Thursday, November 3, 2016 11:40 AM Local Time
You Could Call It a Comeback
Event #7
No-Limit Hold'em
Buy-in: $300 (+$65)
Total Entries: 158
Prizepool: $47,400
Dale Menghe, after being behind for majority of the later stages, comes from behind to win his first career gold ring.
Stateline, Nevada (November 2, 2016) – Dale Menghe’s third WSOP cash was a huge one. He won his first Circuit gold ring by outlasting a field of 158 players in Event #7: $365 No-Limit Hold’em. The tournament lasted two days and finished under the spotlight at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe on Wednesday evening.
Menghe has been playing cards for a while now, but over the years he has implemented an array of different income-generating trades. From running a custom home building business to owning a chain of successful yogurt spots, it is safe to say Menghe is a true, entrepreneurial spirit. Originally from Wisconsin, Menghe use to scoop up some big action at a local casino in his hometown of Milwaukee.
“Potawatomi had one of the biggest PLO games in the country. I caught my teeth on that for about three years,” said Menghe
After selling the yogurt stores, Menghe has since been playing poker full time. The occupational plan was suggested by none other than his wife, who Menghe admires and love. His wife sure had the right idea because recently he has been making out like a bandit, stumbling upon maybe the biggest score of his life exactly one week ago at Graton Casino & Resort.
“Wednesday I ended up winning the bad beat jackpot there, $118,470,” exclaimed Menghe. “So I’ve been rolling really good.”
His good run has propelled him from California, to Harvey’s Lake Tahoe, and straight through to the number one spot in Event #7. However, the No-Limit Hold’em tournament was hardly a breeze for Menghe. When play reached the final three tables Menghe’s stack was in critical condition and, for the most part, stayed there even through to the final table where he came in as seventh in chips. Menghe played careful and smart poker, dodging a few crucial hands.
“I always thought… You know these tournaments; it’s not the ones you win, it’s the ones you lay down,” Menghe explained.
A stand out hand for Menghe was when he laid down a set to his opponent who shoved on the river. With an ugly board showing flush and straight opportunities, Menghe’s tournament life could have been extinguished on that very hand. This was never the case though.
Once play was short-handed, Menghe turned up the heat, and his aggressive play late got him the outright victory. He walked away with the top-prize of $12,798, 50 Casino Championship points, and a coveted gold ring to call his own. Menghe is geared up to play the Main Event beginning on Friday, as well as making a trip back to Milwaukee for the Potawatomi Circuit series happening in early February.
Here's a breakdwon of the final table finishers:
1st: Dale Menghe - $12,798
2nd: Dave Plaskett - $7,909
3rd: Edward Cybulski - $5,693
4th: Mike Reed - $4,173
5th: Shawn Roberts - $3,112
6th: James Ramsell - $2,362
7th: Bob Gibson - $1,823
8th: Ehsan Porgharibshahishare - $1,430
9th: William Donovan - $1,140
Complete results can be found above, under the Results tab.