Sitting yesterday evening with just 3,000 chips – while the blinds were 1,000/2,000 – the odds of Ari Engel making the money in WSOP Circuit Graton Poker’s $400 Big O were less than optimal.
All the chips go in, Engel goes Boat, and he spins that 1.5BB stack into his 15th career circuit ring in event 11, $400 Big O, tying Maurice Hawkins for the top spot in circuit history.
Engel goes back-to-back here at WSOP Circuit Bay Area, taking down Event 10 –$400 HORSE – two nights ago.
He talked about the roller-coaster of a stack moving up, then down dramatically, then not just spinning it up, but closing out the tournament by eliminating the final three players in an 8-hand stretch.
“Sometimes I gamble too much, sometimes I am too conservative,” Engel told PokerOrg staff providing coverage for the WSOP as how he approaches the game of poker based on the buy-in for the event.
Engel and Jonathan Malcolm were separated by just 1SB when four-handed play came back from a break.
Engel eliminated Nicholas McCabe on back-to-back hands, then dispatched Malcolm six hands later for the victory.
He said hesitated at first coming cross-country from the most recent WSOPC stop to travel to California’s wine country, but Tournament Director Jordan Cutter (pictured below with Engel) helped convince Engel the Graton Casino location – hosting its first-ever circuit event – was where he wanted to compete for more rings.
Two rings down, eight more rings available, Engel is not done. He’s preparing to move into either the $1,1225 NLH or $1,125 PLO today.
Here’s the Official Order of Finish.
(8131_Media/Hayley Hochstetler photos)
Dan is the founder of PokerLiveUpdates, a veteran poker tournament reporter who can be found wandering somewhat aimlessly through tournament arenas worldwide. As a founding member of FunTour2.0, he searches for the best in craft beer at all locations in the poker world.
