Monday, March 28, 2022 10:00 PM Local Time
Main Event Champion - Joe Rice
The World Series of Poker Circuit at the Turning Stone Resort Casino has crowned its inaugural Main Event Champion on Monday Evening. Event #12: $1,700 Main Event attracted a combined total of 891 entries and created a massive prize pool of $1,349,865. After an epic battle it was Joe Rice who claimed victory.
A grand-prize of $238,870, a Circuit gold ring and an entry into the year end Tournament of Champions were awarded to the family man for the first-place finish.
Rice had quite the amazing series at the Turning Stone Circuit stop, as he racked up four final table finishes and a total of $274,441.This was the second ever WSOP Circuit gold ring Rice has won and he did it both in the same series. Rice defeated 406 entries in Event #1 to take home $27,372.
Rice is about to have his first baby daughter, due June 29th and it wasn't easy for him to be away from his Wife Jessica Rice and two sons, Joseph Rice JR (7 years old) and Jayson Rice (5 years old). "I told them I was coming out here to do this for them. You know, it was tough being away from them throughout the week. They cried because they missed me." Rice drove to his home in Clayton Park multiple times throughout the week sleep with the family and drove back to Verona the next morning. "They really are my heart and soul. I am glad I can make them proud."
To stay on top of his game he says plays a lot of cash games and watches a lot of poker videos. "My wife asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I said, honestly I just want to play the Circuit (at Turning Stone) and play all the events. I told her I guarantee I will win at least one, maybe two and I will make at least $100,000."
Rice concluded, "I told my family by the end of the series the world will know my name, but most importantly they will know my families name."
After having a fantastic Day 1 in the second flight and bagging the chip lead on Day 1 with over 800,000, it wasn't all easy cruising. He had many downslides, slipping below the 200,000 chip mark multiple times but in his words he 'managed to not tilt' and keep his head on his shoulders. At the end of Day 2 he found himself in the middle of the pack with over 2,000,000 in chips and outlasted many notables, including Scott Blumstein (35th), Shaun Deeb (111th), Zachary Gruneberg (89th), Michael Cannon (105th) and Michael Ferrer (104th).
Day 3 was a bit of a challenge for Rice as he found himself getting short on multiple occasions. With three players left he was at risk in a game changing hand with king-jack versus Robert Hovers king-queen and found a jack to stay alive. Hover was eliminated the following hand.
When the heads up battle began Rice was a 4-1 chip stack underdog and it was a four hour grueling battle before he eliminated runner-up Giuseppe Galluzzo.
Final Table Results
1st - Joseph Rice - $238,870
2nd - Giuseppe Galluzzo - $147,644
3rd - Robert Hover - $110,250
4th - John Amoia - $83,144
5th - Patrick Bowe - $63,332
6th - Jared Woodell - $48,729
7th - Matthew Eng - $37,877
8th - James Namiot - $29,747
9th - Timothy O'Donoughue - $23,605
Click Here for the Full Results.
Monday, March 28, 2022 8:54 PM Local Time
Joe Rice - First Place
Joe Rice limped the button and Giuseppe Galluzzo jammed his 5,600,000 and Rice practically beat him in the pot.
Giuseppe Galluzzo:
Joe Rice:
The board ran out for Rice's ace-high to hold up, eliminating Galluzzo from the tournament.
Joe Rice - 26,700,000
Giuseppe Galluzzo - Eliminated in 2nd Place ($147,644).
Giuseppe Galluzzo - Runner Up
A full recap of Gimenez's Main Event, championship run will be posted later tonightMonday, March 28, 2022 8:50 PM Local Time
Giuseppe Galluzzo was down to just under seven big blinds and moved all in for about 2,600,000. Joe Rice called.
Galluzzo:
Rice:
The board ran out and Galluzzo doubled through.
Giuseppe Galluzzo - 5,600,000
Joe Rice - 21,150,000
Monday, March 28, 2022 8:46 PM Local Time
Joe Rice limped and Giuseppe Galluzzo checked his option.
The dealer fanned a flop of and Galluzzo check-called a bet of 400,000.
The hit the turn and Galluzzo check-called again, this time for 800,000.
When the hit the river, Galluzzo stacked up a pile of chips and crossed with 3,000,000. Rice took a few seconds and put a chip across the line to signal a call.
Joe Rice - 22,500,000
Giuseppe Galluzzo - 4,200,000
Monday, March 28, 2022 8:40 PM Local Time
Giuseppe Galluzzo limped in on the button and Joe Rice checked his option. The flop came and both players checked.
The dealer put out the on the turn and Rice bet 400,000, prompting a call from Galluzzo. The river was the and Rice checked. Galluzzo looked back at his cards several times and said, "I thought I could win with a queen" and tabled for jack high. Fortunately for him, Rice had ten high and he won the pot.
Giuseppe Galluzzo - 10,000,000
Joe Rice - 16,750,000
Monday, March 28, 2022 8:36 PM Local Time
Giuseppe Galluzzo jammed on the button for 4,650,000 and Joe Rice said, "Well it's probably 60/40, I'll give it a shot," as he put in the chips and tabled his hand.
Giuseppe Galluzzo:
Joe Rice:
The flop gave both players a flush draw but Galluzzo was ahead with ace-high. The hit the turn, pairing Rice and he took the lead. The completed the board swinging the chips back towards Galluzzo as he collected the pot.
