The 2007 installment of the World Series of Poker Circuit series saw another good year, with prize pools breaking the $1-million mark several times at casinos in what people would call tourist towns like Las Vegas and New Orleans. In places like Council Bluffs Iowa, the crowds weren't as strong, but the top prizes awarded still could be considered life-changing money for many.
A dozen WSOP Circuit events took place, and each was capped with a $5,000 championship event. The following is a short recap from all the events:
Grand Casino Tunica, Mississippi, Jan. 8-17 - Dennis Perry would outlast 377 entrants at the first WSOP Circuit event to be held in 2007. He won a little more than $563,000 for outlasting a final table including Gioi Luong, Lance Allred, Michael Mizrachi, and Matt Dean.
Horseshoe Council Bluffs, Jan. 29-Feb. 7 - Kosta Sengos won the Circuit ring in Iowa. The event attracted 142 players and Sengos won $219,576.
Harrah's Rincon, Feb. 11-22 - The pros again rose to the top at this Circuit event held in California. Peter Feldman beat out 180 players to capture the ring and the $280,859 first-place prize. The final table included Gavin Griffin, Danny Wong, Shane Schleger, and Gavin Smith. The prize pool was $877,850.
Caesars Atlantic City, March 5-14 - The WSOP Circuit would hit three Caesars Palaces in a row, starting here. The event attracted 314 players and Danny Yousefzadeh won it and its $488,828 top prize. The prize pool was more than $1.5 million.
Caesars Indiana, March 25-April 4 - Men "The Master" Nguyen emerged from the shadows to win this event. He outlasted 153 players to take home $238,756 and the ring. Young Phan was the runner-up and Bryan Sapp finished third.
Caesars Palace Las Vegas, April 23-May 5 - Attendance would spike again in Las Vegas when 336 players showed up to try for the ring there. Cory Carroll won more than $500,000 for taking this event down. The final table included Chad Brown, David Pham, and Steve Wong.
Harrah's New Orleans, May 11-23 - Again, the winner of a WSOP Circuit event would leave with more than half a million dollars in New Orleans, and that would be Louie Esposito who outlasted 345 players, including David Fox, Phil Gordon and Clint Schafer. The prize pool broke $1.6 million for the championship event.
Harrah's New Orleans marked the end of the 2006/07 season, but five more events would take place in 2007 as part of Harrah's 2007/08 Circuit season. The Circuit would pick up again after the WSOP took place in Vegas.
Grand Casino Tunica, Aug. 29-Sept. 13 - Jordan Morgan would win his first major live tournament here for $216,852. He outlasted 137 entrants who generated a prize pool of $658,300.
Caesars Indiana, Oct 17-Nov. 2 - Carlos Uz won this event, which attracted 144 players, showing that location is definitely important when scheduling a poker tournament.
Harvey's Lake Tahoe, Nov. 8-18 - Chris "Jesus" Ferguson would win his third WSOP Circuit ring by taking down this event, which attracted 142 entries.
A second trip Harrah's New Orleans ends tomorrow, and a seventh Circuit event is scheduled to take place at Harrah's Atlantic City Dec. 8-18.
