Monday, May 15, 2017 6:05 PM Local Time
Louisiana pro scores another one for the home team at Harrah’s New Orleans
Caufman Talley is the most recent player to add his name to the list of five-time winners on the WSOP Circuit. Talley took down the $365 re-entry at Harrah’s New Orleans, winning his fifth gold ring and the top prize of $53,928. The victory also earned him 50 points in the season-long race for seats in the Global Casino Championship, bringing his total to 120 and putting him in contention for qualification with a few events left to get over the hump.
Talley is a 27-year-old professional poker player from right here in New Orleans. He’s among the upper echelon of those who’ve had success on the WSOP Circuit; only 11 players have won more times than he has. This most recent result moves him across the $300,000 mark in Circuit earnings and past $700,000 in earnings across all live events.
The rise to Circuit stardom for Talley began back in late 2011 when he arrived on the scene with a win in the six-max event at IP Biloxi. He added another ring to his collection one year later at the same venue, then another later that season at Horseshoe Bossier City in his home state. The next season, another one, this time at Horseshoe Cincinnati to earn him a fourth ring and put him in some elite company on the Circuit’s all-time list.
Talley has been traveling less over the past few years, but he’s still posting some significant results here and there. This most recent score is the largest of his Circuit career and second-largest across all events. The only one bigger came courtesy of a deep run in last year’s WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas. Talley finished in 67th place in that $10,000-buy-in event, finishing as one of the one percent out of the field of more than 6,700 entries.
This run to this ring began with a successful attempt to advance through Day 1A, the first of three starting flights available. Talley did so with 91,500 chips, returning for Day 2 with an average stack and 110 players remaining. He proceeded to dominate the middle stages of Day 2 before trailing off a little later in the evening, but he was still second in chips by the time the final nine players combined around the final table.
The elimination of Kevin Jenkins in third place at the hands of Talley gave the eventual champ a significant chip lead entering the heads-up match against Simon Philip. About a half hour into the duel, Philip took his stand with pocket nines against Talley and his middling ace-six suited. The first four community cards were safe for Philip, but a timely ace on the river gave Talley the pot and the title in the wee hours of Monday morning.
Monday, May 15, 2017 1:56 AM Local Time
Caufman Talley (pictured above) has just added his name to the Circuit's list of five-time winners.
In the final hand of the heads-up match, Simon Philip raises to 200,000 on the button, and Caufman Talley three-bet shoves for about 1,400,000 effective in the big blind. Philip calls to put himself at risk, and he is well ahead for the time being.
Philip:
Talley:
The flop is safe for Philip, and so is the on the turn. The river is a disaster, though; the fills out the board, ending the match with a timely ace on the river. Talley wins the pot and the tournament with aces up, collecting his fifth gold ring and the top prize of $53,928.
Philip (below) is eliminated as the runner-up, earning $33,352.
Monday, May 15, 2017 1:34 AM Local Time
Caufman Talley opens the button with a min-raise to 160,000, Simon Philip calls in the small blind, and Kevin Jenkins defends his big blind to create three-way action.
The flop is . It checks to Talley, who continues for 200,000. Jenkins check-raises to 425,000, Philip folds, and Talley calls the remainder. The turn is the , and Jenkins moves all in for about a pot-sized bet. Talley calls to put him at risk.
Talley:
Jenkins:
Talley's kicker has him poised for the knockout, and he gets it as the completes the board with a blank. Jenkins is eliminated in third place, leaving Talley heads-up against Philip for the title.
Caufman Talley - 5,770,000 (72 bb)
Simon Philip - 3,685,000 (46 bb)
Kevin Jenkins - Eliminated
Monday, May 15, 2017 12:36 AM Local Time
Sunday, May 14, 2017 11:45 PM Local Time
Sunday, May 14, 2017 10:28 PM Local Time
With the blinds at 20,000/40,000, Edmund Sexton opens with a middle-position raise to 100,000, and Danny Doucet calls in the cutoff.
