Ryan Eriquezzo Wins His Second World Series of Poker Global Casino Championship Title

Ryan Eriquezzo has won the 2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Global Casino Championship Invitational event for the second time, outlasting a field of 129 to win his second gold bracelet and the top prize of $279,431. The 34-year-old poker pro from Danbury, CT now has total live tournament earnings in excess of $1.8 million, with the aforementioned two bracelets and four WSOP Circuit rings to his name. Eriquezzo won his first bracelet by taking down this same event back in 2012, when it was known as the WSOP National Championship.

This unique and prestigious invitational event sports a $10,000 buy-in, but the majority of the field got into the tournament for free by qualifying throughout the year at various WSOP Circuit stops.

Players have a number of ways to earn their seats into the event, including by winning a WSOP Circuit main event and by finishing in the top 50 of the WSOP Circuit leaderboard. Players who finished in the top 100 of the previous year’s WSOP Player of the Year race, or who won a WSOP Circuit ring event over the past season have the option to buy-in in for $10,000. Only four players exercised that option this year.

A number of big names made deep runs in this event. 2019 WSOP $1,000 no-limit hold’em bracelet winner Stephen Song finished tenth for $23,411. Ninth-place finisher Josh Reichard ($23,411) is among the most prolific winners on the WSOP Circuit, having secured 11 gold rings on the tour. Seven-time ring winner Joshua Turner finished fourth for $84,961.

All-time WSOP Circuit ring leader Maurice Hawkins has 13 WSOPC titles and more than $1.8 million in cashes on the tour. He added to that total with a third-place showing in this event for $119,555.

In the end, it came down to a heads-up showdown between Eriquezzo and three-time ring winner Eric Salazar. The two battled it out for a while, with a few lead changes along the way. In the final hand, Eriquezzo raised to 225,000 on the button with K10 and Salazar defended his big blind with A6. The flop came down J73 and Salazar check-called 250,000. the 2 drew another check from Salazar. Eriquezzo bet 670,000 and Salazar check-raised all in for 2,490,000. Eriquezzo quickly called with his flopped flush, which had Salazar drawing dead going into the river. The Q on the river was a mere formality. With that Salazar was eliminated in second place, earning $172,431 for his strong showing.

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

Winner’s photo provided by WSOP.

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