
After beginning heads up almost even in chips, Gorman found himself whittled down to a 3:1 chip disadvantage against Hannah Guthrie. That is when a bit of good fortune would save Gorman when he got it in behind on the turn, his two pair up against a flush. The river filled up his boat to give him the dramatic survival. He would take down the title just a couple of hands later.
Action of the Day
Outside of Gorman's victory, the story of the day was Guthrie, a player out of Alabama. A newcomer with only three modest cashes previously, she was able to navigate her way through the sea of monsters that the final day offered to find herself on the cusp of the title and eventually the second-place finish for a whopping $160,978.
That sea of monsters came in the form of many of the Circuit's most well known and most successful players. Last December's Cherokee champion Jake Bazeley's attempt to go back-to-back ended quickly as he was eliminated in 14th place.
The bust outs would continue until the final table was reached where a total of 16 WSOP circuit rings and two WSOP bracelets were represented. The owner of two of those circuit rings, Spencer Champlin, was the first player to bite the dust at the final table when he was eliminated in 10th place. After Randall Rothwell bowed out in ninth, WSOP bracelet winner Ken Aldridge fell in eighth place. Marshall White's elimination in seventh place would see the ring total reduced by another four.
The most decorated player at the final table with eight circuit rings and one bracelet was Cartwright, who was eliminated in sixth place leaving two-time circuit ring winner Ryan Jones as the only player remaining with a previous ring. When Jones was eliminated in fourth place it guaranteed there would be a new ring winner. Michael Kassem's elimination in third place set up the aforementioned heads-up battle that saw Gorman conquer the loaded field.
WSOPC Harrah's Cherokee Ring Winners
Here's a look at all those who captured rings at Harrah's Cherokee:
Tournament | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Prize |
Event #1: $250 NLH Double Stack | 323 | $64,600 | Lenol Clark | $14,378 |
Event #2: $400 NLH Multi-Flight | 2,249 | $741,840 | Ray Langston | $96,921 |
Event #3: $400 NLH Turbo | 552 | $182,160 | Sam Cynamon | $35,304 |
Seniors Event #1: $250 NLH | 1,006 | $201,200 | Carol Porter | $34,534 |
Event #4: $600 NLH | 393 | $202,395 | Todd Mercer | $42,907 |
Event #5: $400 NLH 6-Max | 634 | $209,220 | Josh Johnson | $40,330 |
Event #6: $600 Pot-Limit Omaha | 287 | $147,805 | Joey Fabre | $33,837 |
Event #7: $400 Monster Stack | 1,193 | $633,930 | Leif Force | $97,676 |
Event #8: $1,125 NLH | 267 | $267,000 | Todd Mercer | $62,282 |
Event #9: $400 NLH | 333 | $109,890 | Aria Homayounnejad | $24,330 |
Event #10: $1,700 Main Event | 1,000 | $1,515,000 | Erik Gorman | $260,480 |
Event #11: $400 NLH Turbo | 350 | $115,500 | Taylor Williams | $25,184 |
Event #12: $400 NLH Turbo | 438 | $144,540 | Jaeyoung Wi | $29,755 |
Seniors Event #2: $250 NLH | 576 | $115,200 | Michael Gunning | $22,057 |
Event #13: $400 NLH Double Stack | 471 | $155,430 | Ricardo Eyzaguiree | $31,386 |
Thanks to winning two events and two other small cashes for $106,421 in earnings, Todd Mercer was crowned the WSOP Circuit Harrah's Cherokee Casino Champion with 105 points. That meant the three-time ring winner won a seat into the 2020 Global Casino Championship.
That does it for the PokerNews coverage of the WSOPc Main Event in Cherokee. However, we're currently offering live updates from the WSOP Circuit Bicycle Casino $1,700 Main Event, which is happening now Follow that tournament here.
Monday, December 9, 2019 9:03 PM Local Time
Eric Gorman Wins Cherokee Main Event ($260,480)
Congrats to Eric Gorman on winning the WSOP Circuit Harrah's Cherokee Main Event for $260,480, the gold ring, and a seat into the 2020 Global Casino Championship!
