This is the central page for information about the ongoing WSOP Circuit series at Thunder Valley. Check back here daily for updated schedule and results.(wsop.com/n/8mh)
16 September 2019 (Lincoln, Calif.) - The first of two World Series of Poker Circuit stops at Thunder Valley for the 2019/2020 season came to an end on Monday evening. There was a total of 13 points-earning ring events and all the events drew 3,279 entries creating a total prize pool of $1,686,710.
The highlight of the first weekend was Event #2, $400 No-Limit Hold’em (5 starting flights), the first multi-flight tournament of the series. This event attracted a four-figure field of 1,166 players surpassing the $300,000 guarantee and making up a prize pool of $384,780. After two days of play, it is Nick Shkolnik, a part-time poker professional, who claimed the title, his first Circuit ring, and the first-place prize of $63,335. Just a couple of months prior to his victory, Shkolnik got close to winning his first bracelet but ended up getting 20th in the $1,111 Little for One Drop at the 2019 50th Annual World Series of Poker.
The next event, Event #3: $400 Knockout (1 Day) was taken down by Randy Gil after defeating two-time ring winner Jasthi Kumar heads-up. Gil already had two cashes including a 6th place finish in Event #1: $250 Series Kickoff. After his victory in Event #6, he took over the early lead in the Casino Champion race with 77.5 points and basked in the top spot until the last four days.
Although the stop began with a string of four first-time winners, a succession of three repeat winners came up next and was started by Frankie O’Dell.
Just three months after claiming his third bracelet in Event #18: $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better at the 2019 50th Annual World Series of Poker, the mixed games crusher claimed another title in Event #5: $400 HORSE. This victory added another ring to his stacked resume and he now has four Circuit rings and three WSOP bracelets, all of them being in mixed tournaments. On top of that, through his win, O’Dell joined Men Nguyen as the only players to have won at least three WSOP bracelets and four WSOP Circuit rings.
O’Dell wasn’t the only repeat winner of the day. Indeed, a few hours later, Jed Hoffman also claimed his fourth ring after taking down Event #6: $400 No-Limit Hold’em Six-Handed for $9,522.
The following day, David Brookshire continued the streak of repeat winners after outlasting 82 players in Event #7: $400 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better. The mixed games’ player who has been playing professionally for only three years, has already collected two Circuit rings and one WSOP bracelet, and all of them are in mixed tournaments.
Event #10: $3,250 High Roller was taken down by Bryant Miller for $27,450 after topping a field of 41 entries. Miller only registered at the start of play on Day 2 and although he came in short, he started building early, and found himself at the final table four hours later. The stakes were high at the final table as many tough competitors were still in contention, but between his game on point, and run of good cards, Miller managed to close it out claiming his third Circuit ring. However, Miller wasn’t done for the series. A couple of days later, he claimed the title of the final event of the series, Event#14: $1,125 No-Limit Hold’em. At just 22 years old, he is now the owner of four rings.
As for the $1,700 Main Event, both flights attracted a field of 414 players creating a prize pool of $627,210 and surpassing the $500,000 guarantee. After three days of play, it is Paul Richardson who emerged as the champion for $130,667. Richardson had already final tabled the Circuit Main Event at Thunder Valley three-times in the previous seasons. He finished 4th in September 2017, 4th in September 2018 and 8th in January 2019 before finally breaking through and claiming the title this time. In fact, out of a total of five Circuit Main Events at Thunder Valley, Richardson has now final tabled four of them.
Richardson also earned himself an automatic seat into the 2020 Global Casino Championship with his Main Event victory. As for the second seat, it was a very close battle between Russell Garrett and Randy Gil until the final three of the last event, Event #14: $1,125 No-Limit Hold’em.
Indeed, Although Gil was leading in the casino champion race throughout most of the stop, Garrett was quietly catching up to him. Before the High Roller, Garrett had four cashes this stop including one runner-up finish and one eight place finish. By getting 7th in the High Roller, he managed to accumulate 20 points, and took over the lead with a total of 80 points. He extended his lead with a cash in the Main Event but they were still a few points apart.
