Event #37: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em

A long and exhausting Day 3 has come to an end in Event #37: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'Em with Thomas Reynolds breaking through for his first tournament title. Reynolds is happily taking home $292,880 and a gold bracelet after defeating James Hughes (2nd place - $180,919) in a long heads-up battle.

Both players mentioned they were getting tired near the end of heads-up play which may have led to Reynolds making an all-in call with a straight and flush draw. The board was      and Reynolds led out for 900,000. Hughes moved all-in for 2,780,000 and Reynolds called tabling    vs Hughes'   . The river landed the   giving Reynolds his flush and the victory. The two players duked it out for 109 hands before a winner was crowned.

Reynolds had just over $11,000 in earnings before today's finish and booked his first World Series of Poker cash to go along with his first career win. He says, "I love playing poker. My wife's very understanding." Reynolds thinks of himself as a family man, with a passion for poker and is a fan of UNC. When asked how he felt about this achievement he said, "It feels kinda unreal to tell you the truth, but you know, it's something I wanted to try to do. It's an amazing feeling."

He talked a bit about how he approached the field and that his wife says, "Be patient, Tom." He laughed and continued, "I'm glad I didn't know there were that many pros. It probably would've put more pressure on me." The heads-up battle was a long one, but Reynolds explained that he felt good about it. "First I was a little nervous. I hadn't played that much heads-up like that. And the speed. I felt in control in the beginning, but it got tight at the end."

Reynolds now has over $303,000 in cashes, along with a coveted gold bracelet to bring home to his family who was following along with the updates all day. He plans on leaving Las Vegas for a short while to go on a holiday with his family but will be back for the Main Event now that he has paid his way. "I hope you get to interview me again," he laughed.

Here is a look at the final table results.

The tournament gained a total of 2,020 entries on Day 1 with 303 players reaching the money and earning at least $1,502. There were many notables that finished in the money and they include Anthony Spinella (23rd place - $9,209), defending champion Chase Bianchi (28th place - $7,492), Mark Seif (48th place - $5,131), Ryan Laplante (52nd place - $5,131), and Barry Greenstein (61st place - $4,319).

Final Table Summary

The official table got underway after the elimination of Daniel Deveau (10th place - $18,720) who ran his pocket kings into the pocket aces of Hampton. It only took three hands for the next elimination to come along as Joep Raemaekers (9th place - $23,460) was next to fall. He got all of his chips in the middle with top pair against his opponent's two over cards, straight draw, and a flush draw, and wasn't able to hold on. The next bust out came even faster, in the very next hand, as Chad Eveslage (8th place - $30,448) lost with his    against Hughes'   .

After three quick knockouts, it took another 118 hands until Chris Johnson (7th place -$39,937) hit the rail. Johnson lost a flip to Hughes, which started the next chain of bust outs. In the next hand, Vlad Darie (6th place - $52,932) was all-in with pocket sevens against the pocket jacks of Hughes. Darie couldn't hit a seven and was the next casualty. Michael Gathy (5th place - $70,884) put up a good fight on the final table, doubling up several times while being the short stack. Unfortunately, his time came to and end in fifth place as his string of luck ran out.

Eric Blair (4th place - $95,899) became the new short stack on the table and after a couple of limpers in front of him, Blair shoved all-in from the small blind. Reynolds push all-in over the top and his opponent in rough shape. Reynolds tabled    against Blair's   . Blair could not hit a jack and was sent to the rail. Players went on a break and when they returned, Reginald Hampton (3rd place - $131,061) was all-in with ace-king vs ace-jack of Reynolds. Reynolds hit a jack on the flop and Hampton was ousted in third place. That paved the way for the heads-up match between Reynolds and Hughes.

That wraps things up for Event #37 on this late night, but continue to follow along with PokerNews for updates on every event throughout the summer.

Hand #267: James Hughes called on the button and Thomas Reynolds raised to 320,000 to win the pot.

Hand #268: Reynolds limped the button and Hughes checked. The flop came     and both players checked to the   turn. Reynolds bet 200,000 and took down the pot.

Hand #257: James Hughes folded his button.

Hand #258: Thomas Reynolds called on the button and Hughes checked. The board came       as both players checked it down. Hughes showed    to win the hand.

Hand #259: Hughes folded his button again.

Hand #260: Reynolds called on the button and Hughes checked. The flop came     and Reynolds bet 150,000 which Hughes called. Hughes also check-called a bet of 300,000 on the   turn. The river brought the   and Reynolds pushed all-in, finally getting his opponent to fold.

Hand #261: Hughes raised to 260,000 and Reynolds called. The flop came     and Hughes bet 235,000. Reynolds raised to 500,000 and Hughes moved all-in for 1,700,000. Reynolds called and the cards were tabled.