The flop is . Sexton continues for 225,000, and Doucet calls. The turn is the , and Doucet moves all in for about a pot-sized bet. Doucet quickly calls, and he already has Sexton drawing stone dead.
Sexton: (king-high)
Doucet: (set of threes)
The river is the meaningless , and Doucet wins the pot with threes full. Sexton is eliminated in sixth place, collecting the event's first five-figure payout.
Danny Doucet - 2,400,000 (60 bb)
Edmund Sexton - Eliminated
Sunday, May 14, 2017 9:54 PM Local Time
Sunday, May 14, 2017 9:53 PM Local Time
Michael Phizicky moves open-shoves the button, having both blinds covered. Simon Philip calls all in for 440,000 in the small blind, and Curtis Terry does the same for his last 405,000 in the big blind, putting himself at risk, as well.
Phizicky:
Philip:
Terry:
The board runs out , and Philip wins the pot with kings up, effectively tripling up. Terry is eliminated in eighth place, picking up another 17.5 points to move into the lead in the Casino Champion race for Harrah's New Orleans.
Simon Philip - 1,325,000 (44 bb)
Michael Phizicky - 675,000 (23 bb)
Curtis Terry - Eliminated
Sunday, May 14, 2017 9:40 PM Local Time
Sunday, May 14, 2017 9:35 PM Local Time
From a big starting field of 946 entries, just nine players remain in contention in Event #4. Here's the final table lineup:
Seat 1: Danny Doucet - 2,325,000
Seat 2: Kevin Jenkins - 1,925,000
Seat 3: Caufman Talley - 2,000,000
Seat 4: Michael Phizicky - 870,000
Seat 5: Simon Philip - 425,000
Seat 6: Curtis Terry - 465,000
Seat 7: Edmund Sexton - 865,000
Seat 8: Rob Quin - 335,000
Seat 9: Hal Kizzire - 200,000
Caufman Talley is already a four-time ring winner, and a fifth tonight would bolster his impressive WSOP Circuit resume that much more. Terry, a local, is one of the tour's newest first-time winners, taking down the opening event here at Harrah's New Orleans just a few days ago.
In addition to the ever-valuable points, there is some significant money and a piece of jewelry up for grabs this evening, too:
1st: $53,928 + ring
2nd: $33,352
3rd: $24,617
4th: $18,419
5th: $13,954
6th: $10,705
7th: $8,313
8th: $6,536
9th: $5,199
Blinds are 15,000/30,000 with a 5,000 ante in the current level, putting the average stack around 35 big blinds. Play will continue tonight until one player has all the chips.
Sunday, May 14, 2017 6:28 PM Local Time
Level 23 concludes, and the 14 remaining players have been sent on a one-hour dinner break. They'll be back in action just before 7:30 with the blinds at 10,000/20,000 with a 3,000 and and an average stack around 35 big blinds.
Sunday, May 14, 2017 4:24 PM Local Time
Level 21 is nearly complete, but the clock is paused at the moment. The field has just been trimmed to 27 players, and they're in the process of redrawing for new seats around the final three tables. Sean Small, Juan Mendoza, and 2013 WSOP National Champion Jonathan Hilton are all still in contention, and the three have drawn the same table.
Blinds are 5,000/10,000 with a 1,000 ante in the current level, putting the average stack at 35 big blinds. Everyone left is now guaranteed to earn at least $1,683 this evening.
Sunday, May 14, 2017 2:13 PM Local Time
The first two levels of Day 2 are complete, and the players are off for their first break of the day.
The bubble burst after about one full level of action, and the field has been further whittled down to just 50 remaining as the level concludes. John Richards (99th place), Jeter Brock (91st), Doug Carli (73rd), John Holley (64th), and Ben Keeline (56th) are among the early casualties.
Blinds are about to move to 3,000/6,000 with a 1,000 ante, and the average stack is around 190,000 chips.