Joe Rice - 17,000,000
Giuseppe Galluzzo - 9,700,000
Monday, March 28, 2022 8:28 PM Local Time
Joe Rice and Giuseppe Galluzzo are trading blinds back and forth, with Galluzzo still hovering around 6 million and Rice sitting on a commanding lead.
Joe Rice - 20,150,000
Giuseppe Galluzzo - 6,600,000
Monday, March 28, 2022 8:25 PM Local Time
Giuseppe Galluzzo rasied to 900,000 and Joe Rice called.
The flop of was checked through to the turn.
Rice checked to Galluzzo as he put out a bet of 800,000. Rice called.
The hit the river and Rice checked. Galluzzo hesitated and after double checking his cards he checked back. Rice announced king-high as he tabled and Galluzzo mucked his hand as he said, "I could have got away with one there."
Joe Rice - 20,400,000
Giuseppe Galluzzo - 6,300,000
Monday, March 28, 2022 8:14 PM Local Time
Giuseppe Galluzzo limped in on the button and Joe Rice checked his option.
The dealer put out a flop reading and Rice checked. Galluzzo bet 400,000, Rice called and the two players saw the on the turn. Rice check-called a bet of 800,000 this time and the dealer completed the board with the on the river.
Rice checked and Galluzzo cut out a bet worth 1,500,000. Rice folded.
Giuseppe Galluzzo - 9,300,000
Joe Rice - 17,450,000
Monday, March 28, 2022 8:08 PM Local Time
Joe Rice raised to 800,000 and Giuseppe Galluzzo called.
On the flop, Galluzzo check-called a bet of 400,000.
When the hit the turn both players checked to see the on the river.
Galluzzo fired 900,000 and was snap-called. "I have a pair," said Galluzzo. Rice tabled for top pair and scooped the pot.
Joe Rice - 19,800,000
Giuseppe Galluzzo - 6,900,000
Monday, March 28, 2022 7:57 PM Local Time
Level: 35
Blinds: 200,000/400,000
Ante: 400,000
Monday, March 28, 2022 7:42 PM Local Time
The final two players will be back in 15 minutes.
Monday, March 28, 2022 7:40 PM Local Time
Giuseppe Galluzzo raised to 750,000 and Joe Rice called.
The dealer fanned a flop of , Rice checked and Galluzzo checked back to see the on the turn. Rice checked again and Galluzzo bet 900,000. Rice called.
The river was the and Rice checked again. Galluzzo moved all in and Rice folded, showing the before tossing his cards into the muck. "I bluffed you this time," said Galluzzo as he tabled for nine high.
"That's a good card to bluff," said Galluzzo. "Yeah, the diamond. If it wasn't a diamond I call," said Rice.
Giuseppe Galluzzo - 9,500,000
Joe Rice - 17,250,000
Monday, March 28, 2022 7:31 PM Local Time
Joe Rice raised to 750,000 and Giuseppe Galluzzo called.
The flop came and both players quickly checked.
The hit the turn and Rice check-folded to a bet of 600,000. Galluzzo showed the before giving his hand back to the dealer.
Joe Rice - 17,700,000
Giuseppe Galluzzo - 9,000,000
Monday, March 28, 2022 7:20 PM Local Time
Joe Rice made it 600,000 to go and Giuseppe Galluzzo called.
The dealer put out the flop and Galluzzo check-called a bet of 400,000 from Rice. The turn was the and both players checked to see the on the river. Galluzzo checked and Rice announced a bet of 1,200,000.
"Would be nice to have a six here," said Galluzzo before folding.
Joe Rice - 17,550,000
Giueseppe Galluzzo - 9,200,000
Monday, March 28, 2022 7:13 PM Local Time
Joe Rice limped, Giuseppe Galluzzo jammed for 5,400,000 and Rice snap-called.
Giuseppe Galluzzo:
Joe Rice:
Rice had set the trap and was ahead of the queen-high. The flop paired both players with Rice having top pair. The turn was a brick but the landed on the river for Galluzzo to survive.
Giuseppe Galluzzo - 11,100,000
Joe Rice - 15,600,000
Monday, March 28, 2022 7:03 PM Local Time
Giuseppe Galluzzo jammed for 3,075,000 on the button and Joe Rice gave the "okay call."
Giuseppe Galluzzo:
Joe Rice:
The flop of gave Rice a flush draw and the turn gave him an inside straight draw as well but the paired the board and Galluzzo doubled through Rice.
Joe Rice - 20,250,000
Giuseppe Galluzzo - 6,450,000
Monday, March 28, 2022 6:58 PM Local Time
Giuseppe Galluzzo limped and Joe Rice checked his option.
The flop came and Rice check-called a bet of 400,000.
The turn and river were checked down and Galluzzo announced 'six' before seeing Rice's
Joe Rice - 21,700,000
Giuseppe Galluzzo - 4,500,000
Monday, March 28, 2022 6:43 PM Local Time
Level: 34
Blinds: 150,000/300,000
Ante: 300,000
Monday, March 28, 2022 6:43 PM Local Time
Giuseppe Galluzzo made it 650,000 to go and Joe Rice called. The two players went to a flop of and Rice checked. Galluzzo bet 400,000, Rice called and the dealer put out the on the turn.
Rice checked again and Galluzzo bet 700,000 this time. Rice folded and flashed the with a painful look on his face.
Giuseppe Galluzzo - 8,500,000
Joe Rice - 18,250,000