2017 Seminole Hard Rock WSOP Circuit
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 10
WSOP Circuit Main Event
$1,675 No Limit Hold’em (Single Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed
Entries: 904
Prize Pool: $1,356,000
September 29-October 2, 2017

The big event on the 2017 Seminole Hard Rock WSOP Circuit schedule was the $1,000,000 Guarantee Main Event to close out the series. The $1,675 buy-in tournament drew talented players from around the world and it was Joseph Gotlieb taking the title after defeating former WPT World Champion Asher Conniff for more than $250,000.

The Main Event drew 904 entries across two starting flights and they were limited to a single re-entry for each flight. They combined to push the $1,000,000 guarantee up to a $1,356,000 prize pool when registration closed.

We saw former WSOP bracelet champs, WSOP Circuit ring winners, SHRP regulars, and amateurs all playing side-by-side. Of those 904 entries, 162 players booked their seats for Day 2 where they would burst the money bubble when only 99 remained.

Seminole Hard Rock Tampa poker ambassador Wally Maddah slid into the money but was the first sent out after the bubble. He was followed by former SHRP champs Chris Bolek, Nicolas Mahabee, and Paul Balzano.

Conniff began Day 2 with only 19K, good for six big blinds when they put cards back in the air. He ran his short stack up as the day progressed and the field dropped lower. Conniff’s run continued until he held the chip lead when Day 2 ended with 14 players.

The final day was on a quick pace from the beginning with Jason Appel hitting the exit in one of the first hands followed by Steven McKoy, Brad Ruben, and Juan Martinez to form the final table ten.

Mauricio Ameller was the leader at the start of the final table and he was closely trailed by Conniff and three-time WSOP bracelet winner Brian Hastings. Michael Amato and Daniel Genachte hit the rail early from the final table followed by Jack Shea and poker pro Chad Eveslage.

Former SHRP champ Brett Bader had a rollercoaster final table,  he spent time as the leader and time as the short stack. He rode the ride but had to settle for a fifth-place finish. Hastings dropped from first in chips to a fourth-place payout after several big hands against Gotlieb and Ameller left the final table on his heels.

The heads-up battle kicked off with Conniff holding an 11-to-7 chip lead but Gotlieb turned the tables after a few hands. The final pot saw 95% of the chips go in the middle in a race between Conniff’s and Gotlieb’s . Gotlieb made a river boat to finish off the tournament.

Conniff earned $159,357 for his runner-up finish while Gotlieb banked $257,638 along with the personalized WSOP Circuit Main Event ring and custom-framed winner’s photo courtesy of Image Masters.

Goltlieb is a local business owner, Hollywood resident, and regular in the poker room. He has several tournament cashes on property plus a deep run this summer in a $1,500 World Series of Poker event. This is by far the biggest cash of his career and he said this was a good opportunity for him to go pro with the bankroll boost.

Congrats to Gotlieb on the big score and thanks to our players for the great turnout for the WSOP Circuit Main Event.

WSOP Circuit Main Event final table results:

1st: Joseph Gotlieb – $257,638 + Gold Ring and $10K GCC Seat
2nd: Asher Conniff – $159,357
3rd: Mauricio Ameller – $117,619
4th: Brian Hastings – $88,004
5th: Brett Bader – $66,675
6th: Chad Eveslage – $51,148
7th: Jack Shea – $39,717
8th: Daniel Genachte – $31,229
9th: Michael Amato – $24,842

Full WSOP Circuit Main Event Results

$1,675 Main Event NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Structure
Level 33: 75,000/150,000 with a 25,000 ante

Asher Conniff limped the button and Joseph Gotlieb raised to 1,050,000. Conniff moved all in for 8,600,000 and Gotlieb quickly called.

Conniff:
Gotlieb:

“We’re flipping for all of it,” Conniff told his rail.

It was a race but Gotlieb took a big lead on the flop and Conniff was left with four outs after the turn. The river could not save his tournament and the former WPT World Champion had to settle for a runner-up finish.

Gotlieb ran great and picked up $257,638 for his WSOPC Main Event win.

1st: Joseph Gotlieb – $257,638 + Gold Ring and $10K GCC Seat
2nd: Asher Conniff – $159,357

$1,675 Main Event NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Structure
Level 33: 75,000/150,000 with a 25,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 904

Asher Conniff opened to 350,000 and Joseph Gotlieb called to the flop. Gotlieb checked, Conniff bet 400,000 and Gotlieb called. He checked again after the turn and Conniff bet another 1,100,000.

