Matt Betti, a California-based poker player, broke his duck at the WSOP Circuit as he outlasted a field of 322 entries in the 2016/17 WSOP Circuit Harvey’s Lake Tahoe $365 No-Limit Hold’em Monster Stack event. Apart from his career first gold ring, the player also collected the amount of $22,705 for his triumph. Betti dedicated his victory to his late father, who passed away several months ago.
The $365 No-Limit Hold’em Monster Stack was the eighth event on the WSOP Circuit Harvey’s Lake Tahoe schedule. It was played over two days and nights to be completed on Thursday night. The tournament attracted 322 entries. A prize pool of $96,600 was split among the top 33 finishers.
An unofficial ten-handed final table was set on Day 2. It was headed by Woody Kaawar with 1,079,000. Betti was second in chips at that point. At the time there were only four players left at the table, the eventual winner had already captured the chip lead and protected it stubbornly until the very end. However, it was not easy for Betti to scoop the title as he faced tough and seasoned competitors.
There were two former gold ring winners at the final table – Cary Marshall, who had won his two gold rings at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe in previous years, and Jose Esparza. Despite their experience and previous titles, both players and the rest of the tournament entries were vanquished by Betti.
The champion got something of a redemption for his eight-place finish from a year earlier in that same event in the same host venue. Apart from the two cashes at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe, Betti had made it in the money in one more WSOP Circuit tournament. Including last night’s cash, the player’s WSOP Circuit winnings now amount to almost $30,000.
Betti revealed that he would be playing in the ongoing festival’s Main Event, which is set to kick off today, as well as in other WSOP Circuit tournaments around the country in the months to come.
Paul Reyes took 2nd place in the $365 Monster Stack event for $14,036. Cary Marshall finished 3rd for $10,194. Cyril Kalbach collected $7,530 for his 4th place in the event. Farzad Abbaszadeh scooped a payout of $5,653 for taking 5th place.
Wadih Kaawar finished 6th, good for $4,311. Charisse Case took 7th place for $3,339. Jose Esparza added $2,626 to his previous WSOP Circuit winnings for finishing 8th in the Monster Stack event. Wesley Nally took 9th place, good for $2,095 in prize money. Scott Shawver rounded out the ten-handed final table for $1,697.