A full recap and winner's quotes will follow shortly.
Monday, December 9, 2019 9:02 PM Local Time
Hannah Guthrie Eliminated in 2nd Place ($160,978)
Immediately after falling behind in chips thanks to the miracle river, Hannah Guthrie jammed over a raise from Erik Gorman and was snap-called.
Hannah Guthrie:
Erik Gorman:
The board did not provide any hope for Guthrie as it came and her tournament was over in second place for a $160,978 score.
Erik Gorman | 30,000,000 | 13,000,000 |
Hannah Guthrie | 0 | -13,000,000 |
Monday, December 9, 2019 8:54 PM Local Time
Gorman Hits River Boat to Survive
The flop came . Hannah Guthrie bet 900,000 and Erik Gorman called.
The turn was the to put a third diamond on the board. Guthrie bet 1,900,000. Gorman thought a few moments and moved all in for 8,500,000 and he was snap-called by Guthrie.
"Uh oh that's not good," said Gorman as he turned over the , which was well behind the flush of Guthrie.
But the river saved Gorman's tournament life as the binked to fill up Gorman and launch him from out the door to the chip lead.
Erik Gorman | 17,000,000 | 3,000,000 |
Hannah Guthrie | 13,000,000 | -3,000,000 |
Monday, December 9, 2019 8:35 PM Local Time
Guthrie Takes Heads-Up Lead
The flop read , Hannah Guthrie bet 1,400,000, and Erik Gorman called.
The turn was the to further wet the board. Action went check-check. The river came the and both players checked again.
Guthrie showed while Gorman mucked to give Guthrie the slight chip lead.
Hannah Guthrie | 16,000,000 | 3,900,000 |
Erik Gorman | 14,000,000 | -3,000,000 |
Monday, December 9, 2019 8:32 PM Local Time
Michael Kassem Eliminated in 3rd Place ($120,770)
Michael Kassem moved all in from the button, he was called by Erik Gorman out of the small blind. The big blind got out of the way.
Michael Kassem:
Erik Gorman:
The board ran out and Kassem was eliminated in third place.
Erik Gorman | 17,000,000 | 2,200,000 |
Michael Kassem | 0 | -3,100,000 |
Monday, December 9, 2019 8:23 PM Local Time
Kassem Getting Short
Michael Kassem three-bet to 825,000 preflop. Erik Gorman quickly jammed over the top. Kassem folded after a few moments to shrink his stack to a dangerously low level as Gorman continues his winning ways, taking down moderate pot after moderate pot in the last few orbits.
Erik Gorman | 14,800,000 | 6,150,000 |
Hannah Guthrie | 12,100,000 | 1,700,000 |
Michael Kassem | 3,100,000 | -6,000,000 |
Monday, December 9, 2019 8:10 PM Local Time
Gorman Jams to Gain Some
The flop read . Hannah Guthrie led out with a bet of 1,000,000 over to Erik Gorman, who was on the button. He eyed Guthrie for a moment before moving all in.
Guthrie got the count of 7,450,000 and thought a few seconds before folding to give Gorman some chips to move up.
Hannah Guthrie | 10,400,000 | -1,100,000 |
Erik Gorman | 8,650,000 | -750,000 |
Monday, December 9, 2019 7:52 PM Local Time
Three-Handed Chip Counts
Hannah Guthrie | 11,500,000 | -800,000 |
Erik Gorman | 9,400,000 | 0 |
Michael Kassem | 9,100,000 | -100,000 |
Monday, December 9, 2019 7:46 PM Local Time
Ryan Jones Eliminated in 4th Place ($91,459)
From the small blind, Ryan Jones moved all in over the top of a raise from Erik Gorman, who called the jam quickly,
It was a flip for Jones's tournament life.
Ryan Jones:
Erik Gorman:
The board ran our safe for Gorman as it came and Jones was eliminated in fourth place.