Gotlieb called once again and they checked down the river. Gotlieb tabled , Conniff double checked his cards and sent them to the muck to shift the chip lead.

Joe Gotlieb – 10,830,000 (72 bb)
Asher Conniff – 7,250,000 (48 bb)

$1,675 Main Event NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Structure
Level 33: 75,000/150,000 with a 25,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 904

The clock ran out on Level 32 and they took a short break while tournament staff colored off the 5K chips.

Seat 2: Joseph Gotlieb – 5,805,000 (39 bb)
Seat 3: Asher Conniff – 12,275,000 (82 bb)

$1,675 Main Event NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Structure
Level 32: 60,000/120,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 904

The heads-up battle is underway for the WSOP Circuit Main Event title with Asher Conniff leading against Joseph Gotlieb. The stacks are deep and they are settling in for a long match.

Seat 2: Joseph Gotlieb – 7,050,000 (59 bb)
Seat 3: Asher Conniff – 11,030,000 (92 bb)

$1,675 Main Event NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Structure
Level 32: 60,000/120,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 904

Asher Conniff opened to 250,000 on the button and Mauricio Ameller shoved for 2,250,000 from the small blind. Joseph Gotlieb called in the big blind and Conniff mucked his hand.

Ameller:
Gotlieb:

Gotlieb held a dominating head for the knockout and held on the flop with Ameller adding a gutshot draw. The turn was a blank and the river sent Ameller out in third place.

Conniff and Gotlieb took a short break before the heads-up battle gets underway.

Joseph Gotlieb – 7,050,000 (59 bb)
Mauricio Ameller – Eliminated in 3rd place ($111,619)

$1,675 Main Event NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Structure
Level 32: 60,000/120,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3 of 904

Asher Conniff raised to 250,000 from the button and Brian Hastings moved all in from the small blind for ~2,600,000. Mauricio Ameller released his big blind and Conniff quickly called.

Hastings:
Conniff:

Hastings needed his eights to hold and he was good after the flop. Conniff added a Broadway gutshot draw that got there on the turn to leave Hastings drawing dead to the river.

Asher Conniff – 11,700,000 (98 bb)
Brian Hastings – Eliminated in 4th place ($88,004)

$1,675 Main Event NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Structure
Level 32: 60,000/120,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining: 4 of 904

Brett Bader returned from break and didn’t wait too long to mix it up. He open-shoved for 1,350,000 and it folded to Asher Conniff in the big blind. He found a big ace and quickly called.

Conniff:
Bader:

Bader had two live cards but Conniff improved on the flop. The turn and river finished off the hand and Bader’s roller coaster ride was over in fifth place.

Asher Conniff – 9,100,000 (76 bb)
Brett Bader – Eliminated in 5th place ($66,675)

$1,675 Main Event NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Structure
Level 32: 60,000/120,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5 of 904

The five remaining players took another 10-minute break and returned with Asher Conniff back in the lead and Brett Bader on the short stack.

Seat 1: Mauricio Ameller – 3,565,000 (30 bb)
Seat 2: Joseph Gotlieb – 3,685,000 (31 bb)
Seat 3: Asher Conniff – 5,355,000 (45 bb)
Seat 7: Brett Bader – 1,800,000 (15 bb)
Seat 8: Brian Hastings – 3,640,000 (30 bb)

Remaining payouts:
1st: – $257,638 + Gold Ring and $10K GCC Seat
2nd: – $159,357
3rd: – $117,619
4th: – $88,004
5th: – $66,675

$1,675 Main Event NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Structure
Level 31: 50,000/100,000 with a 15,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5 of 904

On the next hand after Brian Hastings doubled up Brett Bader, he moved all in from the button for 870,000 after Asher Conniff opened to 210,000 from under the gun. Joseph Gotlieb called and Conniff was relieved when he was able to fold.

Gotlieb:
Hastings:

Not a classic race and Hastings moved further ahead on the river, though Gotlieb had a miracle gutshot draw. That went away when Hasting’s boat filled on the turn had Gotlieb drawing dead.

Brian Hastings – 2,075,000 (21 bb)
Joseph Gotlieb – 3,630,000 (36 bb)