Charles Sylvestre from Saint-Bruno, Quebec won the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit event at the Casino du Lac-Leamy in his hometown for $122,435 (USD). This tournament is the ninth stop on the 2013-14 World Series of Poker Circuit schedule and was the official $1,675 Main Event, which concluded last Friday night. The tournament had 371 entrants to create a prize pool in excess of a half million dollars. The tournament took a little less than a week of play to conclude, with Sylvestre capturing his first Circuit ring to go along with a WSOP bracelet won earlier this summer in Las Vegas.
Final Table Recap
Seven Canadians and two Americans made up the final nine for the tournament, with the first elimination occurring when Mike Leah opened, only to have shortstack Ioannis Pentefountas come over the top for a little more. John Nelson called from the big blind and Leah called as well. Both players checked it down and Leah held up with pocket sixes against Pentefountas’ 5-3 off (pair of fives) with Nelson mucking his hand.
Adam Podstawka was eliminated in eighth place and Bryan Moon hit the rail in seventh. Moon recently made a nice cash at the Horseshoe Hammond Main Event by finishing in tenth place. Moon was eliminated when his 8-7 suited failed to improve against Sylvestre’s K-4 offsuit.
Justin Dean then was eliminated a few hands later. Leah was eliminated in a hand that started with Nelson opening and Leah three betting pre-flop. Nelson then four-bet and in response, Leah five-bet shoved. Nelson snap-called with pocket aces, with Leah flipping over the unfortunate A-K offsuit. Leah got a king on the river, but still failed to beat the pocket rockets and finished in fifth place.
Sol Bergren, a few levels later, was eliminated in fourth place. After that, Dinara Khaziyeva was eliminated when she opened from the button was three-bet by Nelson. She then four-bet and called Nelson’s five-bet shove. Nelson showed A-Q off while Khaziyeva showed pocket tens for a classic coin clip situation. She looked like she was about to stave off elimination and double up on a 9-4-2-K board when, of course, the ace of spades spiked the river and gave Nelson the best hand.
Nelson entered heads-up play with a whopping two-to-one chip advantage against Sylvestre, who quickly doubled up and took the chip lead away from Nelson. On the fateful final hand of the tournament, Sylvestre raised and was called by Nelson. A flop of J-9-2 hit the board, with Nelson check-calling the continuation bet from Sylvestre. Both players checked the five on the turn. A two hit the board (no possible flush) on the river, with Nelson leading out and Sylvestre raising. Nelson erred by moving all in and was snap-called by Sylvestre who held trip deuces. Nelson showed 6-3 suited for a total bluff.
About Sylvestre
Sylvestre told WSOP officials, “After my unexpected WSOP bracelet this summer, to come back here to Lac-Leamy, my hometown, and ship the ring… I can’t ask for better.”
The local boy took down this tournament for $122,435 but that pales in comparison to the prize money he brought in earlier this summer. At the 2013 World Series of Poker at the Rio in Las Vegas, he won Event #3, the $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em event for a whopping $491,360 payday. He also cashed in Event #20, the $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha tournament for a modest $8,064 cash.
Final Standings and Prize Money
1st – Charles Sylvestre (Saint-Bruno, QC) $122,435
2nd – John Nelson (Curtice, OH) – $75,656
3rd – Dinara Khaziyeva (Montreal, Canada) – $55,283
4th – Sol Bergren (Saskatoon, SK) – $41,047
5th – Mike Leah (Toronto, ON) – $30,953
6th – Justin Dean (Pembroke, Canada) – $23,690
7th – Bryan Moon (Chicago, IL) – $18,398
8th – Adam Podstawka (Hamilton, ON) – $14,491
9th – Ioannis Pentefountas (Rosemere, QC) – $11,575