Sunday, May 14, 2017 12:28 PM Local Time
Money is on the minds of some right now, but many of the remaining players are likely more concerned about the points race at the moment. After this, there are just eight events left in this season.
Here's the breakdown of the points to be awarded for this event:
Place |
Points |
1 |
50 |
2 |
37.5 |
3 |
30 |
4 |
27.5 |
5 |
25 |
6 |
22.5 |
7 |
20 |
8 |
17.5 |
9 |
15 |
10-27 |
10 |
28-54 |
5 |
55-99 |
2.5 |
Sunday, May 14, 2017 12:04 PM Local Time
It's noon in New Orleans, and the Day 2 restart is under way in Event #4.
Sunday, May 14, 2017 1:14 AM Local Time
Sunday, May 14, 2017 1:14 AM Local Time
Day 1C has bagged up for the night, and that signals the conclusion of the Day 1 flights. From a starting field of 946 entries, just 110 will return for the combined Day 2 to play for their shares of the $283,800 prizepool.
Here's the overnight top five:
1: Brandon Johnson - 244,500
2: Dee Patel - 210,500
3: Michael Phizicky - 210,500
4: Renee Gibbon - 198,500
5: John Lauve - 190,000
Others who advanced include Event #1 winner Curtis Terry (164,500), Sean Small (143,500), John Holley (132,500), Juan Mendoza (121,500), John Richards (95,500), Caufman Talley (91,500), Jason Rivkin (80,500), Jonathan Hilton (67,000), Jeter Brock (48,500), Doug Carli (46,000), Ben Keeline (42,500), and Josh Mammon (26,000).
Use the links below to see the full list of survivors and their Day 2 seating assignments.
Chip Counts | Seat Draw
Only 99 of the returning players will finish in the money, so bursting the bubble will be the day's first order of business. Blinds will be 1,500/3,000 with a 500 ante when Day 2 begins, putting the average stack just under 30 big blinds.
Cards go in the air at 12 p.m.
Sunday, May 14, 2017 12:47 AM Local Time
The clock has run out on Day 1C, and the 38 remaining players are bagging up their chips for the overnight soak. They'll return Sunday with the rest of the survivors for the combined Day 2.
Ring winner Jason Rivkin is among those filling out the end-of-day paperwork, along with John Richards and the Circuit's all-time most prolific casher, Doug Carli.
The full list of Day 2 players and the seat draw will be posted shortly.
Saturday, May 13, 2017 8:58 PM Local Time
Registration is now fully closed for this event, and the numbers are in.
With the addition of another 332 entries for Day 1C, the total field grew to 946 across all three flights. That attendance generates a prizepool worth $238,800 which will be shared by the final 99 players. A min-cash is worth $582 this weekend, while the winner will collect the series' fourth gold ring and $53,928 in cash.
Here's what the final table payouts look like:
1st: $53,928
2nd: $33,352
3rd: $24,617
4th: $18,419
5th: $13,954
6th: $10,705
7th: $8,313
8th: $6,536
9th: $5,199
The full breakdown of the payouts can be found in the Prizepool tab above.
Saturday, May 13, 2017 8:29 PM Local Time
The end-of-day paperwork is complete for the Day 1B flight, and the flight has indeed advanced 42 players.
Brandon Johnson did the most work this afternoon, bagging up 244,500 chips to take the overall lead through two flights. Johnson is one of seven players who finished the day with more chips than the Day 1A chip leader, Joshua Thibodeaux.
Here's the top of the Day 1B leaderboard at the close of play:
1: Brandon Johnson - 244,500
2: Michael Phizicky - 210,500
3: Danny Doucet - 188,500
4: Laura Crafton - 179,000
5: Seth Foster - 171,000
John Holley (132,500), Juan Mendoza (121,500), Jeter Brock (48,500), and Ben Keeline (42,500) also advanced through this flight.
Click here for the full list of Day 1B chip counts.
The 42 survivors have earned themselves a free evening in New Orleans, and they'll return along with the rest of the survivors for Sunday's Day 2.