Erik Gorman | 9,400,000 | 7,200,000 |
Ryan Jones | 0 | -6,800,000 |
Monday, December 9, 2019 7:32 PM Local Time
Jones Nabs After Dinner Double
Erik Gorman moved all in from the big blind. Ryan Jones was in the big blind and called quickly.
Jones was in trouble with the against the of Gorman.
The flop came the turn gave Jones the lead as the came off. And the river was the to secure the double for Jones.
Ryan Jones | 6,800,000 | 3,400,000 |
Erik Gorman | 2,200,000 | -3,100,000 |
Monday, December 9, 2019 7:23 PM Local Time
Level 33 started
Level: 33
Blinds: 100,000/100,000
Ante: 200,000
Monday, December 9, 2019 6:39 PM Local Time
Dinner Break
Players are now on their dinner break which will be for 45 minutes.
Monday, December 9, 2019 6:32 PM Local Time
Updated Chip Counts
Hannah Guthrie | 12,300,000 | 0 |
Michael Kassem | 9,200,000 | 1,250,000 |
Erik Gorman | 5,300,000 | -1,100,000 |
Ryan Jones | 3,400,000 | -1,200,000 |
Monday, December 9, 2019 6:28 PM Local Time
Fikret Kovac Eliminated in 5th Place ($69,920)
Fikret Kovac jammed all in preflop and was snap called by Hannah Guthrie.
The hand of the day made another appearance as Kovac was thoroughly dominated with against yet another set of rockets as Guthrie held the .
The flop gave slim hope to Kovac as it came but the turn and river came up empty for him and he was eliminated in fifth place.
Hannah Guthrie | 12,300,000 | 4,000,000 |
Fikret Kovac | 0 | -3,100,000 |
Monday, December 9, 2019 6:23 PM Local Time
Guthrie Hits Trip Queens On Turn to Survive
There was a preflop all-in in process for a huge pot.
Hannah Guthrie was at risk holding while Ryan Jones had the .
The flop was great for Jones as it came eliminating the ace as an out for Guthrie. The turn was a to make trips for Guthrie and the river was a to secure the double.
Hannah Guthrie | 8,300,000 | 3,900,000 |
Ryan Jones | 4,600,000 | -3,700,000 |
Monday, December 9, 2019 6:20 PM Local Time
Three Barrel Barrage From Jones
In a blind-on-blind battle, the flop came . Hannah Guthrie bet 225,000 from the small blind, Ryan Jones raised to 600,000, and Guthrie called.
The turn was the . Jones fired again, this time for 900,000. Guthrie called again after a moment.
The river came the . Jones fired a third barrel worth 1,200,000 and Guthrie played with her chips and thought it out for a while before opting to fold.
Ryan Jones | 8,300,000 | 1,600,000 |
Hannah Guthrie | 4,400,000 | 850,000 |
Monday, December 9, 2019 6:08 PM Local Time
Kovac Jams on Jones
After a bet and call on the flop the turn came to make the board read . Fikret Kovac then moved all into Ryan Jones.
Jones thought it out long and hard but eventually folded after over a minute.
Ryan Jones | 6,700,000 | 1,400,000 |
Fikret Kovac | 3,100,000 | 0 |
Monday, December 9, 2019 5:48 PM Local Time
Kyle Cartwright Eliminated in 6th Place ($53,968)
The eliminations continued at a rapid pace as Kyle Cartwright moved his short stack into the middle preflop and was called quickly by Michael Kassem.
Cartwright's tournament life was at stake with the against the of Kassem.
The board ran out and Cartwright was gone in sixth place.
Michael Kassem | 7,950,000 | 450,000 |
Kyle Cartwright | 0 | -1,200,000 |
Monday, December 9, 2019 5:45 PM Local Time
Marshall White Eliminated in 7th Place ($42,058)
Soon after the previous elimination, there was another preflop all-in.
Marshall White was at risk with the against the of Ryan Jones.
The board ran out a clean and White was eliminated in seventh place for $42,058.
Ryan Jones | 5,300,000 | 1,600,000 |
Marshall White | 0 | -2,350,000 |