Event #7: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Monster Stack

Event #7
No Limit Hold’em
Buy-In: $300 (+$65)
Total Entries: 497
Prize Pool: $149,100

Chris Sheffield Wins Back to Back Harrah’s New Orleans Monster Stack Events

New Orleans, Louisiana (May 19, 2016) – Chris Sheffield has just made World Series of Poker history as the first player to win the same event at the same Circuit stop, two years in a row.  Sheffield won the Monster Stack event here at Harrah’s New Orleans last year after he won a free entry into the event, and cashed out in first place for $24,017, his second career ring, and the title.  This year, Sheffield entered the event and “knew” he was going to win five days prior to the start of the tournament.  

“I just feel great because um I knew I was gonna win it….I just felt it. Last year I felt that I was going to win. It was the exact same feeling. And then some weird shit happened.  I play mostly cash games so I was just getting it in super good and loosing big pots, losing like 80/20s for huge amounts of money, and it was just swingy. And then like, haha, this is how I knew I was gonna win this one again because last year I had rivered a set against the guy’s open-ended straight draw and we got three bets in on the river, and then that happened again this year.  I rivered a set and he made his straight, and then we got three bets in on the river just like last year, I was like, ‘F*&@’ I’m gonna win that Monster tournament’.”

Sheffield plays mainly cash games, he estimated nearly 95% cash, and 5% tournaments. The only reason he entered this tournament was because he had won it last year, this was the only tournament he planned to play at this stop. He estimates that he plays only 10-15 tournaments a year, and plays cash nearly every day.  He explains, “I go to like three stops and play the re-entry, and then that’s usually it.” 

Sheffield bested a field of 497 players to take down this year’s Monster Stack event.  After a grueling three and a half hour heads up battle against Sean Small, Sheffield shoved all in on the button with eight three off, and was insta-called by Small holding pocket jacks. Sheffield flopped an eight, and turned a three to make two pair, and eliminate Small in 2^nd place.  

When asked about the final hand Sheffield said, “I understand variance.  I have just ran fricking hot in tournaments.  I used to play online sit and gos, I used to play twelve tables at a time, so like, I understand variance. For me to put so little volume in tournaments and have done so well…it’s like, you can’t do it without luck. I did not have a tough situation.  Look at my winning hand. I got eight three in versus jacks, and I still won,” he giggled. “You need luck to win tournaments.  I mean, you have to play well, you have to know what you’re doing.  But to run hot in a tournament you have to win flips. You have to get it in bad and win.”  

When heads up play began at the final table, Sheffield had the advantage of having played a few times in the past with this opponent Sean Small.  While he only played two prior tournaments with Small, Sheffield knew that Small played a bit unorthodox and Shefield said he had to be willing to take, “stupid weird lines,” in order to take this win from Small. 

Sheffield is very open about his previous struggle with depression.  He credits a change of mind frame, and approaching bullies in a more confident, direct manor in aiding his success in poker.  

When asked how he feels after this victory Sheffield said, “Thankful, and glad that I learned how to look at myself in the mirror every day.”  

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Event #7 was the seventh of 12 gold ring events on the WSOP Circuit schedule at Harrah’s New Orleans. It attracted 497 players, generating a $149,100 prizepool, and the top 54 places were paid. Day one started on Tuesday May 17^th.  A total of 14 players returned to pay Day 2, and it played down to a winner later Wednesday night/early Thursday morning. Play concluded in Level 34 at 2:30am. 

Final table results:

1st: Christopher Sheffield - $32,052 + Circuit gold ring

2nd: Sean Small - $19,820

3rd: Randolph Reese - $14,479

4th: My Nguyen - $10,734

5th: Richard Sinclair - $8,072

6th: Mitch Merritt - $6,158

7th: Phillip Hui - $4,764

8th: Jeffrey Sager - $3,738
9th: Ronnie Hop - $2,975

Complete results can be found above under the Results Tab.

Chris Sheffield shoved all in on the button, and Sean Small snap called.  Sheffield shrugged in disgust as Small turned over   .  Sheffield hesitantly turned over   .

The flop came    , leaving Small's pair of jacks in the lead.  But the   turn gave Sheffield two pair, and unfortunately for Small, the   river did not improve his hand.  Small will take home $19,820 for his second place finish.

Sean Small - 2nd Place - $19,820

Level 29 - 30,000/60,000 blinds with 10,000 ante.
Average Chip Stack: 2,485,000

Just before the players' 15 minute break, My Nguyen was eliminated in 4th place. He will take home $10,734 for his 4th place finish. 

The remaining 3 players will return to 40,000/80,000 blinds with a 10,000 ante. 

My Nguyen - 4th Place - $10,734

World Series of Poker Circuit ring winner Mitch Merritt was just eliminated in 6th place. This cash will add an additional $6,158 to his already impressive $167,241 in WSOP earnings.  

Mitch Merritt - 6th Place - $6,158

Jeff Sager - 8th Place - $3,738

Brian McDaniel was just eliminated in 10th place, taking home $2,399.  The Chicago native won his first World Series of Poker Circuit ring in November when he took down the $365 Pot Limit Omaha Event #5 at Harrah's Casino in Cherokee, NC.

We have now reached the official final table of nine. 

Brian McDaniel - 10th Place - $2,399

Last year Christopher Sheffield took down the Monster Stack event here at Harrah's New Orleans, besting a field of 364 runners, taking home $24,017.  Sheffield is still in with 11 players remaining, and is on track to make the final table in this event, and potentially even win back to back events.

We will bring you a list of players remaining and full chip counts when we reach the unofficial final table of ten. 

For full payout/prizepool information please see this link. 

There are currently 35 players remaining in the Monster Stack event.  A lot of players have showed up to this stop because it's the last one of the season, and their last opportunity to earn Global Casino Champion points.  There are currently 52 qualifying spots available and those in the 40-55 range are keeping their eyes close on the points earned at east tournament here at Harrahs New Orleans. 

For more information on the Global Casino Championship event to be held at Harrahs Casino in Cherokee, NC August of this year, please see this link.

Here is a look at the points awarded for the Monster Stack event here in New Orleans:

39 of the original 497 runners are advancing to Day 2.  All players are now in the money and guaranteed at least $625.For full prizepool and payout information, please see the Prizepool tab above.

The top ten chip counts heading into Day 2 are as follows: 

For a full list of players returning to Day 2 please see the Reports tab above.

Payout information has been announced.

There are officially 497 players, creating a prizepool of $149,100. The top 54 places will make the money.

A min-cash is worth $573, and the winner will earn $32,052.

Here is a look at the final table payouts. A full list of payouts is available in the Prizepool tab above.

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