2011 WSOP POKER CIRCUIT SEASON ENDS ON A HIGH NOTE

Written on 5/31/11 :

Barnhart takes home winner's prize worth $300 000
 
Sunday night saw the grand finale of the 2010 – 2011 World Series of Poker Circuit season in a $1 million freeroll national championship at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
 
By the end of the first day the original entry field of 100 players had been whittled down to 35, leading to a final table in which WSOP Circuit New Orleans Main Event Champion Jonathan Poche was chip leader on 534,000 – comfortably ahead by nearly 200,000 of his nearest rival, La Sengphet.
 
The final table comprised Poche and Sengphet ahead of Sam Barnhart, James Anderson, Josh Evans, Charles Moore, Drazen Ilich, Adam Hui and Matthew Lawrence.
 
However, at the death it was Sam Barnhart and James Anderson who faced off in the heads up after third placed Josh Evans headed for the exit.
 
It looked like a long night with two evenly matched players holding similar chip stacks, and both gave a good account of themselves before Barnhart managed to pull ahead and steadily increase his lead to ultimate victory.
 
Barnhart's winners' prize was $300 000 and a WSOP Circuit gold bracelet, whilst Anderson took home $200 000 for his second placing.  Six-figure paydays were enjoyed by the last four players surviving in a tournament that very ably ended the Circuit season and set the scene for an exciting 2011 WSOP competition.