A Burlington poker player walked away with the main event title in the just completed World Series of Poker Circuit series at Harrah’s Cherokee Hotel & Casino in the western part of the state. Such events are the best local poker-playing options because there are no North Carolina online casinos.
Ryan Jones, a poker veteran, earned $302,131 for the victory in an event that attracted 1,205 entries. The tournament had three starting days, May 11-13, and continued for three days.
Jonathan Lewis, of Hopkinton, Mass., finished second at the event, in the town of Cherokee, and won $186,733.
More On WSOP Circuit Event Winner
Jones' victory at the victory at the WSOP-C was no fluke. Overall, Jones has won three Circuit rings and he has 71 combined cashes in both WSOP events in Las Vegas (34 cashes) and on the WSOP Circuit (37 cashes), according to the WSOP.com website.
Just last year at the WSOP in Vegas, he cashed in the actual Main Event, finishing 721st for $21,000. He also cashed in six other events last summer.
According to WSOP.com, Jones has almost $1.48 million in lifetime earnings in WSOP and WSOP Circuit play going back to 2013. The Hendon Mob website, which tracks both WSOP events and other series, credits Jones with about $1.79 million in career tournament winnings.
The Hendon Mob website ranks Jones No. 14 on the all-time North Carolina money list. At No. 1 is Chris Hunichen, of Clayton, with more than $10.76 million in career live tournament earnings. A high-stakes player, Hunichen won more than $1.9 million for finishing third in a tournament at the WSOP last year where the buy-in was $250,000.
This Year’s WSOP Begins May 30
The 54th World Series of Poker begins this year on May 30 and runs through July 18 at the recently renamed Horseshoe Las Vegas-Paris Las Vegas casino complex on the Vegas Strip.
Stay with BetCarolina for the latest news as a North Carolina sports betting bill makes its way through the state legislature.
