The World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) Tulsa stop wrapped up on Aug. 29 and saw Arthur Morris win the $1,700 buy-in Main Event for a career-best $182,379 and his first Circuit ring. The Colleyville, Texas resident defeated Little Rock's Mike Cordell during heads-up play, who in turn took home $112,717.
The WSOPC Tulsa Main Event attracted 646 entrants to generate a prize pool just shy of seven figures at $978,690. Some of those who made deep runs in the event include Cedrric Trevino (3rd - $82,737), Blair Hinkle (4th - $61,498) and Jessica Vierling (5th - $46,294), who was looking for her second ring of the series after taking down a $400 No-Limit Hold'em event for $13,641.
WSOPC Tulsa Main Event Final Table Results
PLACE | NAME | HOMETOWN | PRIZE (IN USD) | |
1 | Arthur Morris | Colleyville, TX | $182,379 | |
2 | Mike Cordell | Little Rock, AR | $112,717 | |
3 | Cedrric Trevino | San Antonio, TX | $82,737 | |
4 | Blair Hinkle | Weatherby Lake, MO | $61,498 | |
5 | Jessica Vierling | Las Vegas, NV | $46,294 | |
6 | Danny Griffith | Little Rock, AR | $35,300 | |
7 | Maliar Monfared | Wichita, KC | $27,270 | |
8 | Michael Marder | Sewell, NJ | $21,346 | |
9 | Jay Riley | Cypress ,TX | $16,934 |
"A Long Time Coming"
For Morris, a 17-year veteran who now has a million in Hendon Mob earnings, the Circuit win had "been a long time coming" after a series of deep but unsatisfying runs this year, including an eighth-place finish in the World Poker Tour (WPT) Choctaw Main Event in May for $61,000.
“I’ve had an outrageous amount of unofficial final tables this past year and it’s really tough to make it that deep with nothing really to show for it but I really feel now that I’m getting over that hump,” Morris told WSOP.
According to WSOP updates, Morris entered the final day second of four in chips and fell to the bottom before doubling twice. Morris then hit a three-outer to eliminate Hinkle in fourth before Trevino failed to hit his flush draw against the top pair of Cordell to fall in third.
After overcoming the chip lead of his opponent, Morris made the nut flush against the trips of Cordell to secure the ring victory, which he dedicated to his loved ones.
“I’ve had so many people rooting for me throughout the year and I just want to thank all my family and friends, especially my wife Pauleen and son jack, I’m excited to go home and spend the next week with them."
Jennings Finds Gold
About halfway through the series, Kansas' Greg Jennings found his first Circuit ring when he took down Event #5: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Monster Stack to win $24,578. The victory was a long time coming for the midwestern grinder with $890,755 in live earnings.
"This is my twelfth circuit final table," Jennings told WSOP. "I haven't really been that motivated to play poker over the past three years, but Tulsa is close to home and I thought I'd come play a full series to take a shot at finally winning a circuit ring."
But Jennings didn't have long to celebrate as just two days later he emerged the winner in Event #7: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack to take home $20,593 and another Circuit ring.
To win that second Circuit ring in two days, Jennings had to fend off a final table that included five-time bracelet winner Scotty Nguyen, who was looking for his maiden ring but fell in eighth place for $2,320.
To wrap up his great run at the Tulsa Circuit stop, Jennings made a deep run in the Main Event that extended into Day 2. But a third Circuit ring wasn't in the cards for Jennings and he fell in 23rd place.
Another highlight of the WSOPC Tulsa stop was Rania Nasreddine winning Event #3: $400 No-Limit Hold'em for $60,380 and her first ring. The Tulsa native got through a field of 1,158 runners to get the ring and her second-biggest score.
Next up for WSOPC is a stop at Horseshoe Council Bluffs, which will feature a $1,700 buy-in Main Event Sept. 23-26. A full list of winners at WSOPC Tulsa is available in the table below.
2022 WSOPC Tulsa Ring Winners
TOURNAMENT | ENTRIES | PRIZE POOL | WINNER | HOMETOWN | PRIZE (IN USD) | |
Event #1: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack | 261 | $86,130 | John McMahan | Tulsa, OK | $19,167 | |
Event #2: $250 No-Limit Hold'em | 289 | $57,800 | Reggie Tynes | Choctaw, OK | $12,542 | |
Event #3: $400 No-Limit Hold'em | 1,158 | $379,830 | Rania Nasreddine | Tulsa, OK | $60,380 | |
Event #4: $400 No-Limit Hold'em | 221 | $72,930 | Nathan Huey | N/A | $16,981 | |
Event #5: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Monster Stack | 351 | $115,830 | Greg Jennings | Overland Park, KS | $24,578 | |
Event #6: $250 No-Limit Hold'em | 193 | $38,600 | Shawn Sparks | Jay, OK | $9,402 | |
Event #7: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack | 286 | $94,380 | Greg Jennings | Overland Park, KS | $20,593 | |
Event #8: $400 No-Limit Hold'em | 163 | $53,790 | Jessica Vierling | Las Vegas, NV | $13,641 | |
Event #9: $400 Pot-Limit Omaha | 251 | $82,830 | Gabriel Walter | Claremore, OK | $18,714 | |
Event #10: $1,700 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event | 646 | $978,690 | Arthur Morris | Colleyville, TX | $182,379 | |
Event #11: $400 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed | 221 | $72,930 | Thomas Ross | Ponca City, OK | $17,392 | |
Event #12: $400 No-Limit Hold'em | 164 | $54,120 | Allen Roberts | Tulsa, OK | $13,723 | |
Event #13: $400 No-Limit Hold'em | 165 | $54,450 | Daniel Hughes | Tulsa, OK | $13,807 |