As they were both striving for the casino champion title, they both played the final event of the series, Event #14: $1,125 No-Limit Hold’em and both made it to the final three. After hours of battling it out under pressure and giving it their all, Gil was eliminated in 3rd place and Garrett was guaranteed the title of Casino Champion with 7 cashes including 4 final tables.
Additionally, all players who cashed in ring events earned points that apply toward the season-long race to claim one of the limited at-large bids. More information on the points system is available on WSOP.com.
There isn’t much of a break on the Circuit schedule. Indeed, cards are currently at the Potawatomi Circuit stop in Milwaukee. There will be a second stop at Thunder Valley in January.
Completed Events
Event #1: $250 Series Kickoff - Michael Narlesky defeats 290 entries to win $13,278.
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #2: $400 No-Limit Hold'em (5 Flights) - Nick Shkolnik outlasts a field of 1,166 to claim his first Circuit ring.
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #3: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Knockout - Randy takes home his first ring and the first-place prize of $8,762.
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #4: $400 No-Limit Hold'em (1 Day) - Dennis Arciosa wins his first gold ring and $9,084 in Event #4.
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #5: $400 HORSE - Frankie O'Dell wins fourth circuit ring in mixed tournaments for $6,994.
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #6: $400 No-Limit Hold'em six-handed - Jed Hoffman claims fourth circuit ring after defeating 101 players.
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #7: $400 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better - David Brookshire wins second circuit ring in Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better.
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #8: $400 Monster Stack - Thomas Morris tops a field of 500 players to win the Monster Stack
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #9: $400 No-Limit Hold'em (1 Day) - Jimmy Zeledon claims first Circuit ring in seventh WSOP cash.
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #10: $3,250 High Roller - Bryant Miller wins third Circuit ring after outlasting 41 players for $44,413.
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #11: $250 Seniors Event - Earl Baker defeats 165 competitors to win $8,549.
Winner Photo | Results
Event #12: $1,700 Main Event - Paul Richardson claims the title and $130,667 at fourth final table of Thunder Valley Main Event.
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #13: $400 Last Call - William Chao wins first Circuit ring in 10th Circuit cash.
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #14: $1,125 No-Limit Hold'em - Bryant Miller claims second title this series and fourth circuit ring.
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Casino Champion Update
Russell Garrett wins the Casino Champion title.
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About the Winners
Event #1 - Michael Narlesky
Michael Narlesky won his first WSOP Circuit ring late Monday night, earning $13,278 in the process. Narlesky won a special event at the Thunder Valley Circuit stop – the series opened with a special holiday event on Labor Day, drawing in 290 entries to the $250 Series Kickoff event. The $58,000 prize pool more than doubled the guarantee.
Event #2 - Nick Shkolnik
Nick Shkolnik just claimed his first World Series of Poker Circuit ring after outlasting a field of 1,166 players in Event #2: $400 No-Limit Hold’em (5 starting flights).
“It feels good. It means that I’m doing something ring in poker tournaments, that I can compete with a lot of players,” Shkolnik said when asked what his first Circuit ring means to him.
Event #3 - Randy Gil
Randy Gil just won his first World Series of Poker Circuit event after defeating 142 entrants in Event #3 for $8,762.
“It feels good. It was a long day but it’s worth it. It means a lot because it is a WSOP Circuit ring. I finished second a few times before. It’s nice to finally break through and get first place,” Gil said after his win.
Event #4 - Dennis Arciosa
Dennis Arciosa just took down Event #4: $400 No-Limit hold’em (1 Day) after outlasting a field of 85 players.
“I feel great. I felt focused from start to end. I never lost focus.”
Event #5: Frankie O'Dell
Frankie O’Dell has just won Event #5: $400 H.O.R.S.E for $6,994 after outlasting 65 players. This victory adds another ring to his stacked resume. He now has a collection of four Circuit rings and three WSOP bracelets, and all of them are in mixed tournaments.
“It feels great because all my rings are in mixed tournaments and all my bracelets are in mixed tournaments. I don’t think anybody has four rings in mixed tournaments. I might be standing alone.”
