LAS VEGAS, NV – Most people would balk at the thought of being dissatisfied with a runner-up finish in a major poker tournament, however for poker professionals like Tim West, the difference between 1st and 2nd is more than the missed pay jump or trophy token of achievement.
For players like West, winning means liberty; being free of the obsession of questioning that one bad call, that oversized bet or the premature fold that resulted in falling short of their set goal. Winning means being able to leave it all on the felt and just enjoying the moment.
West basked in that sense of freedom Tuesday night after sealing a victory in Event 4, the $1,125 No-Limit Hold’em Event at Caesars Palace. For his win, he was awarded $46,169, his first WSOP Circuit Gold Ring and some peace of mind.
“I’m very excited to have this ring in my possession,” West said after the win. “It brings a sense of redemption for every time you get deep in a tournament and have to leave with regret. Unless you are the winner, you’ll always go over in your head what you could have done here or there.”
“It’s very nice to not have to think about that.”
West didn’t have that luxury back in 2012 when he finished runner up to Ali Eslami in that year’s Harrah’s Rincon Main Event. Despite coming away with a six-figure score, he says finishing in second was very tough to deal with, but something to learn from.
Tuesday night in the poker room at Caesars Palace, however, was a different story.
“It’s tough to learn from winning,” West said with a grin.
Event #4 drew 171 entries and generated a total prize pool of $171,000. The higher buy-in event attracted a host of notable players, including WSOP bracelet champions, David Williams, Scott Clements and Gavin Smith,
Day 1 saw the elimination of all but 12 player and shortly into play on day two, it was down to the Final Table.
West, who was just above the chip average, faced a stacked Final Table that included Clements, Adam Junglen and Kenna James.
James (9th, $4,114) and Junglen (8th, $5,159), however, each saw an early exit from the Final Table and after Clements’ elimination in sixth place ($8,521), West had a clear path to victory. Heads up was between West and Idris Gencoglu, a 34-year-old self-employed contractor from Vancouver, BC. The matchup didn’t last long, as the two soon got it all-in pre-flop on a coin flip with West tabling Ad-10c to Gencoglu’s pocket nines. West spiked an ace on the flop and stayed ahead through the river to eliminate Gencoglu in 2nd ($28,533), leaving someone else to ponder what could have been.
With the win, West earned 50 points towards the Caesars Palace Casino Championship and joins previous event winners, Travell Thomas, Dan Heimiller and Joe Kuether in a four-way tie for the title.
The Casino Champion is the player who earns the most points through the 12 events at Caesars Palace. This player will earn an automatic seat to the WSOP National Championship to be held May 21 – May 23 at Harrah’s New Orleans. More information about the WSOP National Championship can be found here. An explanation of the points system can be found here. 8 events are still to come. See the complete Caesars Palace Circuit schedule and event results here. The WSOP Circuit Events at Caesars Palace runs through February 18th. You can find the complete 2012-2013 WSOP Circuit schedule here.
Final table results:
| PLACE | PLAYER | CITY / STATE / COUNTRY | CASH EARNED |
| 1 | Tim West | LOS ALTOS, CA, US | $46,169 |
| 2 | Idris Gencoglu | VANCOUVER, BC, CA | $28,533 |
| 3 | Jeffrey Harcourt | PEACE RIVER, AB, CA | $20,539 |
| 4 | William Pacarynuk | CARSTAIRS, AB, CA | $15,053 |
| 5 | Peter Blow | Guildford, US | $11,228 |
| 6 | Scott Clements | LAS VEGAS, NV, US | $8,521 |
| 7 | Kyle Knecht | CINCINNATI, OH, US | $6,577 |
| 8 | Adam Junglen | STOW, OH, US | $5,159 |
| 9 | Kenna James | COSTA MESA, CA, US | $4,114 |