Event #6: $580 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed Re-entry

Michigan real estate developer picks up a ring on his winter trip to South Florida

On Wednesday afternoon, Steve Hagar became the WSOP Circuit’s newest first-time winner. Hagar outlasted a field of 148 entries in the $580 six-max event at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, snagging a gold ring and the top prize of $21,088. It’s his largest payout on record.

Hagar is a 58-year-old real estate developer from White Lake, Michigan. He’s married with two teenage daughters, and those responsibilities limit his time to play poker.

“I’m a casual, recreational player,” Hagar describes himself. He does splash around in the tournaments in his home region, and he takes one week a year to travel to South Florida, too. This trip has been a profitable one so far.

Hagar’s path to victory was a difficult one, and he found himself dealing with eight-time Circuit winner Ari Engel down the stretch run. Engel is among the most talented players in the world, and Hagar saw it as an opportunity rather than a hurdle.

“Playing with Ari Engel for such a long time, I learned a lot about the game,” Hagar said. “I picked up a lot of tips just watching him play.”

Both Hagar and Engel were among the final five players who returned for Day 2, but Engel was the first man dismissed from the table. “After he got knocked out first, I liked my chances,” Hagar said.

A short while later, the eventual champ found himself heads-up against Gary Lucci, another man with a gold ring on his record. The two battled for about two hours before Hagar finally sealed the win.

Hagar is a man of faith, and he gave thanks where he felt it was due. “I just thank God for the opportunity to be here,” he said. “Everything I do is based on my faith and a love of my family. Everything I do, I try to do right and honor may family.”

Speaking of family, Hagar says he’s going to use some of his winnings to take his three girls on vacation. “I’ll just give it to them and say, ‘Where do you guys want to go?’ We’ll go on a cruise or to Disneyworld or something.”

The five finalists are back in their chairs and back in action for Day 2.

Right near the start of Level 18, the field was reduced to a final table of seven. Here's the lineup:

Seat 1: Steve Hagar - 225,000 (38 bb)
Seat 2: Greg Baird - 174,000 (29 bb)
Seat 3: Gary Lucci - 390,000 (65 bb)
Seat 4: Bryce McVay - 99,000 (17 bb)
Seat 5: Carey Pickus - 95,000 (16 bb)
Seat 6: Ari Engel - 282,000 (47 bb)
Seat 7: Dimitry Agrachov - 520,000 (87 bb)

Ari Engel is already an eight-time winner on the WSOP Circuit and one of the tour's most successful players. Another win would move him to within one of the all-time lead of 10. Gary Lucci is the only other ring winner at the table, although Bryce McVay is fresh off a near-miss in Event #4. 

Blinds are 3,000/6,000 with a 1,000 ante in the current level, so the average stack is about 42 big blinds. Play is scheduled to conclude after Level 21, but that may be revisited depending on the pace over the next two hours.

Everyone left is guaranteed to earn at least $2,634.