Trucking Company Owner Wins 2019 WSOP Circuit Hard Rock Tulsa Main Event

The 2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Hard Rock Tulsa $1,700 buy-in, $1 million guaranteed no-limit hold’em main event attracted a field of 533 total entrants. Eleven-time WSOPC ring winner and four-time WSOPC main event champion Maurice Hawkins held the chip lead heading into the third and final day of action. Hawkins came incredibly close to his record-tying 12th win on the circuit, but in the end, it was Phillip Pope who emerged victorious with the title and the $215,000 top prize.

“I can’t believe I’m here,” Pope told WSOP reporters. “I was really low [on bankroll], but I decided to give it another shot.”

That shot earned the 43-year-old trucking company owner from Dallas, TX his first gold ring and the largest tournament cash of his career.

Pope entered the final day in second chip position with six remaining, behind only Hawkins. He got off to a rocky start but righted the ship by eliminating Viet Vo in sixth place ($41,300). Barbara Sargent was the next player to hit the rail, when her AJ failed to hold up against the 108 of Trey Brabham. The 10on the river was enough to earn Brabham the pot, sending Sargent home with $54,140 for her fifth-place showing.

Brabham overtook the lead at one point, but by the time the next knockout came about he was once again in the middle of the pack. Brabham got all-in with 1010 and was called by the 88 of Kou Vang. The board came down AK863 and Vang hit a set of eights to win the pot and bust Brabham in fourth place ($71,990).

In the next major confrontation, Vang limped in from the button with AA. Hawkins called with the 94 from the small blind and Pope checked his option. The flop brought the 987 and Hawkins moved all-in, having been left quite short after a recent clash with Pope, who folded. Vang quickly called with his overpair and the J on the turn left him in need of a nine or four for the win or a ten to chop. The Q on the river was no help and Hawkins was eliminated in third place, earning $97,110.

Pope took a 3-to-2 chip advantage into heads-up play with Vang. The final hand of the tournament began with Vang raising to 450,000 from the button. Pope called from the big blind and the flop brought the 643. Pope checked and Vang bet 250,000. Pope check-raised to 650,000. Vang moved all-in for around 4.4 million total. Pope thought it over for a while before making the call with 76. Vang showed the K2 for a flush draw and an overcard. The turn was the 6, giving Pope trips. The river brought the 10 to secure the pot and the title for Pope. Vang took home $132,930 as the runner-up finisher.

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

Winner photo provided by WSOP.

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