Michael Persky accomplished quite the feat by winning the World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event at Thunder Valley Casino Resort on October 9. This was his second Main Event title in as many WSOP Circuit attempts, after he won the gold ring at Graton Casino in California’s Wine Country just six weeks ago.
The two victories took the nearby Novato, California resident’s career earnings to more than $430,000, thanks to the Thunder Valley top prize of $170,780. We cannot find – so far – anyone in the history of the WSOP Circuit who won two Main Event titles in the same season – and Persky did this in just six weeks!
“I don’t even know what to say, I’m just super grateful,” said Persky after the win to WSOP Circuit reporters. He continued. “This is unbelievable, I know how hard this is. I tell people, ‘I won the WSOP Main Event! Twice, now!” said Persky
The $1,700 buy-in NLH tournament attracted a field of 594 entries over two starting flights to set the total prize pool at $899,910. The top 90 cashed for at least $2,540, and the money bubble burst shortly after 104 players returned for the start of Day 2.
The end of the second day saw 10 survivors, with Persky advancing to the final day eighth in chips. He had moved up to third in chips with just seven players remaining at the first break. Persky scored his first knockout when he eliminated John Koo in fifth place.
Persky was third in chips with four players remaining at the second break, and he stayed out of the way while former WSOP Main Event 3rd-place finisher Amir Lehavot fell in fourth place, and Xing Wei was eliminated in third place. Those back-to-back bustouts gave Tracy Oto the lead with 14 million to start the heads-up final, but Persky was pesky with his 9.75 million and chipped away at the lead.
Persky had built up a 2:1 chip advantage before Oto got all in preflop with pocket sixes, but Persky woke up with pocket aces and instantly called. The board bricked out, and Oto was eliminated in second place, good for $105,550. Oto does hold a gold ring, but this was the largest WSOP Circuit score by far for the local Sacramento resident.
Final Table Results:
1st: Michael Persky – $170,780
2nd: Tracy Oto – $105,550
3rd: Xing Wei – $78,030
4th: Amir Lehavot – $58,360
5th: John Koo – $44,160
6th: Travis Egbert – $33,820
7th: Jonathan Wang – $26,210
8th: Fan You – $20,560
9th: Derrick Geliberte – $16,330
The Main Event was the 11th event on the tournament series schedule hosted from 13 total.
Some of the other big winners during the series included Main Event eighth-place finisher Fan You, who won the $250,000 Guarantee $400 buy-in NLH Opener event to take home $76,100. The Opener attracted a field of 1,559 entries to create a prize pool worth $514,470.
Another tournament that produced a six-figure prize pool was the $400 buy-in Monster Stack that saw 305 entries. Rommel Damasco took home the top prize worth $22,140 from a prize pool of $100,650. The $1,125 buy-in Last Call saw a field of 115 entries to set the prize pool at $115,000. Mitchell Collins claimed the top prize worth $31,820 in that penultimate tournament of the series.
You can check out all of the results from the tournament series right here.
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.
