FIFTH TIME A CHARM: JOHN FAGG FINALLY GETS HIS GOLD RING
Noted Scientific Researcher Dr. Vafa Kamali Finishes as Runner Up

New Orleans, LA (May 13, 2012) – The most recent World Series of Poker Circuit event held at Harrah’s New Orleans was a thriller, ultimately coming down to an exhilarating final hand.

With a WSOP Circuit gold ring at stake and two very determined players involved in a dogfight, aspiring poker pro John Fagg flopped a straight against Dr. Vafa Kamali’s three-of a kind.  The two monster hands had everyone on the rail at attention – with half of the gallery screaming for the board to pair while the remainder shouted for two blanks.  In the end, Fagg’s straight held up, dragging the final pot of an exciting two-day event, and ultimately ending with the crowing of a new poker champion who more than earned his place in the winner’s circle.

Before arriving at this finale, Fagg had previously made four WSOP Circuit final table appearances this season alone – making him one of the most prolific high finishers of this record-breaking tour cycle.  However in the past, each and every time Fagg got within a few hands of victory, he either took a bad beat or suffered a cold run of cards that resulted in disappointment.  Indeed – third, fourth, sixth, and seventh-place finishes are all quite impressive – especially within a single season.  But there is no substitute for victory.

Fagg’s moment of triumph finally came at the final WSOP Circuit stop of the season, here in New Orleans.  He defeated a larger-than-expected field of 320 players and pocketed $36,472 in prize money for the win.  Fagg also raced way ahead of the finish line in the points race to qualify for a seat in the National Championship, to be played at season’s end.  Alas, this was a personal and professional trifecta for Fagg – earning significant prize money, his first gold ring, and a coveted seat to play in a million-dollar nationally-televised gold bracelet event in Las Vegas.  Not bad for two days “work.”

Fagg is a 29-year-old recent-turned-poker pro from Terre Haute, IN.  He previously worked as a carpenter.  However, Fagg’s tournament success this season has motivated him to play more on the WSOP Circuit, which seems to be working out nicely, so far.  To his credit, Fagg also finished second in the Indiana State Poker Championship, held earlier this year.

The runner up was Dr. Vafa Kamali, who is not exactly a household name.  However, he should be.  Dr. Kamali is part of a successful research team at the University of Southern Mississippi that recently discovered a scientific breakthrough in biology, dealing with genes.  His work was highlighted in a recent NOVA broadcast, which appeared on PBS.

Like his rival Fagg, Dr. Kamali was also seeking his first victory on the WSOP Circuit, after competing on the tournament trail for many years.  While he is clearly destined for greatness in his chosen field of science, Dr. Kamali’s ascendency as a poker champion will have to wait just a bit longer.
 
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The second of a dozen gold ring tournaments began on Saturday with Event #2 – a $565 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em competition.  The tournament attracted 320 entries – up nearly ten percent over the same event held last year (293 players in 2011).  The total prize pool came to $155,200.  The top 33 players were paid.  All players who cashed received WSOP Circuit National Championship ranking points.

A full list of all players who cashed in Event #2 can be seen here.

With his victory, Fagg moves into the top spot alongside Andy Hwang (Event #1 winner) as the two early leaders in this WSOP Circuit’s “Best All-Around Player” standings.  The (one) player who accumulates the most overall points in Harrah’s New Orleans’ twelve combined gold ring tournaments receives a pre-paid entry into the 2011-2012 WSOP Circuit National Championship.  

At least two players from this tournament series will qualify for the WSOP Circuit National Championship, which is classified as a WSOP gold bracelet event.  The other automatic qualifier will be the winner of Main Event championship (to be held May 19-22).

With the second tournament wrapped up, there are still ten more gold ring events remaining in what is being billed as a “12 rings in 12 days” poker series.  The WSOP Circuit at Harrah’s New Orleans continues through May 21st.  This year’s schedule includes not only all the gold ring events, but multiple second-chance tournaments, single table and mega satellites, plus cash games going around the clock inside the poker room

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MORE ABOUT THE WSOP CIRCUIT AT HARRAH’S NEW ORLEANS AND THE WSOP CIRCUIT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

The 17th and final World Series of Poker Circuit stop of the 2011-2012 season is taking place at Harrah's New Orleans, conveniently located right next to the famous French Quarter.  This year’s tournament series runs May 10-21.

New Orleans has become a favorite destination for poker players and regulars on the WSOP Circuit.  For each of the past eight seasons, Harrah’s New Orleans has been the last waltz of a long poker symphony.  This year, New Orleans wraps up seventeen WSOP Circuit event stops, which have attracted tens of thousands of poker players from all over the United States, and beyond.  

The current season began last September at Horseshoe Bossier City (Shreveport), and now comes full circle back to the state of Louisiana for what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to what has been a record-breaking poker tour.
 
There's a lot at stake for poker players who will make their way to the Crescent City over the next two weeks.  Not only are nearly a dozen gold rings up for grabs, as well as lots of prize money.  What seems to be driving attendance is the wildly-popular WSOP Circuit National Championship rankings.  New Orleans is the last chance players will have to earn points to qualify for this year’s National Championship.
 
Since the season began, all tournament players have been in the running for 100 guaranteed pre-paid seats in the $1 million WSOP Circuit National Championship finale.  In a sense, every National Championship seat is valued at $10,000 -- since that’s the proportion of the million dollar-plus prize pool each player represents.  Another 100 players are eligible to buy into the tournament (top ranked players from each of the past two WSOPs in Las Vegas), which means the event will cap out with well over a million dollars at stake.

This marks the second straight season that the WSOP Circuit has utilized a national ranking system based on accumulated points.  All players earned their points by finishing in-the-money in one or more of the 204 total gold ring tournaments which are being offered this season.

What awaits the fortunate 100 players who will advance to the National Championship?  First, there is the chance to win a lot of money.  Second, is the opportunity to appear on national television, since the tournament held at the Rio Las Vegas will be broadcast nationally on ESPN – one of only three events this year to be covered in full by the network.  Third, all players will be competing for the most coveted prize in the game of poker – the WSOP gold bracelet.  This is the second time that a gold bracelet has been tied to the WSOP Circuit.  Last year, Sam Barnhart, from Little Rock, AR won the inaugural WSOP National Championship title.
So, the final opportunity for most players to be crowned the 2012 “WSOP Circuit National Champion” will take place at Harrah’s New Orleans.  Over 12 consecutive days – through May 21st – tournament players will be jockeying for position in what will be the final chance to earn ranking points.  

At the conclusion of the Harrah’s New Orleans tour stop – on May 21st -- the final official list of 100 players who qualify will be announced. 



About Harrah’s New Orleans:

Harrah’s New Orleans is operated by a subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment, Inc., the world's largest provider of branded casino entertainment.  Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada nearly 70 years ago, Caesars (formally Harrah')s has grown through development of new properties, expansions and acquisitions. Caesars Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership.  For more information, visit www.harrahsneworleans.com.