The World Series of Poker Circuit just wrapped its stop at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. The latest WSOP Circuit ring winner is 26-year-old Fernando Galvan, who topped a field of 845 entries to win the $1,675 Main Event for $247,160 and his first gold ring.
Beginner’s Luck?
Galvan, originally from Mexico but now residing in Denver, Colorado, didn’t start playing tournament poker until 2016. But already he’s racked up nearly $500k in winnings.
“I learned how to play poker with experience and reading books,” Galvan told WSOP officials. “Jonathan Little helped a lot.”
Galvan began Day 3 at the final table as the chip leader. He would make it all the way to heads-up play against poker pro Corey Hochman, who began the day with just eight big blinds. Things came to a head in Level 32 (60k/120k/20k) on the ninth hand of heads-up play when Galvan limped the button and then called when Hochman moved all-in for 1.01 million.
Galvan was slow-playing Q♠Q♦, and that left Hochman looking for some help with his A♠3♦. He got a little on a K♠3♠5♥ flop, but both the 7♣ turn and 4♥ river left him wanting. Hochman had to settle for second place and $152,734. Not bad for a Circuit consolation prize.
Prior to the win, Galvan had $205,266 in live tournament earnings. He’s been no one-hit wonder. Before his Circuit win this weekend, his career best payday was $72,583 for finishing third in the Heartland Poker Tour’s Black Hawk Main Event back in September. His recent win wasn’t the only success he’s had at Planet Hollywood either. Over the summer, he won the $350 GOLIATH Stack at the Phamous Poker Series for $44,577.
Other notables to cash the event included Bryan Devonshire (16th for $12,688), 2017 Minnesota State Poker Champion Jon Hanner (17th for $12,688), Ankush Mandavia (19th for $10,571), and Eric “basebaldy” Baldwin (24th for $8,911).
Final Table Results
1 Fernando Galvan (Denver, CO) $247,160
2 Corey Hochman (Phoenix, AZ) $152,734
3 Chris Tham (San Francisco, CA) $112,503
4 Almedin Imsirovic (Vancouver, WA) $83,959
5 Bruce Kramer (Westminster, CA) $63,476
6 Melanie Banfield (Las Vegas, NV) $48,609
7 Mark Ioli (Bayside, NY) $37,695
8 Daniel Elmore (Sherwood, OR) $29,596
9 Neil Scott (Mammoth Lakes, CA) $23,525
Three Rings, One Stop
A dozen gold rings were awarded at the WSOP Circuit Planet Hollywood, and incredibly Arkadiy Tsinis won 25 percent of them. That’s right, the poker pro took down an incredible three events.
First, he and Daniel Mogavero topped 98 teams to win $5,878 in a $250 NLHE Tag Team event, and the next day he beat 219 entries to win a $265 NLHE for $16,426. Then, in Event #10, $365 NLHE 6-Handed, he bested a field of 261 entries to win $20,750.
The trio of wins brought his total ring count up to four and his WSOP-related winnings up to $1,444,282.
In addition, Devonshire won a ring in Event #7, $365 HORSE, for $11,508, while Neil Scott, who placed ninth in the Main Event, won one in Event #4, $265 NLHE, for $12,798.
Scott’s win was notable in that he had challenged himself not to cut his hair until he won a ring. That challenge spanned two years.
The WSOP Circuit now heads to North Carolina’s Harrah’s Cherokee from Nov. 23 through Dec. 4. After that, they’ll close out the year at Los Angeles’ Bicycle Casino Dec. 1-12.
