Jonas Wexler Wins 2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's Cherokee Main Event40-Year-Old Poker Pro Outlasts 1,087 Entries To Win His Second Ring and $300,536 |
|
Jonas Wexler has emerged victorious in the 2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah’s Cherokee $1,700 buy-in no-limit hold’em main event. The tournament attracted a field of 1,087 entries, blowing away the $1 million guarantee to create a final prize pool of $1,646,805. In the end, the lion’s share of that money was awarded to Wexler, who earned $300,536 and his second WSOPC gold ring as this year’s champion.
Wexler was also awarded 960 Card Player Player of the Year points for the win. This was his first POY-qualified score of the year, and it alone was enough to see him climb to jus outside the top 100 in the overall rankings.
“I never think I’m gonna win,” Wexler told WSOP reporters after coming out on top. “I’ve been playing for so long and just felt like I don’t break through. I try not to think about the end result either, but in my mind, I always think something shitty is gonna happen. Fortunately today I did some shitty things to other people.”
Wexler entered the third and final day of the main event in second chip position behind Dennis Brand. Wexler and Phil Hernz wreaked havoc at the final table, collectively eliminating seven opponents on the way to setting their heads-up showdown.
Wexler earned his first knockout of the day by winning a three-way all-in with AK against the JJ of Aaron Gunn and the KK of Amy Patel. Wexler hit an ace on the flop and held from there to send Gunn home in ninth place ($29,807).
Wexler had his own big pocket pair hold up not long after, with his QQ beating the 98 of Dennis Brand to send the start-of-day leader to the rail as the eighth-place finisher ($47,444).
Wexler kept his streak going by eliminating Andrew McIlvain (6th – $60,866) and Amy Patel (5th – $78,997).
Phil Hernz took down a massive pot in a blind-on-blind confrontation. Steven Grybas shoved for just shy of 3.7 million with pocket sixes when it folded to him in the big blind. Hernz called with pocket nines. His hand held up and Grybas was knocked out in fourth place ($103,749).
Wexler set the final heads-up confrontation by calling Spencer Champlin’s all-in with KK. Champlin had moved in with AJ. The kings held up and Champlin was sent home with $137,936 for his third-place showing.
Despite scoring five knockouts to Hernz’s two, Wexler entered heads-up play at more than a 2-to-1 chip deficit. He managed to find a key double up with pocket jacks, getting it all-in on a ten-high flop against the K10 of Hernz. From there Wexler was able to extend his lead until he had more than a 2-to-1 advantage himself.
In the final hand Hernz moved all-in from the button for around 20 big blinds with A2. Wexler made the call with 66 and took a commanding lead after a 765 flop. The Q on the turn left Hernz drawing dead. The K on the river made his elimination official. Hernz earned $185,628 as the runner-up finisher.
Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded at the final table:
Place | Player | Earnings (USD) | POY Points |
1 | Jonas Wexler | $300,536 | 960 |
2 | Phil Hernz | $185,628 | 800 |
3 | Spencer Champlin | $137,936 | 640 |
4 | Steven Grybas | $103,749 | 480 |
5 | Amy Patel | $78,997 | 400 |
6 | Andrew Mcilvain | $60,866 | 320 |
7 | Dennis Brand | $47,444 | 240 |
8 | Noah Shefrin | $37,399 | 160 |
9 | Aaron Gunn | $29,807 | 80 |