This Week’s Big Winner: Nicholas Burris Wins WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Council Bluffs Main Event

Blair Hinkle has won the _World Series of Poker Circuit Horseshoe Council Bluffs_ main event three times. He first took home the title in 2010, and then emerged victorious with back-to-back wins in 2013 and 2014.

In the 2019 _WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Council Bluffs_ $1,700 no-limit hold’em main event, Hinkle came as close as possible to winning the title for the fourth time, but Nicholas Burris ultimately sent him home in second place. Burris, a 42-year-old insurance broker, earned his second _WSOPC_ gold ring and the top prize of $99,267 as the champion. Ironically, the two men play in the same $40 weekly home game.

The tournament attracted a total of 273 entries to create a $413,595 prize pool. By the start of the third and final day of play just six players remained, with Kevin Berthelsen sitting in the lead. Burris began the day in second chip position with 1,790,000, while Greg Jennings was in third place with 1,355,000. The two most accomplished players at the table were nine-time _WSOPC_ ring winner Ari Engel and Hinkle, who has won four of his five overall rings at the Horseshoe Council Bluffs.

“Really, really tough, Blair [Hinkle], Ari [Engel], Greg Jennings… I mean, it was just a really tough table,” Burris told _WSOP_ reporters after securing the title. “Everybody played really well. [It] means a lot that I could win one with all those guys on the table.”

Here are the five hands that propelled Burris to the title.

Tournament – WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Council Bluffs Main Event
Buy-In: $1,700
No. of Entries: 273
Prize Pool: $413,595
1st Place Prize: $99,267

The Action

With seven players left, Burris raised to 75,000 on the button. Jennings then three-bet to 200,000. Burris opted to move all-in for 850,000, and Jennings went into the tank for about 30 seconds before folding A 10 face up. Burris then asked his opponent if he wanted to see his cards. After hearing ‘sure,’ Burris revealed A 5 for a dominated ace. ‘You dog,’ Jennings said, as Burris dragged the pot.

The Action

Zeluf raised to 85,000 from under-the-gun and was called by both Burris and Jennings in the blinds. The flop fell J 6 5 and Zeluf continued for 110,000. Both Burris and Jennings called, and the turn was the 10. Everyone checked to the 10 on the river, and Burris bet 325,000. Jennings folded, and Zeluf moved all in. Burris quickly called with pocket fives for a full house, and Zeluf showed K 10 for rivered trips. Zeluf made her exit in fifth place, taking home $24,630.

The Action

Burris raised to 150,000 from the button and Berthelsen three-bet to 400,000 from the small blind. Hinkle folded the big blind and Burris moved all-in for 2,255,000. Berthelsen made the call with A 10, and was well behind against Burris and his pocket queens. The flop fell Q 5 4, giving Burris top set and a big advantage in the hand. The turn was the J giving Berthelsen some hope with a straight draw, but the river was the 7, giving Burris a huge double up. Berthelsen was eliminated a short time later in third place, earning $44,511.

The Action

Burris raised to 200,000 and Hinkle called from the big blind. The flop fell K 8 7 and both players checked. The turn was the 6 and Hinkle bet 350,000. Burris called and the river was the 5. Hinkle bet 900,000 and Burris quickly called with A 9 for a rivered straight. Hinkle could only show down 8 7 for a flopped two pair, but it’s not enough as Burris takes a nearly 4:1 chip lead in the match.

The Action

Hinkle moved all-in for his last ten big blinds and Burris looked down at A 8 in the big blind to make an easy call. Hinkle was drawing live with J 7, but the board of 6 6 2 9 Q offered him no help, ending his unprecedented fourth title run in second place. He picked up $61,344 for the runner-up performance, while Burris earned the title, his second ring, and the $99,267 first-place prize.

Final Table Results

1. Nick Burris — $99,267
2. Blair Hinkle — $61,344
3. Kevin Berthelsen — $44,511
4. Greg Jennings — $32,839
5. Sarah Zeluf — $24,630
6. Ari Engel — $18,769
7. Hamid Izadi — $14,525
8. Dashiell Saenz — $11,415
9. Daniel Thomas — $9,107