CASINO CHAMPION PROFILE: YLON SCHWARTZ
Biloxi, MS (September 18, 2013) — 2013/2014 marked the fourth consecutive year for IP Casino Resort and Spa to host a WSOP Circuit series. In the past we’ve seen WSOP Main Event standout Ryan Lenaghan as well November Niners Rob Salaburu and John Dolan – the latter of which won a gold ring in 2012 – join the groves of players in search of a gold ring on the Gulf Coast.

As mentioned before, Dolan’s enjoyed the most success. Last year, he won his first gold ring and placed third in the Main Event and was drawing live for the Casino Championship until Cory Wood closed the door carding second, third and fourth-place finishes.

This year, though, a new November Niner stood out.

Ylon Schwartz, the 2008 WSOP Main Event fourth-place finisher, started hot right out of the gate, recording a runner-up finish in Event 1 and earning 37.5 points toward the 12-day race to Atlantic City. His run continued in Event 5 when he broke through for his first gold ring victory and earned 50 additional points.

With 87.5 points in his pocket, Schwartz hung around for the remaining preliminary events and took a shot in both starting flights of the Main Event, but came up dry. Rather than grind the final two events, he headed west to sweat the action from his hometown of Austin, TX.

And sweat he did.

Event 6 winner Nolan Burton, Event 7 winner Joshua Evans and Event 7 runner-up Jonathan Thomas all had a shot to best Schwartz on the 12th and final day of tournament play.

While Thomas’ chances were slim, Burton and Evans were well within reach of the 87.5-point mark set by Schwartz. Burton was up first, beginning the final table of the Main Event fourth in chips and needing only a fifth-place finish to overtake Schwartz.

Ultimately, Burton exited seventh leaving Evans as the only player with a shot at besting Schwartz for the automatic berth.

Like Thomas, Evans began Day 12 as a long shot for the title. He needed a win and a win only in the one-day $365 last-chance ring event. Fast-forward to the final table and his long shot was in the process of coming through.

Evans worked his way through the intimate field of 66 players and found himself toward the top of the counts and in the money with seven players remaining.
Nicolas Vaca-Rondon, a past National Championship final tablist, hit the rail seventh, Thomas Doussan sixth, Unchong Bairos fifth and Jed Dyrek fourth. Before he knew it, Evans was three-handed and had more than a chance at the title.

Ultimately, his run would end there. An untimely king on the river left Evans’ last few big blinds in the hands of David Lin and he exited third, officially recognizing Schwartz as the 2013/2014 IP Biloxi Casino Champion.

Schwartz is a professional poker player from Austin, TX best known for his role as part of the inaugural November Nine. He’s continued to make a name for himself in the years since recording 21 WSOP-related cashes including six final tables and a gold bracelet victory in 2012.

Schwartz joins the IP Biloxi Main Event champion, Martin Zentner and 98 other qualifiers at Caesars Atlantic City this spring to play for their share of a $1 million prize pool and a gold bracelet in the WSOP National Championship.

More information on the season-ending event is available on WSOP.com.

Top 10 point earners at IP Bilxoi:

1. Ylon Schwartz – 87.5 points
2. Nolan Burton – 80 points
3. Joshua Evans – 80 points
4. Jonathan Thomas – 72.5 points
5. Richard Tenhet – 55 points
6. Roger Morris – 55 points
7. Robert Irby – 52.5 points
8. Donna Murray – 52.5 points
9. Hank Sitton – 50 points
10. Six others tied at 50 points

Full standings available on WSOP.com.