This Week's Big Winner: Anthony Spinella Wins WSOP Circuit Main Event At Harrah’s Las Vegas

Anthony Spinella took down the final World Series of Poker Circuit main event of the year, defeating a field of 665 at Harrah’s on the Las Vegas Strip to pick up a gold ring and the top prize of $192,199.

The New York-native is no stranger to the winner’s circle at the WSOP, having previously won both a WSOP Circuit ring and a WSOP gold bracelet. Those two victories, however, came in online events. Spinella banked $197,743 in a 2015 online event at the summer series, and another $35,817 for a Circuit win at the Rio in 2017.

“It feels really good,” Spinella told WSOP reporters of the win. “I’ve been waiting awhile.”

When asked about getting the win in a live setting, Spinella added, “They both have their appeal. It’s nice to be able to play at home and be in the same vicinity as my son but it’s also nice to get out and play live.”

Spinella’s best year came in 2017, when he finished third in the Goliath Phamous Poker Series main event for $191,524, fourth in the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown for $240,700, and runner-up in the WPT Shooting Star for $786,610. He now has more than $3.6 million in career live tournament earnings, along with millions more won online.

Here are the five key hands that propelled Spinella to the title.

Tournament – WSOP Circuit Main Event
Buy-In: $1,700
No. of Entries: 6650
Prize Pool: $1,007,4750
1st Place Prize: $192,199

The Action

Nahum raised to 150,000 and Spinella three-bet to 425,000. Nahum called and both players saw a flop of K 9 6. Spinella made a continuation bet of 350,000, and Nahum check-raised all-in for 1,500,000. Spinella called, and Nahum revealed 10 8 for a flopped flush, with a redraw to a straight flush. Spinella, however, was drawing live with the A 10. The dealer completed the board with the K and the 5, and Nahum was eliminated, earning $28,746 for his seventh-place finish.

The Action

Owen raised to 120,000 and Spinella three-bet to 230,000 directly behind him. Owen must have felt the big stack was bullying him as he opted to four-bet shove when the action came back to him with A 10. Unfortunately for him, Spinella was telling the truth with pocket aces, and they held up to send Owen out in sixth place, good for $37,275.

The Action

Martinez moved all in from under the gun and Spinella made the call from the button with pocket sevens. Martinez was in bad shape with pocket deuces, and he failed to connect as the dealer produced a board of Q 9 6 9 7. Martinez banked $64,983 for his fourth-place showing, while Spinella’s full house allowed him to cross the eight-figure mark.

The Action

Lee moved all in from the button for his last 2,400,000 and Spinella moved in behind him from the small blind to isolate. Lee turned over pocket fives, which were racing against Spinella’s A 10. The seven-high flop was safe for Lee, but the A on the turn left him drawing to two outs. The river was a brick and Lee headed to the payout cage to pick up his $87,339 third-place prize.

The Action

Spinella started heads-up play with a 4:1 chip advantage, and by the time the final hand came up, Java was down to his final 12 big blinds. He decided to commit them with Q J on the button, and Spinella was happy to call with A 9. The board of K 7 5 4 6 hit no one, and Spinella’s ace high was enough to claim the final pot of the tournament, and the title. Java was given a $118,764 consolation prize for his runner-up finish, while Spinella picked up his second gold ring, and the $192,199 first-place prize.

Final Table Results

1. Anthony Spinella — $192,199
2. Nipun Java — $118,764
3. Jimmy Lee — $87,339
4. Raul Martinez — $64,983
5. Tim Reilly — $48,923
6. Adam Owen — $37,275
7. Kfir Nahum — $28,746
8. Stephen Graner — $22,442
9. Benjamin Craig — $17,738