Event 5: Jeffrey Higgins Scores $12,877 in WSOP Circuit Freeze-Out

2017 Seminole Hard Rock WSOP Circuit
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 5
$365 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
Entries: 159
Prize Pool: $47,700
September 26-27, 2017

(Hollywood, Fla.) — The World Series of Poker Circuit continued Wednesday at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino with the final day of play in Event 5, a $365 buy-in No Limit Hold’em Freeze-Out. The 159-entry field returned just five players and it was Jeffrey Higgins of Northborough, Mass. that left victorious. For his efforts, Higgins was sent back northeast with $12,877 along with his first-ever WSOP Circuit gold ring.

“This means more to me than it should,” an emotional Higgins said following the win.

Currently splitting his time between multiple businesses, Higgins, 37, quit his first job in in 2006 and played online. In the years that followed, he picked up traditional work. Today, his children and businesses keep him busy and poker has become a hobby he only gets to indulge in sporadically.

The $365 buy-in freeze-out — Event 5 on the WSOP Circuit schedule — saw a prize pool $47,700 that paid the top 18 finishers. Mark Fink (10th), Phil Hui (14th) and Daniel Pearlman (17th) were among those who bowed out in the money but shy of the final table.

The opening day of action moved fast. After an 11am kickoff, the 10-handed final table was reached shortly after 10pm. Fink’s bustout sent pay to the nine-handed finale and Circuit standout Bob Chow was first to go from there. Eric Piderit’s sixth-place elimination was the last of the night as Level 21 expired and play concluded.

When action resumed the following day, Higgins owned the chip lead over Florida pro Sean Shah, Austin Reilly, Stephen Bierman and Steven Disney. Disney, who returned with just five big blinds, went in fifth followed by Shah in fourth and Bierman in third. The heads-up battle between Higgins and Reilly lasted about an hour. They began neck-and-neck in the counts, but Higgins hit a timely flop when he scored bottom two pair against Reilly’s top pair, top kicker. The duo got it all-in and Reilly was left shortstacked while Higgins sprinted to the finish line a short while later. Reilly earned $7,959 for the runner-up finish.

Prior to Wednesday, Higgins’ tournament resume boasted only modest success. His victory in the $365 freeze-out is his first major win and moves him into a tie for second on the Seminole Hard Rock WSOP Circuit Casino Championship leaderboard.

Event 5 final results:

1st: Jeffrey Higgins – $12,877
2nd: Austin Reilly – $7,959
3rd: Stephen Bierman – $5,729
4th: Sean Shah – $4,199
5th: Steven Disney – $3,132
6th: Eric Piderit – $2,377
7th: Jonah Miller – $1,835
8th: Angelo Castaldi – $1,439
9th: Bob Chow – $1,148
10th: Mark Fink – $930
11th: Denis Cyr – $930
12th: Christopher Norton – $930
13th: Christopher Perkins – $765
14th: Phil Hui – $765
15th: Michael Goldfarb – $765
16th: Sean Small – $640
17th: Daniel Pearlman – $640
18th: Stuart Greenbaum – $640

Event 5: Jeffrey Higgins Wins $365 Freeze-Out for $12,877; Austin Reilly – 2nd Place ($7,959)

$365 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
Level 24: 10,000/20,000 with 3,000 ante | Payouts
Players Remaining: 1 of 159

Event 5 champion Jeffrey Higgins

Jeffrey Higgins opened the button for a raise to 50,000. Austin Reilly called and the pair saw a flop of AdJd8s. Reilly checked. Higgins continued for 85,000 and Reilly shoved roughly 350,000. Higgins called and was in position for the title.

Higgins: Ac9h for top pair
Reilly: Qd2d for a flush draw

Turn and River: As9c

Higgins improved to aces-full winning the title in dramatic fashion. Reilly was eliminated in second place earning $7,959. Higgins, meanwhile, snagged the $12,877 top prize along with the World Series of Poker Circuit gold ring.

