Tuesday, February 14, 2017 12:52 AM Local Time
Trinidadian recreational player becomes first player to win four rings in a single season
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (February 13, 2017) — Martin Ryan is on some kind of heater these days. Ryan is the champion of Event #3 at the Palm Beach Kennel Club, winning his fourth gold ring in as many months. He’s the first player in the Circuit’s 13-year history to win four rings in the same season.
The champ is a 54-year-old recreational player from Trinidad, which is the large half of a twin-island nation in the Caribbean. Back home, he spends most of his time tending to his business, which include a bed and breakfast and a private gaming club. His secular pursuits keep him occupied for most of the year, but an off-season lull allowed him the opportunity to spend a few months traveling the Circuit. He’s certainly making the best of his shot, so far.
Ryan emerged from relative anonymity in November, winning two Circuit rings and Casino Champion honors at Casino Royale in St. Maarten. A month later, he backed up those results with a third ring, dominating a big field in a $1,125 event at the Bicycle Casino to put his name on the map in mainland North America. Ryan has done it again in West Palm Beach, snagging a fourth ring to cement his recent run as one of the all-time greats.
Part of what sets Ryan apart from most players is his ruthless aggression. “I play about 97 percent of hands in the first four levels,” he admitted. “Later, you have to fold some of those hands. But in the first four levels, when the blinds are small… any two cards.”
Whatever he’s doing, it’s working. In addition to the four victories, Ryan has a handful of recent near-misses, including a second-place finish, a third, a fifth, and an eighth — all in ring events. In total, he’s earned more than $200,000 playing tournament poker over the last four months.
Ryan was second in chips when the field combined around the final table in this event, and he quickly moved into the top spot on the leaderboard. About four hour later, it was all over, with the champ posing for the winner’s photos with his fourth ring clutched in hand.
Monday, February 13, 2017 6:57 PM Local Time
Martin Ryan's heater continues, as he's just put the finishing touches on his fourth Circuit victory in as many months. He's now the only player who's won more than three rings within a single Circuit season, and he still several months to try to extend his own lead.
On the final hand of the heads-up duel, Carlos Loving opens the button to 38,000, and Ryan (pictured above) three-bet shoves to put his opponent to the test. Loving calls all in for his tournament life with ace-five, only to see Ryan show down a dominating ace-king. The board runs out ace-high, and Ryan's kicker plays to earn him the pot, the title, and the top prize of nearly $25,000.
Loving (below), who won a ring here earlier this season, is forced to settle for a runner-up consolation prize of $15,338.
Monday, February 13, 2017 6:27 PM Local Time
Martin Ryan opens the button with a raise, and Carlos Loving three-bet shoves for 256,000 in the big blind. Ryan calls to put Loving at risk, showing pocket fives. Loving is in trouble with ace-three, but another ace appears on the flop to save his tournament life, and he doubles up.
Carlos Loving - 516,000 (32 bb)
Martin Ryan - 1,774,000 (111 bb)
Monday, February 13, 2017 6:21 PM Local Time
Three-time ring winner Martin Ryan is heads-up for another, dueling against Carlos Loving, who has a ring of his own, too. Ryan begins the duel with a significant chip lead. Loving still has 30 big blinds with which to work, though, as they play 8,000/16,000 blinds with a 2,000 ante.
Martin Ryan - 1,815,000 (113 bb)
Carlos Loving - 475,000 (30 bb)
Monday, February 13, 2017 6:11 PM Local Time
Monday, February 13, 2017 5:22 PM Local Time
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Monday, February 13, 2017 4:54 PM Local Time
Monday, February 13, 2017 4:54 PM Local Time
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Monday, February 13, 2017 4:04 PM Local Time
About a half hour into the day, the field is reduced to 10 players, and they've just combined around the final table. Here's the lineup:
Seat 1: Ray Caffrey - 100,000
Seat 2: Dimitry Agrachov - 216,000
Seat 3: Harjinder Chawla - 217,000
Seat 4: Andre Rakusa - 412,000
Seat 5: Martin Ryan - 445,000
Seat 6: Joe Taylor - 161,000
Seat 7: Gregory Johnson - 240,000
Seat 8: Frederico Dabus - 83,000
Seat 9: Justin Swilling - 330,000
Seat 10: Carlos Loving - 82,000
Blinds are 3,000/6,000 with a 1,000 ante, putting the average stack at about 38 big blinds.
Monday, February 13, 2017 2:58 PM Local Time
The final 12 players are back in their seats, and Day 2 is under way. Play will continue this evening until a winner is determined.
Monday, February 13, 2017 3:20 AM Local Time
Monday, February 13, 2017 3:20 AM Local Time
The post-bubble rush of eliminations saw the field trimmed to 12 players, but the clock has just run out on Day 1. The remaining field is bagging up their chips, set to return to action tomorrow to decide a winner.
Andre Rakusa leads with 450,000 chips, but Martin Ryan (374,000) is hot on his heels in second place. The soft-spoken Trinidadian grinder is on some kind of heater right now, hunting for what would be a fourth ring in the span of barely three months. He's already made one final table this series, and a second one would give him an early lead in the race for Casino Champion at this venue. Ring winner Carlos Loving (74,000) will return for Day 2 with one of the shortest stacks in the remaining field.
Chip counts | Seat draw
Everyone left is guaranteed to earn at least $1,812 tomorrow, with a top prize of $24,829 awaiting the winner. Blinds will be 3,000/6,000 with a 1,000 ante when play resumes, putting the average stack at about 32 big blinds. Play resumes at 3 p.m.
Monday, February 13, 2017 1:55 AM Local Time
It took well over two hours to shrink the field from 27 players to 21, but Event #3 is now in the money. Eveyone left is guaranteed to earn at least $1,058.
There are two full levels of action left in Day 1.
Sunday, February 12, 2017 11:11 PM Local Time
Level 14 is about halfway complete, and the field has hit the first redraw of the event. Just 27 players remain, and they're now taking new seats around the final three tables. The bubble is also approaching, with the final 21 slated to earn shares of the nearly-$100,000 prizepool.
Three-time ring winner Martin Ryan is one of those still in contention as he seeks his fourth gold ring. Jon Borenstein and Carlos Loving, who both cashed in Event #2 earlier this afternoon, are also in the mix.
Blinds are 1,000/2,000 with a 300 ante in the current level, putting the average stack at about 42 big blinds.
Sunday, February 12, 2017 7:58 PM Local Time
Registration is closed for Event #3, and the numbers are in. This $580 event drew a field of 191 entries, putting a prizepool worth $95,500 up for grabs. That money will be shared by the final 21 players, with a min-cash worth $1,058. Each of the final three players will earn five figures, with the ring and a top prize of $24,829 reserved for the winner.
The prizepool is posted and scrolling on the clocks, with the full breakdown available in the tab above.
Sunday, February 12, 2017 6:51 PM Local Time
Level 8 begins, and this level represents the last chance to enter or re-enter the field for Event #3. There is a break following this level, after which registration will be closed. The prizepool information will be released shortly thereafter.
The board shows 185 entries so far.