Hughes was ahead with    and Reynolds had a flush draw with   . The turn was the   and the river was the  . Hughes doubled up and the match continues.

Hand #247: James Hughes folded the button.

Hand #248: Thomas Reynolds called on the button and Hughes checked. Both players checked the whole way with the board reading       and Hughes tabled    to win the hand.

Hand #249: Hughes raised to 260,000 and Reynolds folded.

Hand #250: Reynolds limped the button and Hughes checked. The flop came     and both players checked. The turn was the   and Reynolds bet 250,000 to win the hand.

Hand #251: Hughes called on the button and Reynolds raised to 320,000 to scoop the pot.

Hand #235: James Hughes raised to 220,000 and Thomas Reynolds called. The flop came     and Hughes bet 230,000 which Reynolds called. The turn was the   and Hughes moved all-in, forcing Reynolds to fold.

Hand #236: Reynolds limped the button and Hughes checked. The flop was     and Hughes bet 100,000. Reynolds called and the   came on the turn. Hughes check-folded to a bet of 200,000.

Hand #237: Hughes folded his button.

Hand #238: Reynolds limped the button and Hughes checked. The flop came     and both players checked to the   turn. Reynolds bet 150,000 and Hughes called to see the   river. Reynolds bet 250,000 and Hughes called. Reynolds tabled    for a pair of fives on the river to win the hand.

Hand #239: Hughes called on the button and Reynolds raised to 300,000 to take down the pot.

Hand #240: Reynolds limped the button and Hughes checked. Both players checked the flop of     and the   came on the turn. Hughes bet 110,000 and Reynolds called. The river was the   and Hughes went all-in. Reynolds folded.

Hand #241: Hughes called from the button and Reynolds checked his option. The flop came     and Reynolds check-called a bet of 100,000. The turn was the   and this time Reynolds folded to a bet of 200,000.

Hand #225 James Hughes raised to 220,000 and Thomas Reynolds called. The flop came     and Reynolds check-called a bet of 200,000. The turn was the   and Reynolds checked again. Hughes bet 540,000 and Reynolds folded.

Hand #226: Reynolds limped on the button, Hughes raised to 400,000 and Reynolds folded.

Hand #227: Hughes folded his button.

Hand #228: Reynolds called from the button and Hughes checked. The flop was     and Hughes led out for 110,000. Reynolds called and the turn was the  . Hughes bet 240,000 and Reynolds folded.

Hand #229 Hughes limped the button and Reynolds raised to 300,000. Hughes folded.

Hand #215: Thomas Reynolds got a walk.

Hand #216: Reynolds called on the button, and James Hughes checked his option. Both players checked to the river with the board reading      , and Reynolds led out for 250,000 to win the hand.

Hand #217: Hughes raised to 220,000, and Reynolds called. The board ran out       as both players checked the entire way. Hughes tabled    for the best hand.

Hand #218: Hughes got a walk.

Hand #219: Hughes raised to 220,000, and Reynolds called. The flop came    , and Reynolds check-called a bet of 200,000. The turn was the  , and Reynolds checked again. Hughes thought for a couple minutes before betting 450,000. Reynolds moved all in, and Hughes folded.

Hand #205: James Hughes raised to 220,000, and Thomas Reynolds called. The flop came    , and Reynolds check-called a bet of 110,000. The turn was the  , and both players checked to the   river. Reynolds led out for 450,000, and Hughes folded.

Hand #206: Reynolds called on the button, and Hughes checked. The flop came    , and Reynolds bet 200,000 to win the hand.

Hand #207: Hughes raised to 220,000, and Reynolds three-bet to 500,000. Hughes folded.

Hand #208: Reynolds limped the button, and Hughes checked. The flop was    , and both players checked to the   on the turn. Hughes bet 125,000, and Reynolds folded.

Hand #209: Hughes called from the button, and Reynolds checked. The flop was    , and Reynolds checked to Hughes, who bet 100,000. Reynolds raised to 300,000, and Hughes folded.

Hand #201: James Hughes folded, and Thomas Reynolds got a walk.

Hand #202: Reynolds limped in, and Hughes raised to 280,000. Reynolds called. The flop came    , Hughes bet 210,000, and Reynolds called. The turn was the  , and Hughes checked. Reynolds bet 350,000, and Hughes called. The river was the  . Hughes checked, Reynolds bet 500,000, and Hughes tank-folded.

Hand #203: Hughes called, and Reynolds checked his option. The flop came    , and Reynolds check-called a bet of 80,000 from Hughes. The turn was the  , and both players checked to the   on the river. Both players checked, and Hughes revealed    for a full house. Reynolds mucked.

Hand #204: Hughes got a walk.