Joe Gotlieb Wins 2017 WSOP Circuit Seminole Hard Rock Main Event

Joe Gotlieb has won the 2017 World Series of Poker Circuit Hard Rock $1,675 no-limit hold’em main event, defeating a field of 904 entries to capture his first WSOPC gold ring and the first place prize of $257,638.

The 52-year-old small business owner from Hollywood, Florida sells cell phone parts as his day job and has been playing a lot of poker by night to supplement his income. His day job has been less fruitful recently, and Gotlieb has been considering committing to life as a full-time poker player.

“I wanted to give it a shot at going pro,” Gotlieb told WSOP reporters after coming out on top. “This was it. This was my shot at that.”

Gotlieb overcame some tough competition at the final table, including outlasting three-time WSOP gold bracelet winner Brian Hastings. Hastings finished in fourth place ($88,004) after his 88 failed to win a race against Asher Conniff’s AJ.

Connif won the World Poker Tour Championship for $973,683 back in 2015 and was in great position to win his first WSOP Circuit main event as the chip leader with more than 11 million the roughly 18 million chips in play. Gotlieb eliminated Mauricio Ameller in third place ($117,619) to close the gap somewhat, but Coniff still held a 3-to-2 advantage when heads-up play began.

Gotlieb was able to win a few key pots to take the lead, but things were still close when the final hand of the tournament arose. Conniff limped in from the button with blinds of 75,000-150,000 and an ante of 25,000. Gotlieb raised to 1,050,000 from the big blind and Conniff moved all in for 8,600,000. Gotlieb called with the 77 and was racing against Conniff’s AK.

The board ran out Q76JQ and Gotlieb made a full house on the river to secure the pot and the title, sending Conniff to the rail in second place with $159,357.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded at this final table:

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