Spencer Champlin, a poker player from Scarborough, Maine, won Event #3: $580 No-Limit Hold’em Re-entry on the schedule of the 2015/16 WSOP Circuit Palm Beach Kennel Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, collecting $87,980 for his victory. Champlin busted three bullets early in the tournament only to end up with the largest share of the prize pool and his first career gold ring.
The $580 No-Limit Hold’em with a total of four starting flights kicked off on February 5. Initially, the event was announced as a three-day one but an additional fourth day was played for the winner to be determined. The tournament attracted a field of 926 entries, creating a prize pool of $463,000. The top 99 finishers were paid, with lowest payouts worth $949.
Day 1 of the event was a disaster for the eventual champion. He busted three bullets but despite the bad beats he did not give up hope and fired his fourth bullet. That was exactly when things changed for him and the player completed Day 1 of the tournament twentieth in chips. Day 2 was even better for the winner. By the time the official nine-handed final table was set late in the day, the player was the chip leader.
The event’s final day saw three players return to play down to a winner. Shortly after its beginning, the heads-up match between Champlin and West Palm Beach resident John Casquilla was set. Champlin had a massive lead over his opponent, holding ten times more chips. However, the player’s road to the victory was far from being easy. He lost his lead over Casquilla three times. Yet, he managed to grind down his opponent and eventually win the tournament. As for his runner-up, he scooped $54,412 of the prize pool.
Brian Powell from Wilmington, North Carolina took 3rd place for a payout of $40,161, his first-ever WSOP Circuit cash. One-time gold ring winner Peter Vitantonio from Wickliffe, Ohio finished 4th for $30,049. Landon Long from Greenfield, Indiana received $22,766 for finishing 5th.
Neil Scott from Mammoth Lakes, California collected $17,464 for his 6th place. Brian Locklar from Boynton Beach, California took 7th place for $13,561. Jason Seitz from Shakopee, Minnesota finished 8th for a payout of $10,663. Jose Silverman from San Juan, Puerto Rico rounded out the official final table for $8,482.
