Randy Paguio Wins 2022 World Series of Poker Circuit Horseshoe Tunica Main Event

The 2022 World Series of Poker Circuit Horseshoe Tunica no-limit hold’em main event saw 674 entries made, each for $1,700. As a result, the prize pool surged to over $1 million dollars. After two starting flights and two more days of action, San Diego’s Randy Paguio emerged victorious with the largest chunk of that money: $193,764.

This was Paguio’s second career WSOPC gold ring, having won the first in a $345 buy-in event at Harrah’s Rincon back in 2012.

“After my mother Rubenita ‘Ruby’ Paguio passed, I won my first ring and that was for her. I want to dedicate this one to my grandmother Nenita Cuevas who just recently passed,” said Paguio in an interview with WSOP reporters after he took down the title.

In addition to the money and the hardware, Paguio also earned 840 Card Player Player of the Year points as the champion of this event. It was his first POY-qualified score of the year, but it alone was enough to move him into a five-way tie for 14th place on the overall leaderboard.

The final day of this event began with ten players remaining, with Paguio well out in front of the field. Tim Burt (10th – $14,385) was the first to fall, with his A-9 losing a battle of the blinds against the A-10 of Adam Ross.

Ross scored two more knockouts within the first hour of play, busting BJ McBrayer (9th – $17,970) and John Gallaher (8th – $22,730) to narrow the field to just seven contenders.

Paguio scored his first elimination at the final table when he picked up pocket tens against the pocket eights of Michael Esquivel. The larger pair held up and Esquivel was sent to the rail with $29,014 for his seventh-place showing.

Donovan Dean was the next to fall. He got all-in with a flush draw and some overcards facing the top pair and gutshot wheel draw of Paguio. The turn and river brought no help for Dean and he was eliminated in sixth place ($37,719).

Paguio surpassed the 10 million chip mark when he picked up pocket aces against the pocket eights of Ross and got all of the chips in on a seven-high flop. Ross, who won the 2018 WSOP Circuit Cherokee main event, was unable to come from behind. He secured $49,472 as the fifth-place finisher.

Short stack Sean Maurer was the next to go. He was sent packing in fourth place after his 6-3 from the big blind unable to overcome the pocket sevens of Paguio. Maurer was awarded $65,658 for his deep run in this event.

A preflop coin flip set up the final showdown for the title. Brandon Butler was all-in with KJ facing the pocket deuces of Paguio. A ten-high runout kept the small pair in the lead through the river, eliminating Butler in third place ($88,163).

With that, Paguio took a massive lead into heads-up play against Kenneth Mason. In the final hand, Mason three-bert shoved from the big blind with K7. Paguio called with A5 and the board ran out AK5107. Both players made two pair, but Paguio’s aces and fives were enough to lock up the pot and the title. Mason earned $119,755 as the runner-up.

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

Winner photo provided by WSOP.

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