Arthur Morris Wins 2022 World Series of Poker Circuit Hard Rock Tulsa Main Event

Arthur Morris had accumulated more than $800,000 in tournament earnings prior to entering the 2022 World Series of Poker Circuit Hard Rock Tulsa series. Across his 63 prior in-the-money finishes, Morris had made deep runs in World Poker Tour championships and final-table appearances in WSOP bracelet events. Despite all of his success since his first recorded cash back in 2009, Morris had never come away with a tournament title.

That winless streak finally ended this week. Morris defeated a field of 646 entries in the WSOPC Hard Rock Tulsa $1,700 no-limit hold’em main event, earning his first gold ring and a career-high payday of $182,379 as the champion.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Morris told WSOP reporters after coming out on top. “I’ve been playing for 17 years so it feels really good."

In addition to the title and the money, Morris also earned 840 Card Player Player of the Year points for the win. This was his second POY-qualified score of the year, having also placed eighth in the WPT Choctaw main event for $61,000 in May.

The strong turnout for this event resulted in a $978,690 prize pool which was paid out among the top 98 finishers. Big names that made it deep included DJ Alexander (94th), Jason Strasser (75th), Chris Tryba (49th), Schuyler Thornton (45th), Greg Jennings (23rd), Michael Marder (8th), and Jessica Vierling (5th).

The final day of this event began with just four players remaining, with bracelet winner and four-time ring winner Mike Cordell in the lead and Morris in second chip position.

Bracelet winner and 2013 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open main event champion Blair Hinkle came into the day as the short stack, and despite doubling up off the bat with pocket queens, was ultimately the first to fall. Hinkle got all-in with A-Q leading the A-4 of Morris, but a four on the flop turned the tables. Hinkle found no help on the turn or river and was sent home in fourth place, earning $61,498 for his efforts. The score saw him increase his career earnings to more than $5 million.

Poker vlogger and recent WSOP main event 66th-place finisher Cedrric Trevino’s run in this event came to an end in third place. The ‘Poker Traveler’ got all in a Q824 board with 1010 facing the Q8 of Cordell. The J on the river sealed Trevino’s elimination, sending him to the rail with $82,737. He now has more than $295,000 in recorded tournament earnings to his name.

With that, Cordell took nearly a 2:1 chip advantage into heads-up play with Morris with the title and the hardware on the line. Morris was able to grind his way into the lead in time for the final hand of the tournament, though. With blinds of 100,000-150,000 and a 150,00 big blind ante, Morris raised to 400,000 on the button with A9. Cordell called from the big blind with K8. The 883 flop gave Cordell trips and Morris the nut flush draw and some overcards. Cordell check-called a bet of 650,000. The 10 on the turn gave Morris the nut flush. All of the chips got in the middle on the turn, leaving Cordell in need of a board pair, an eight, or a king on the river. Instead, the Q on the end locked up the pot and the title for Morris.

Cordell earned $112,717 as the runner-up finisher. He now has more than $1.1 million in lifetime earnings.

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

Photos provided by WSOP.

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