Event 13: Mike Russ Wins Last Chance Turbo and $11K in Florida

2017 Seminole Hard Rock WSOP Circuit
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 13
$365 No Limit Hold’em Turbo (Re-Entry)
Entries: 138
Prize Pool: $41,400
October 2, 2017

Hollywood, Fla. — Mike Russ claimed World Series of Poker Circuit gold at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Monday night. The victory came in Event 13 of the property’s series, a $365 No Limit Hold’em Turbo Re-Entry tournament. For the win, the Kerrville, Tex. resident earned a top prize of $11,589 along with the tour’s token prize, a gold ring.

Event 13’s turbo structure was slated to play out in one day. The tournament kicked off at 11am and drew a tough field of 138 entries. They generated a $41,400 prize pool that paid the top 15 finishers a share. In all, it took less than 10 hours to play to completion.

Joining Russ at the final table were tournament standouts Nagui Yassa and Jonathan Hilton. Hilton’s claim to fame came in the form of a gold bracelet victory in the 2013 WSOP National Championship. Yassa, meanwhile, enjoyed a strong showing over the last two weeks in Hollywood. He carded four cashes including a fourth-place finish in the 1,612-entry $580 opener and a 24th-place finish in the Main Event. The pair bowed out shy of contention — Yassa in sixth and Hilton ninth — in Event 13.

Russ began his heads-up battle at a chip disadvantage over Brent Ballentine, but the fast structure caught up with the duo. With the stacks thinning, they were forced to get it in and Russ came out ahead.

Russ is a 40-year-old business owner. His Event 13 win marks his sixth WSOP Circuit cash. His previous career highlight was an eighth-place finish in a $500 buy-in in New Orleans in 2007.

Event 13 final results:

1st: Mike Russ – $11,589 + Gold Ring
2nd: Brent Ballentine – $7,165
3rd: Christopher Halkitis – $5,172
4th: Phil Wojtuniecki – $3,800
5th: Norge Mastrangelo – $2,841
6th: Nagui Yassa – $2,160
7th: Adam Singer – $1,670
8th: Ricardo Palacios – $1,312
9th: Jonathan Hilton – $1,047
10th: Kevin Smith – $849
11th: Ami Neeman – $849
12th: Spencer Champlin – $849
13th: Daniel Franzblau – $699
14th: Matthew Zarcadoolas – $699
15th: Jimmy Lai – $699

Event 13: Last Chance Ring Event

$365 Turbo No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 1: 25/50

WSOP Circuit ring

Freshly underway is Event 13 of the World Series of Poker Circuit at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The $365 buy-in No Limit Hold’em Turbo tournament is the last points eligible event for the series’ Casino Championship race. Players take their seats to 10,000-chip starting stacks and they’ll log 20-minute levels throughout. The tournament is structured to conclude in one day and is expected to wrap around 10pm local time.

Details:

11AM: Event 13 – $365 Turbo No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)

  • Players begin with 10,000 in chips and 20-minute levels
  • Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 9
  • This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
  • Event 13 Structure Sheet

Much of our live reporting efforts today will be concentrated on the Main Event and High Roller. Full results along with a winner photo and final report will be posted after this event concludes.

Good luck, players!

WSOP Circuit Day 12 Schedule

Primary Event Schedule

11AM: Event 13 – $365 Turbo No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)

  • Players begin with 10,000 in chips and 20-minute levels
  • Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 9
  • This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
  • Event 13 Structure Sheet

12PM: Main Event Day 3 – $1,675 No Limit Hold’em (Single Re-Entry)

2PM: High Roller Day 2 – $3,250 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)

5PM: Event 14 – $250 Ladies No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)

  • Players begin with 10,000 in chips and 30-minute levels
  • Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 9
  • This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
  • Event 14 Structure Sheet

Players are encouraged to park in Seminole Way Garage for easy, covered access to the tournament area and poker room
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