Event 5 runner up Austin Reilly

A full report will be posted later this evening. In the meantime, here’s a look at the tournament’s final results:

1st: Jeffrey Higgins – $12,877
2nd: Austin Reilly – $7,959
3rd: Stephen Bierman – $5,729
4th: Sean Shah – $4,199
5th: Steven Disney – $3,132
6th: Eric Piderit – $2,377
7th: Jonah Miller – $1,835
8th: Angelo Castaldi – $1,439
9th: Bob Chow – $1,148
10th: Mark Fink – $930
11th: Denis Cyr – $930
12th: Christopher Norton – $930
13th: Christopher Perkins – $765
14th: Phil Hui – $765
15th: Michael Goldfarb – $765
16th: Sean Small – $640
17th: Daniel Pearlman – $640
18th: Stuart Greenbaum – $640

Event 5: Jeffrey Higgins Doubles through Austin Reilly

$365 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
Level 24: 10,000/20,000 with 3,000 ante | Payouts
Players Remaining: 2 of 159

Jeffrey Higgins limped the button and Austin Reilly raised to 63,000. Higgins called.

Flop: AcTs8c

Reilly bet 63,000 and Higgins shoved for 531,000. Reilly called.

Higgins: Th8s for two pair
Reilly: AdKd for top pair, top kicker

Turn and River: 8hQd

Higgins’ two pair held and he doubled through Reilly.

Jeffrey Higgins – 1,198,000 (59 bb)
Austin Reilly – 392,000 (19 bb)

Event 5: Stephen Bierman – 3rd Place ($5,729)

$365 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
Level 23: 8,000/16,000 with 2,000 ante | Payouts
Players Remaining: 2 of 159

Stephen Bierman

Jeffrey Higgins opened the button to 45,000. Austin Reilly folded his small blind and Stephen Bierman shoved the big for 321,000. After a couple minutes in the tank, Higgins called and Bierman was at risk.

Bierman: AhTd
Higgins: Ad8d

Runout: Kc7s8c2d4d

Higgins hit an unlikely pair when the 8c fell on the flop. The turn and river 2d and 4d were no help to Bierman’s ace-10 which was second best. He was eliminated in third place for $5,729.

Austin Reilly – 801,000 (50 bb)
Jeffrey Higgins – 789,000 (49 bb)
Stephen Bierman – Eliminated in 3rd place ($5,729)

Event 5: Sean Shah – 4th Place ($4,199)

$365 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
Level 23: 8,000/16,000 with 2,000 ante | Payouts
Players Remaining: 3 of 159

Sean Shah

Austin Reilly limped from the small blind and Sean Shah shoved 304,000 from the big. Reilly nearly beat him in the pot and Shah was at risk.

Reilly: AhQs
Shah: Ax5x

Runout: Ks9s6c5sQh

Shah got new life turning a pair of fives, but the river queen had other ideas. Reilly’s pair was best and the Florida pro was eliminated in fourth place for $4,199.

Austin Reilly – 860,000 (53 bb)
Sean Shah – Eliminated in 4th place ($4,199)

Event 5: Stephen Bierman Doubles through Austin Reilly

$365 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
Level 22: 6,000/12,000 with 2,000 ante | Payouts
Players Remaining: 4 of 159

There was three-way action between Stephen Bierman in the small blind, Jeffrey Higgins in the big and Austin Reilly on the button. Bierman and Higgins checked an AdQd8h flop. Reilly bet 36,000. Bierman shoved and Higgins quickly got out of the way. Reilly called and the hands were up.

Bierman: Js8s for a pair of eights
Reilly: Jd4d for a flush draw

Turn and River: Tc4h

Bierman’s pair held and he doubled through Reilly.

Stephen Bierman – 363,000 (30 bb)
Austin Reilly – 280,000 (23 bb)

Event 5: Steven Disney – 5th Place ($3,132)

$365 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
Level 22: 6,000/12,000 with 2,000 ante | Payouts
Players Remaining: 4 of 159

Steven Disney

Short stack Steven Disney got just a few big blinds in the middle preflop holding Kc8c against chip leader Jeffrey Higgins’ KsTd. The runout improved no one and Higgins was best. Disney busted in fifth place earning $3,132.

Steven Disney – Eliminated in 5th place ($3,132)

Event 5: Final Five Back for Another Day

$365 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
Level 22: 6,000/12,000 with 2,000 ante | Payouts
Players Remaining: 5 of 159

Yesterday’s Event 5 returns in five short minutes with just five players remaining from 159 starting. Each has locked up $3,132 with the tournament champion earning $12,877 along with a WSOP Circuit gold ring.

