Nick Burris Denies Blair Hinkle His Fourth WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Council Bluffs Main Event Title

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.

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 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. Means a lot that I could win one with all those guys on the table."

The first elimination of the day took place when Ari Engel moved all in with 86 out of the small blind and got called by Kevin Berthelsen from the big blind. Berthelsen’s A10 held up and Engel was sent home in sixth place, earning $18,769.

Burris secured his first knockout of the day by flopping a set of fives against Sarah Zeluf, who hit trip tens by the river. Zeluf moved all-in and was quickly called by Burris’ full house. She was awarded $24,630 for her fifth-place showing.

Greg Jennings was the next player to bust. He limped in with 98 out of the small blind and Kevin Berthelsen checked his option holding 65. The 983 flop gave Jennings top two pair and Berthelsen a gutshot straight draw. Jennings checked and Berthelsen checked behind. The 7 on the turn completed Berthelsen’s straight draw. Jennings bet 50,000 and Berthelsen raised to 125,000. Jennings moved all-in for 650,000 or so and Berthelsen made the call. The A locked up the pot for Berthelsen, sending Jennings home in fourth place ($32,839).

Berthelsen was the chip leader to start three-handed action, but Burris picked up pocket queens and got all-in against Berthelsen’s A1- to win a massive pot. Burris flopped top set and held from there to overtake the top spot on the leaderboard.

Berthelsen got his last chips in preflop with AK up against the K10 of Blair Hinkle. The board ran out KQ5108 to give Hinkle two pair. Berthelsen earned $44,511 as the third-place finisher.

Burris entered heads-up play with 4,840,000 to Hinkle’s 3,350,000. Hinkle was able to overtake the lead, and even built a 2-to-1 advantage at one point. Burris was able to win a key pot with a rivered straight to close the gap. He regained the ascendancy for the final time not long after that.

By the time the final hand arose Burris had built more than a 7-to-1 lead. Hinkle shoved for around ten big blinds from the button with J7 and Burris called holding A8. The board ran out 6629Q. Burris’ ace-high was good enough to secure him the pot and the title. Hinkle was awarded $61,344 for his incredible run at winning his fourth win in this event.

Incredibly, Hinkle and Burris play in a recurring home game together in their native state of Missouri.

“We’re in the same Monday night poker league and we’ve become pretty good friends over the past couple years,” Burris said of Hinkle. “Hardest $40 home game in America.”

Here is a look at the payouts awarded at the final table:

Winner photo provided by WSOP.

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