Verona, NY (March 28, 2023 Turning Stone Circuit Stop Report) – In a venue with such a rich poker history as Turning Stone Casino Resort, it was fitting that one of the best to ever play the game, who honed his early poker chops in central New York took home the largest WSOP Circuit Main Event the state had ever seen.
Five-time WSOP bracelet winner Shaun Deeb of Las Vegas, Nevada, but originally from nearby Troy, NY won $275,916, his first Circuit ring, and entry into the WSOP Tournament of Champions after a dominant final table performance.
Deeb’s victory capped the largest-ever WSOP Circuit Main Event at Turning Stone which saw 1,070 entries build an immense prize pool of $1,621,050, with the top three finishers, which included runner-up Giyeon Han and third-place finisher Cindy Spier, each earning six-figure paydays.
Having grown up in New York state, winning the event in the casino where he honed his game and won his first-ever tournament felt special for Deeb.
“Being my original first casino, Turning Stone… I just love the nostalgia. Going to play cash, some of the same staff are here from when I was coming here 20 years ago with my Gram, they were always great to my family… I had a lot of fun and I love playing with these people.”
Deeb took the chip lead early at the final table from eventual fourth-place finished Kyle Grupp, and proceeded to steamroll the competition which included accomplished pro Matthew Wantman, and now fellow Turning Stone Circuit ring winners Patrick White and Gilberto Taveras.
Turning Stone Main Event Final Table Results:
1st place: Shaun Deeb $275,916 + entry into WSOP Tournament of Champions
2nd place: Giyeon Han – $170,528
3rd place: Cindy Spier – $126,097
4th place: Kyle Grupp – $94,274
5th place: Paul Ross – $71,272
6th place: Gilberto Tavares – $54,492
7th place: Raymond Ezzie – $42,139
8th place: Matthew Wantman – $32,964
9th place: Patrick White – $26,089
Complete Main Event Results: Tournament Results | Official World Series of Poker Online
The Main Event wasn’t the only event that broke a record, as guarantees were shattered throughout the series with over $5,000,000 in prize money awarded over the 16-event series.
Massive fields created huge prize pools in every event, none more notable than Event #11: $300 Ladies No-Limit Hold ‘em, which drew a WSOP Circuit Ladies event record 285 entries, with Katelin Koper taking home the top prize of $9,951, the ring, and the TOC entry in her first WSOP cash.
Other notable side event winners included the aforementioned Patrick White, who along with his final table performance in the Main Event, won his second ring in Event #12: $400 No Limit Hold ‘em for $$29,461, Michael Perrone, who picked up his third ring in Event #8: $400 Monster Stack for $77,407, and Timothy Russ, who outlasted the 2,616 entry field over four flights in Event #2: $400 No-Limit Hold ‘em for the series’ other six-figure first-prize of $116,971.