Event #6: Jed Hoffman
Jed Hoffman just won his fourth Circuit ring after taking down Event #6: $400 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed. He battled through a field of 101 runners to reach the first-place prize of 9,522.
“I can’t really chase it geographically so it’s cool to come to these series that are close to Reno,” Hoffman commented.
Event #7: David Brookshire
David Brookshire just claimed his second Circuit ring in Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better after taking down Event #7: $400 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better. He now has one WSOP bracelet and two Circuit rings in his collection, and the three of them are in mixed games tournaments.
“I feel really good. I feel like this is just the beginning of my career. I’ve been playing professionally for three years, I got 14 or 15 wins now. I gotta give credit to Mike Matusow any time I win a tournament because if he didn’t teach me the stuff he thaught me, and he wasn’t a friend and a mentor to me, I’d never be having in any of these wins,” Brookshire said after his victory.
Event #8: Thomas Morris
Thomas Morris has just emerged as the champion of the Monster Stack tournament after topping a field of 500 players. He takes home his first Circuit ring as well a nice payday of $32,846.
Morris hasn’t been a tournament player for very long but still managed to win a tournament pretty quickly.
“I’m usually a cash game person. I started playing tournaments at the beginning of the year and I’ve been firing pretty hard. Finally got the win!” Morris said after his victory.
Event #9: Jimmy Zeledon
Jimmy Zeledon just became the latest Circuit ring winner after defeating 116 competitors in Event #9: $400 No-Limit Hold’em (1 Day) for $10,582, his biggest WSOP cash to date.
Zeledon has been chasing a Circuit ring and got extremely close to winning one last season, but ended up getting 9th in Event#13: $1,125 No-Limit Hold’em 8-Handed of the 2018/2019 Circuit stop at Thunder Valley. Today, he managed to close one out and become a WSOP Circuit winner.
“It feels great, I’m so happy. This is like a personal dream for me. It’s a great accomplishment. My goal was to win a ring. I finally did it,”
Event #10: Bryant Miller
Bryant Miller just became the latest High Roller winner on the World Series of Poker Circuit after topping a field of 41 players in Event #10: $3,250 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller at Thunder Valley for $44,413. This first-place finish adds just another victory to his resume. At 22 years old, Miller is now the owner of three Circuit rings, all of them being in No-Limit Hold’em events.
Miller only bought in at the start of play on Day 2 and although he came in short, he started building early and found himself at the final table four hours later with an average stack.
“I bought in today, was kind of short, got a few doubles up early, not a lot of tough spots, and made a couple of good hands.”
Event #12: Paul Richardson
Paul Richardson just became the latest Main Event Champion of the 2019/2020 World Series of Poker Circuit season. Richardson outlasted a field of 414 players to walk away with the Thunder Valley Main Event title, $130,667, and his first Circuit ring.
“It feels great. I’ve been playing poker for a long time and I’m slowly but surely getting better and better. I’ve been working hard on my game so it’s time to pay.”
Event #13: William Chao
William Chao just won his first Circuit ring after outlasting 234 players in Event #13: $400 Last Call for a first-place prize of $24,325. Chao came to the final day 10th in chips and went into a heater early in the day, finding himself at the final table three hours later.
“I ran pure this whole tournament. I don’t think I lost one flip. All my buddies have big cashes and rings and stuff, I’m just glad that I won,” Chao said after his victory.
Event #14: Bryant Miller
Just a couple of days after winning Event #10: $3,250 High Miller, Bryant Miller added another victory to his resume this series after taking down the final event of the stop, Event #14: $1,125 No-Limit Hold’em. He collects $15,527, and his fourth Circuit ring.
Bryant Miller came into the final day with the chip lead but it wasn’t all smooth for him during the day. In fact, he found himself to only two big blinds at some point, and managed to come back and take it down.
“The final table was a lot of ups and downs. I came into the day with a bunch of chips and I had 70% of the chips three-handed. I then went down to two big blinds three-handed and found a way to come back. It was a roller coaster of a day.”