Event #3 at the Horseshoe Southern Indiana Circuit, the Six-Handed No-Limit Hold ‘em event, was on pace to end in record time. A total of 226 players paid the $350 entry fee to take their shot at the Circuit Ring. By the end of day one, there were only 14 players remaining and they were well into the money with top 24 spots cashing.
Play resumed at 2 P.M. and in less than four hours, there were only three players remaining. A short-stacked Danny Nelson was all in with against the of Tim McCarthy. The board came , pairing McCarthy’s ace and eliminating Nelson in third place for $7,151.
Despite accumulating Nelson’s chips, McCarthy was still out chipped by Lexington, KY native Tod Melson by a 3-1 margin. Just a few hands into heads-up play, all the chips found the middle of the pot on a board of . Melson flipped up for a pair of kings but McCarthy showed for top two. The fell on the river and the two were virtually dead even in chips.
What was almost one of the quickest events ever on the WSOP Circuit slowly turned into a heads-up battle that would leave both players physically and emotionally drained. McCarthy and Melson traded chips back and forth without playing any large pots until about two hours into heads-up play.
McCarthy had taken a chip lead of 1.4 million to 800K when Melson led out for 240K on a board reading . McCarthy thought for a moment before announcing that he was all in. Melson snapped called and showed for the flopped straight. McCarthy showed his before tossing it into the muck. With that pot, Melson was up to 1.6 million to McCarthy’s 600K.
A short time later, McCarthy raised to 52K preflop and Melson moved all in. McCarthy made the call and turned up . Melson showed and the board ran out . Melson’s hand failed to improve and the two players were back to even.
Another two hours passed before a winner was finally determined. McCarthy had taken a slight chip lead when he limped in from the button before the flop. Melson raised it an additional 75K to which McCarthy bumped it up 200K more. Melson thought for a few moments before announcing that he was all in. McCarthy jumped from his seat and announced call, turning over . Melson was in bad shape with his . The board of did not improve Melson and he was eliminated in second place for $9,825.
Tim McCarthy, a 47-year old airline pilot from Munster, IN, took home $15,897 and the Circuit Ring for his victory. This is McCarthy’s third WSOPC final table but the first time he has been able to put on the Ring. He said this victory was for his two boys, Sean and Brendan.
Payouts at the final table were as follows:
1. Tim McCarthy $15,897
2. Tod Melson $9,825
3. Danny Nelson $7,151
4. Larry Riggs $5,288
5. Jason Hancock $3,272
6. Brian Wright $3,029
7. Adam Friedman $2,346
8. Bill Kanipe $1,844
9. Joshua Snodgrass $1,470
Play continues today at the Horseshoe with Day 2 of the $350 H.O.R.S.E. event as well as the start of Event #6, the $350 mixed PLO/PLH tournament.
For the full schedule of events at the Horseshoe Southern Indiana Circuit, click here.
For more information about the WSOP Circuit National Championship, click here.