Harrah's, Cherokee. (12 August 2019) -After falling just short two years ago in the 2017 Main Event, finishing in 7th place, Billy Cashwell is now a World Series of Poker Circuit ring winner. Cashwell won the Main Event at the Harrah’s in Cherokee, earning $271,234.
Cashwell, a self-employed construction worker from Stedman, NC has a long history of success in Circuit events dating back to 2008 with his first cash at Ceasars, Atlantic City. This is his largest cash thus far in his poker career, with his previous one being $50,000 in this event two years ago.
When asked how he felt finally winning the title, he took a moment to respond at a loss of words he replied, “Great, I have been at this awhile.”
It was a difficult road to victory for Cashwell, especially heads up against his opponent Forrest Raleigh, climbing an uphill battle as when the heads-up match began he was out chipped by more than two-to-one.
Cashwell had found himself getting even shorter early in the heads up match before taking a stand and shoving his 14 big blinds in the middle with queen-high and getting called by ace-high. Cashwell made a pair of queens to double up and get him back in the fight for the title.
After that double he continued to win some small pots until he made two pair over Raleigh’s two pair and took a commanding chiplead. As an almost three-to-one chip favorite it didn’t take long before all of the chips landed in the middle and Cashwell won a flip when his pocket fives held up against Raleigh’s over cards, sending him all of the tournament chips, and sealing his victory for the WSOP circuit gold ring.
With this victory Cashwell says he plans to travel outside of Cherokee. “Maybe a few more stops on the Circuit,” He said. This will also include the 2020 Global Casino Championship, the invitational only tournament that he has sealed himself a seat into with this win,
The tournament started with 1,057 entries, and the top 159 players made the money. Other players finishing in the money include Christopher Carey (144th place), Richard Seymour (143rd), Irene Carey (131st), Erik Gorman (106th), Ryan Eriquezzo (45th), Maurice Hawkins (16th), and Martin Kozlov (6th).
Here are the final table results, Click Here for Full Results.
1 - Billy Cashwell - $271,234
2 - Forrest Raleigh -$167,637
3 - Thomas Alcorn - $126,188
4 - Dann Turner - $95,847
5 - Brad Albrinck - $73,467
6 - Martin Kozlov - $56,832
7 - Rodney Seymour - $44,373
8 - Shawn McClanahan - $34,971
9 - Robert Georato - $27,822