Ring Event #1: $365 No-Limit Hold'em Monster Stack

Kevin Haines is the champion of Event #1 at Choctaw. Haines defeated a field of 1,004 entries in the $365 Monster Stack event, winning $55,786 and the gold ring. In addition to the tangible prizes, he also collected 50 points in the race for Casino Champion at this venue, sharing an early lead with Event #2 winner Eric Crews.

The champ is a 44-year-old fireman from the suburbs of Dallas, and this victory was just the second cash on his tournament record. The first came in this same building in 2012 when Haines earned a small profit in the $1,600 WSOP Circuit Main Event. That finish was worth $3,742, and Haines was amused when asked to compare the two results.

“Hah, right!” he laughed. “Three thousand dollars compared to fifty-five? It’s not so bad.”

Haines was the shortest stack left when the final table began, starting nine-handed play with 13 big blinds. He bided his time and picked his spots, though, and he lasted long enough to get involved in a pivotal hand with four players remaining. Haines was dealt pocket queens in a three-bet pot, and his opponent moved all in with king-queen after a T-9-8 flop. Haines called, and his queens held on the turn and river. The dealer pushed him the biggest pot of the tournament, and Haines took control of more than 80% of the chips in play with three players left. Less than an hour later, it was over.

“You have to understand,” Haines said in the moments after his victory. “I’m about as much of an amateur at this game as anybody. I’m a fireman by trade, so I do this for fun.”

Haines certainly didn’t carry himself like an amateur at the final table, and he seemed to be having a great deal of fun as he posed for the winner’s photos in the wee hours of Saturday morning.

When asked what he intended to do with his winnings, Haines was well prepared with an answer. “Some of it will go back into poker,” he said. “Some of it will go to bills. And remodeling. I can be the boring guy, too.”

Seat 1: Shawn Rice - 2,430,000 (30 bb)
Seat 2: Ben Perez - 1,800,000 (23 bb)
Seat 3: Weldon Johnson - 1,775,000 (22 bb)
Seat 4: Kevin Haines - 1,065,000 (13 bb)
Seat 5: David Hadley - 2,200,000 (28 bb)
Seat 6: Jesse Nieto - 3,900,000 (49 bb)
Seat 7: Robbie Wanek - 2,040,000 (26 bb)
Seat 8: Stevie Lee - 3,100,000 (39 bb)
Seat 9: Doug Kim - 1,345,000 (17 bb)

Things are moving right along in Event #1. Level 27 is just getting underway, though the clock is currently paused. A double knockout has reduced the field to 17 players, and they're now being redrawn around the final two tables left in play.

The blinds are 20,000/40,000 with a 5,000 ante, and the average stack is just less than 30 big blinds. Everyone remaining is guaranteed to earn at least $2,973.

The final 65 players are back in the tournament area, and the cards are in the air for Day 2 of Event #1. Blinds are 6,000/12,000 with a 2,000 ante. Everyone left is guaranteed a payday upon their elimination, but all eyes are on the top prize of more than $55,000. The winner also receives the Series' first gold ring and 50 points toward the race for Casino Champion at this stop.

Shuffle up and deal!

Level 20 is just beginning, and the field has snuck into the money. The board shows 108 players remaining, and each of them are now guaranteed a payout of at least $554 to kickstart their weekend.

Across the room, Event #2 is on the direct money bubble with 28 players remaining and only 27 places paid.

The afternoon's survivors are on a one-hour dinner break. The board shows 999 players entered so far, and registration remains open until the start of the next level, following dinner.

Play resumes just after 6:30 p.m. local time.