Despite all of Shannon Shorr’s incredible success on the poker table, there was one piece of hardware that alluded him — a Word Series of Poker Circuit Ring. Not anymore.
Shorr won his first World Series of Poker Circuit Ring at the Las Vegas Horseshoe in the $1,700 Main Event, adding another $207,615 to the nearly $15 million he has in lifetime tournament winnings.
Yes, despite the incredible success Shorr has had on the poker table since he exploded on the scene 18 years ago, this is his first WSOPC ring.
“A lot of hours spent inside these WSOP venues trying to capture one. And here we are,” he told the WSOP afterwards. “Definitely one of the highlights of my career. I really enjoyed myself. This one means a lot. It’s been a long time coming, and I’m glad I finally got it done.”
It was Shorr’s 42nd cash of six-figures. Somehow he’s never won $1 million or more in a tourney.
Shorr becomes eligible for the Poker Hall of Fame when he turns 40 in June. He was grateful to the WSOPC for holding the series in the city where he is raising his kids.
“I’ve been traveling less and less. I have two young kids, so it’s been cutting down on the travel and playing,” he said. “Thankfully, a lot of stuff has been coming through here in Vegas locally, so I’ve been playing a lot of those. But yeah, super sweet to win in Las Vegas.”
The Main Event attracted 774 entries who generated a prize pool of $1,172,610. The runner up was Jordyn Miller ($138,394).
John Longowa finished third ($96,751) followed by Emily Xie ($68,751), Evan Sandberg ($49,672), Michael Johnson ($36,499), Dennis Yoder ($27,283), Terry Fleischer ($20,753). Tomas Szwardberg rounded out the top nine ($16,070).
Shorr credited several ways he’s changed his life in the past year or so with his continued success, which includes two wins in $10,000 events at the PokerGO Tour’s Last Chance series in January.
“After waking up hungover on January 2, (2024), I decided to go the whole year without drinking. And I made it,” he said. “My parents were just in town, I had a couple of drinks here and there, and on special occasions, I may have one, but generally, I’m over alcohol. I don’t think it serves me too well.”
He also says being a father motivates him to be his best, and he’s willing to put his body and mind through the paces for them.
“Having to provide for two kids — this is what I do to put food on the table. Ever since I had kids, I’ve been really zoned in—breath work, neuroplasticity training, ice baths, (just) really giving poker my all, and it’s really nice to see it come to fruition.”
