WSOPC Event #10: No Limit Hold'em MAIN EVENT

2021 Harrah's Cherokee Main Event Champion - Donald Crabtree

Donald Crabtree won his first World Series of Poker Circuit bracelet and earned a payday of $329,828 on Monday, December 6 when he took down the Harrah’s Cherokee Main Event. Crabtree, a Juliet, Tennessee native, earned the victory by defeating Scott Davis, who was also after his first ring, during heads-up play. 

The marquee tournament attracted a total 1,375 entries over two starting flights and smashed the $1 million guarantee with a prize pool of $2,083,125 — the largest ever for a Harrah’s Cherokee Main Event. 

Crabtree, who previously had $118,651 to his name in WSOP cashes, in part from a 220th place finish in the 2009 WSOP Main Event, said in a winner’s interview that he has been playing poker since 2005 and felt “overwhelmed” to win his first ring and cash for his best-ever score. 

“It’s definitely better,” Crabtree said when asked about previous tournament scores. “Way better.”

Final Table Results 

1st Place - Donald Crabtree - $329,828

2nd Place - Scott Davis - $203,849

3rd Place - Asaf Ben Shushan - $154,985

4th Place - Youssef Aly - $118,780

5th Place - Adam Ross - $91,770

6th Place - David Mzaruelov - $71,480

7th Place - Scott Reginatto - $56,134

8th Place - Rohit Kwatra - $44,449

9th Place - Jayson Henderson - $35,491

10th Place - Brian Altman - $28,577

Day 3 Action

Youseff Aly of Coopertown, Tennessee was the antagonist of Day 3 and took it upon himself to needle, taunt, and take digs at his opponents whenever possible.

"The poker game I play in my basement is stronger than this whole table,” Aly said at one point. 

Georgia’s Adam Ross, who was looking for a second title in the Harrah’s Cherokee Main Event title after winning the event in 2018, ultimately fell short and was eliminated in fifth place for $91,770. Ross held the chip lead five-handed until a crucial hand where he doubled up Aly, who held the nut flush to Ross’ second nut flush. Aly was not humble or empathetic about being on the winning end of the massive cooler. 

“I cracked him (Ross),” Aly later told the table. “I was going to call the paramedics for him.” 

Aly took a big chip lead four-handed and threatened to “crack” his other opponents but was ultimately the next to go as his stack dwindled down and he got the rest of his chips in with eight-six against the ace-king of Asaf Ben Shushan. Shushan hit an ace on the flop and the rest is history. 

Ross wasn’t the only player at the final table who Aly took aim at. Three-time Circuit ring winner Brian Altman, who was sent home in tenth place when he ran ace-jack into the big slick of Ross, was an early target of “the best poker player in Tennessee.” 

"I will chop with anyone else at this table other than Mister ‘Oh, I'm a pro.’ Alt-man. Alt-MAN,” Aly said at the start of the final table, mispronouncing Altman’s name in various ways. 

Crabtree said he did his best to not let Aly’s antics impact his poker play. 

“We had one loudmouth. He gives a rough time,” said Crabtree. “It just irritates you.” 

He continued, “I had to keep my head clear, so I just stayed focused on what I was trying to do. I knew what he was trying to do … they try to intimidate you a lot. I’ve been on other tables where people try to intimidate you. So I just stay cool and do what I do.”

Heads-up play began when Shushan ran queen-ten into the pocket kings of the eventual champion and was sent out in third place. 

Crabtree entered the heads-up battle with a chip advantage and took a big lead by winning a string of small and medium pots. The final hand of the tournament occurred when Davis moved all-in with a straight draw and Crabtree called with trips. Davis couldn’t get there on the river and secured the victory for Crabtree, who celebrated with his twin brother and sister-in-law on the rail. 

Other players who made Day 3 but came up short of Main Event glory include Christopher Carey, Scott Smile, Dylan Lemery, Matt Bond and Shanmukha Meruga. 

That wraps up Main Event coverage on the tail end of an exciting and eventful WSOP Circuit stop at Harrah’s Cherokee. 

After losing a string of pots in a row, Scott Davis jammed all in preflop from the small blind and was called by Donald Crabtree.

Scott Davis:   
Donald Crabtree:   

The flop gave Davis a set at once as it came  [3h . The turn was the   and the river came the   to give him a double.

Donald Crabtree - 33,650,000
Scott Davis - 7,600,000

Scott Davis limped the button. Asaf Ben Shushan jammed all in from the small blind. Donald Crabtree re-jammed from the big blind and Davis folded.

Ben Shushan looked to the ceiling and cursed as he already knew he was in trouble and indeed he was as Crabtree revealed the    which was well ahead of the    of Ben Shushan.

The flop came    . The turn was the   to give a straight draw but the river came the   which was the last card of his tournament as he was eliminated in 3rd place and secure the largest score of his poker career, topping his previous best, the 2nd place finish he had in the 2019 Horseshoe Tunica Main Event.

Donald Crabtree - 27,750,000
Scott Davis - 13,500,000
Asaf Ben Shushan - Eliminated in 3rd Place for $154,985

All three players saw the flop of    . Asaf Ben Shushan bet, Donald Crabtree called and Scott Davis folded.

The turn was the  . Both players checked. The river came the  . Ben Shushan ben 700,000. Crabtree raised to 1,500,000. Ben Shushan shook his head and was perturbed by the raise before eventually he called.

Crabtree tabled the    and collected the pot.

Donald Crabtree - 24,000,000

Scott Davis - 9,500,000

Asaf Ben Shushan - 7,500,000

Asaf Ben Shushan moved all in from the cutoff for about 6,000,000 and Youseff Aly called from the small blind for his last 3,700,000. 

Shushan tabled   , and Aly said, "I have faith in this hand" as he revealed   .

The flop came     and Shushan took a commanding lead with a pair of aces. The turn was the   and Aly was left drawing dead to the   on the river.

Aly left to collect his payout, and as Shushan was stacking his chips he said, "we finally got rid of him. At least it will be a gentleman's game for the rest of the night."

Asaf Ben Shushan - 9,000,000
Youseff Aly - Eliminated in 4th place for $118,780

Scott Davis opened to 850,000 from under-the-gun and Youssef Aly defended out of the big blind.

Aly checked on the flop of     and Davis checked back. Aly checked again on the   turn and Davis fired a bet of 1,000,000. Aly folded. 

Scott Davis - 17,000,000
Youssef Aly - 12,500,000

Scott Davis opened to 800,000 from the small blind and Asaf Benn Shushan three-bet shoved from the big blind.

"Every time I make a standard open, you have it," Davis said before folding.

Just a few hands later, Davis opened to 800,000 from the cutoff and Shushan shoved from the button. Once again, Davis laid it down. 

Scott Davis - 9,000,000
Asaf Benn Shushan - 8,500,000

The final 4 players are on another 15-minute break, returning at 9:58 p.m.

Youssef Aly - 12,500,000
Donald Crabtree - 11,300,000
Scott Davis - 9,000,000
Asaf Ben Shushan - 6,500,000

Scott Davis raised to 650,000 on the button and Donald Crabtree defended his big blind. The flop came    , Crabtree checked, Davis bet 550,000 and Crabtree called.

The turn brought the   and both players checked to see the   complete the board on the river. Crabtree bet 800,000 and Davis tossed in a single chip to call. Crabtree tabled    for top pair and Davis winced before tapping the table and saying "very nice," as he paid the bet.

Youseff Aly - 14,000,000
Donald Crabtree - 11,500,000
Asaf Ben Shushan - 9,000,000
Scott Davis - 7,000,000