VeryMerry Captures WSOP Winter Circuit Main Event Title ($1.18M)

The WSOP Winter Circuit concluded at GGPoker on January 9 with the $1,700 buy-in Main Event crowning its champion. The Main Event attracted 7,039 entrants, which resulted in an $11,367,985 prize pool, over 10 percent more than the advertised $10 million guarantee. Mexico's "VeryMerry" was the last player standing once the dust had settled. Their reward for such an impressive victory? A cool $1,184,690 and a WSOP Circuit ring.

Some 862 players navigated their way through to the final day, each locking in at least $3,773 for their efforts. Players such as Barak Wisbrod, Dimitar Danchev, Michael Addamo, Ole Schemion, and Shannon Shorr were early casualties. Jessica Teusl, Andreas Nasman, Linus Loeliger, and Simon Mattsson progressed deeper and reeled in five-figure score. Once "Cocooo" busted in tenth, the final table was set, with all nine heroes guaranteeing themselves more than $100,000 for their efforts.

#18: WSOP Winter Circuit Main Event Final Table Results

Montenegro's "takemeaway" was the first finalist to find themselves heading for the exits. Their ninth-place finish came with $118,523 reasons to be happy with their performance.

Artem Shaganov busted in eighth for $158,001 before "accurate91" got their hands on $210,646 from their home in Canada. Sixth place and $280,847 went to Austria's "Touch of Class," with "Doubledeee" of Singapore seeing their $1,700 investment swell to an incredible $374,646 when they fell in fifth.

Fourth place came with a $499,303 score, which is now in the GGPoker account of Japanese grinder "dynastyfuren." Heads-up was set when Sergey "z1gzag" Konovalov crashed out in third, a finish good for $665,778.

The one-on-one battle pitted VeryMerry against Pavel "EzzzGame" Plesuv. The heads-up duo didn't strike a deal despite a near $300,000 difference in prize money. A lack of negotiations meant Plesuv had to settle for the still impressive $887,777 consolation prize, leaving VeryMerry to collect $1,184,690, a WSOP Circuit ring, and the title of champion.

Other WSOP Winter Circuit Results

Four other WSOP Winter Circuit events recently crowned their champions, with three of them banking five-figure scores.

"pedrinhoOo" won $138,725 after taking down the $840 Stocking Stuffer Bounty Superstack, Jianchen "Transurfing" Gong banked $170,151 after winning the $210 New Year's Mystery Bounty, while Blaz Zerjav scooped $192,329 for his victory in the $1,500 6-Max Championship.

Those prizes are impressive but imagine being Jeremias Mendoza. He busted from the $210 New Year's Mystery Bounty in 167th place from 17,583 entrants. Mendoza collected $1,390.68 from the main prize pool, but one of the mystery bounties he pulled out was the jackpot: a cool $250,000! Mendoza collected another $2,440 in bounties, for a total haul worth $253,830.68, not bad for a 167th place finish!

*includes bounty payments