Council Bluffs, IA (April 6, 2012)—Brent Carter is a familiar face at the World Series of Poker. Along with 72 career cashes and more than $1.3 million in earnings, Carter has multiple options when it comes to which bracelet or ring to wear -- now laying claim to two of each.
His most recent victory came in a modest-sized 58-person field in the $350 Pot-Limit Omaha with $100 Re-Buys tournament. There were a staggering 407 re-buys -- more than seven per entrant! Carter kept up that average, re-buying eight times en route to his $21,135 payday.
“I’ve played Omaha tournaments for years and this is just a case of getting the job done,” Carter said. “I picked up the right hands at the right time.”
A full list of Carter's WSOP cashes can be seen on his player profile page HERE.
Carter, the self-proclaimed tournament pest, is 63 years old and resides in Oak Park, IL. Before he started playing poker full time he used to race harness horses. He found his love for horse racing in high school when he and his girlfriend went to a race together. He eventually got involved with an individual who owned horses and the rest was history.
“At the poker table, you’re up against eight people and you’re all trying to figure out a strategy to get all the chips,” Carter said of the similarities between harness racing and poker. “In a harness race you have eight, nine or 10 horses and you’re all trying to figure out a strategy to get your horse there first. The best horse doesn’t always win and the best hand doesn’t always win.”
No slight to Carter’s competition, but it’s likely the best player won today. That’s a big statement considering the final table featured the likes of three-time Circuit champion Tim Burt and two-time Circuit champion David Nicholson.
Burt began the final table with a commanding chip lead but would eventually meet his demise heads-up against Carter. Had he been able hang on and get the win he would have moved to second all time and joined Men “The Master” Nguyen and Chris Relock with four Circuit championships. All players trail the five rings of Mark “Pegasus” Smith.
More information on Carter's Event #10 victory can be found HERE.
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Final Table:
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1
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David Nicholson
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PERKINSTON, MS
|
45,300
|
|
2
|
Kevin Odonnell
|
SEWARD, N
|
144,000
|
|
3
|
Ryan Gentry
|
LA JOLLA, CA
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53,900
|
|
4
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Brent Carter
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OAK PARK, IL
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99,200
|
|
5
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Miguel Degollado
|
ULYSSES, KS
|
34,800
|
|
6
|
Joseph Antelo
|
WESTON, FL
|
92,600
|
|
7
|
Adam Laskey
|
FARGO, ND
|
137,900
|
|
8
|
Neil Henning
|
SANTA ROSA, CA
|
128,200
|
|
9
|
Patricia Merksick
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COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA
|
21,800
|
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10
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Tim Burt
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GRENADA, MS
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174,500
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Sixth Place: This was Joseph Antelo’s third cash of the 2011/2012 Circuit tour and his first final table. His favorite poker player is Tim Burt and he says his poker ambition is to take Burt’s tournament winnings in the cash room later. He is 58 years old and resides in St. Augustine, FL.
Sixth place awarded $3,325.
Fifth Place: The tournament’s fifth place finisher was Adam Laskey. Laskey is a six-time WSOP casher and also boasts two other tournament victories. Before becoming a professional poker player he was a student at North Dakota State.
Lakey is 25 and won $4,339 for fifth.
Fourth Place: This was Kevin Odonnell’s second final table at Council Bluffs. He improved on his tenth place finish in Event #8 with a fourth place finish in Event #9. He is married with four children and eight grandchildren. When he isn’t playing poker he enjoys bowling and has had two 300 games.
Odonnell was awarded $5,917.
Third Place: Also making his second final table appearance was two-time Circuit champion David Nicholson. David won the Main Event in Bossier City to kick off 2011 and followed it up with a win in Hammond.
David is 26 and resides in Biloxi, MS. Third place awarded $8,566.
Second Place: Tim Burt is a three-time Circuit champion and shares a home in Biloxi, MS with Nicholson. Together the two account for more than $200,000 in career earnings at the WSOP and five rings. Prior to Friday evening, Burt had recorded a win in each of his previous three final table appearances and a victory tonight would have moved him to four Circuit titles and into a tie with Men “The Master” Nguyen and Chris Reslock for second all time. All players trail the five rings of Mark “Pegasus” Smith.
With four players remaining, Burt got in a big hand against Odonnell holding against his . The board brought two pair for Odonnel and a backdoor flush draw for Burt. The turn gave Burt a fourth diamond, and a river would complete his flush and send Odonnell home in fourth. That pot put Burt in contention for the chip lead and in great position to win ring number four, but he would eventually fall victim to Carter heads-up.
Burt is a 31-year-old professional poker form Grenada, MS. He came up short of a ring, finishing second for $13,075.
First Place: The player who got the best of Burt was 63-year-old Brent Carter. Carter is an established professional with an astounding $1.4 million in career cashes and 37 final tables at the WSOP! He has two WSOP bracelets and two rings.
“You can’t approach it like it’s a $300 tournament because it’s really a $600 or $800 tournament,” Carter said about the $350 re-buy tournament.
First place awarded $21,135.
WSOP Circuit events continue at Horseshoe Council Bluffs through April 10. The Main Event will take place April 7.
About Horseshoe Council Bluffs: Horseshoe Council Bluffs, located only a few miles from Omaha, NE, is Iowa’s largest casino. It opened in March 2006 after receiving an $86 million renovation and expansion. The property now features roughly 100,000 square feet of gaming space and boasts the title of Iowa’s only land-based, full-service casino. In addition to the most popular tables and slots, Horseshoe Casino features live greyhound racing and simulcast thoroughbred racing, giving it the broadest array of wagering options in the region. This is the sixth year the property has hosted a World Series of Poker Circuit event.
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