Here’s a look at the final five arranged by seat:

Seat 1: Stephen Bierman – 170,000 (14 bb)
Seat 2: Jeffrey Higgins – 655,000 (55 bb)
Seat 3: Steven Disney – 63,000 (5 bb)
Seat 4: Austin Reilly – 378,000 (32 bb)
Seat 5: Sean Shah – 307,000 (26 bb)

Leading the action with a stack of 655,000 is Jeffrey Higgins. Next up is Austin Reilly in second followed by Sean Shah in third. Shah opened the flood gates recording his first major tournament victory in 2016 and following it up with three more this year. He’s just a few eliminations away from earning number five.

Chip counts arranged by chip count:

  1. Jeffrey Higgins – 655,000 (55 bb)
  2. Austin Reilly – 378,000 (32 bb)
  3. Sean Shah – 307,000 (26 bb)
  4. Stephen Bierman – 170,000 (14 bb)
  5. Steven Disney – 63,000 (5 bb)

Remaining payouts:

1st: $12,877
2nd: $7,959
3rd: $5,729
4th: $4,199
5th: $3,132

WSOP Circuit Day 7 Schedule

Main Event Schedule

11AM: Event 7 Day 1 – $365 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)

  • Players begin with 10,000 in chips
  • Levels 1-21 last 30 minutes; Level 22+ last 45 minutes
  • Late registration available until start of Level 9
  • This is a Freeze-Out tournament, no re-entries permitted
  • Day 1 will end after Level 21 or Tournament Director discretion
  • Event 7 Structure Sheet

1PM: Event 5 Day 2 – $365 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)

2PM: Event 6 Day 2 – $365 Pot Limit Omaha (Re-Entry)

5PM: Event 8 Day 1 – $1,125 No Limit Hold’em (Single Re-Entry)

  • $100,000 guaranteed prize pool
  • Players begin with 15,000 in chips
  • Levels 1-18 last 40 minutes; Level 19+ last 60 minutes
  • Late registration/single re-entry available until start of Level 9
  • Day 1 will end after Level 12 or Tournament Director discretion
  • Event 8 Structure Sheet

Secondary and Satellite Schedule

9AM: Event 28 – $90 Turbo Satellite to Event 7 (1-in-5)

  • 2 seats guaranteed into Event 7
  • Players begin with 6,000 in chips and 15-minute levels
  • Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 9
  • Satellite will be held in the Poker Room
  • This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
  • Event 28 Structure Sheet

3PM: Event 29 – $140 Mega Satellite to Event 8 (1-in-10)

  • 5 seats guaranteed into $100,000 Guarantee Event 8
  • Players begin with 6,000 in chips and 15-minute levels
  • Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 9
  • Satellite will be held in the Poker Room
  • This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
  • Event 29 Structure Sheet

7PM: Event 30 – $130 Nightly No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)

  • Players begin with 8,000 in chips and 20-minute levels
  • Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 8
  • This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
  • Event 30 Structure Sheet

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

Event 5: Jeffrey Higgins Leads Going to Day 2

$365 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
Returning to Level 22: 6,000/12,000 with 2,000 ante | Payouts
Players Remaining: 5 of 159

Event 5 reached the end of its 21st level and the Freeze-out tournament wrapped up play for the evening. Only five players remain of the starting 159 with Jeffrey Higgins leading the way. WSOPC winner Austin Reilly and SHRP champ Sean Shah are also in the mix along with Stephen Bierman and Steven Disney.

They will return on Wednesday for Day 2 at 1pm.

Seat 1: Stephen Bierman – 170,000 (14 bb)
Seat 2: Jeffrey Higgins – 655,000 (55 bb)
Seat 3: Steven Disney – 63,000 (5 bb)
Seat 4: Austin Reilly – 378,000 (32 bb)
Seat 5: Sean Shah – 307,000 (26 bb)

Chip counts:
Jeffrey Higgins – 655,000 (55 bb)
Austin Reilly – 378,000 (32 bb)
Sean Shah – 307,000 (26 bb)
Stephen Bierman – 170,000 (14 bb)
Steven Disney – 63,000 (5 bb)

Remaining payouts:
1st: $12,877
2nd: $7,959
3rd: $5,729
4th: $4,199
5th: $3,132