Kevin Johnson & Ben Thomas Lock Up Global Casino Championship Seats at WSOPC IP Biloxi
Table Of Contents
The World Series of Poker Circuit wrapped up its latest stop at Mississippi��s IP Biloxi with the conclusion of the $1,700 Main Event, a tournament that drew 382 entries and created a $578,730 prize pool.
After three days of action, 27-year old Kevin Johnson prevailed to win $127,319, his first gold ring, and a seat into the season-ending Global Casino Championship.
��I felt pretty good coming into the final table,�� Johnson told WSOP officials. ��It was already the most I've ever won, so it was all a freeroll.��
Johnson also explained that before 2018, he had taken a nearly five-year break from the game.
''I've been traveling the Circuit most of this year,�� he said. ��I was playing in college in the early 2000's, and then I got a job and took a break. But I got back into it about a year ago. $10,000 of my win will go to the Main Event in Vegas.''
WSOPC IP Biloxi Final Table Results
| Position | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Johnson | Bartlett, TN | $127,319 |
| 2 | Luke Graham | Port St. Lucie, FL | $78,678 |
| 3 | Matthew Higgins | Gulfport, MS | $57,491 |
| 4 | Benjamin Thomas | Baton Rouge, LA | $42,687 |
| 5 | Timothy Conrow | Fredericksburg, VA | $32,189 |
| 6 | Johnny Landreth | Lanett, AL | $24,637 |
| 7 | Dave Alfa | Las Vegas, NV | $19,133 |
| 8 | Chris Matters | Lusby, MD | $15,070 |
| 9 | BJ McBrayer | Tuscaloosa, AL | $12,038 |
Others who cashed the Main Event were recent LFG Podcast guest Kao Saechao (10th - $9,746), Michael Lech (18th - $6,655), Blake Purvis (33rd - $3,212), Chris Conrad (41st - $2,626), and Dennis Brand (45th - $2,616).
Final Table Action
Another player at the final table was Ben Thomas, who had won a ring earlier in the series (more on that below). According to updates from the event, with four players left Johnson limped the small blind holding ace-ten and called when Thomas raised all in from the big holding king-three suited. Johnson flopped two pair and Thomas hit the rail in fourth place for $42,687.
Matt Higgins then bowed out in third place after his ace-eight failed to hold against Johnson��s queen-jack all in preflop. That set up a heads-up match between Johnson and Luke Graham with the former holding a more than 2:1 chip lead.
In the final hand of the tournament, Graham raised to 260,000 from the small blind and Johnson called to see a 5?4?7? flop. Johnson checked and Graham bet 325,000. Johnson check-raised all in and Graham snap-called off for 2.8 million.
Graham showed the 6?5? for middle pair with an open-ended straight flush draw, while Johnson was out in front with the 10?7? for top pair. Neither the 9? turn nor K? river helped Graham and he had to settle for second place and a $78,678 consolation prize.
Other IP Biloxi Ring Winners
Speaking of Thomas, he won the WSOPC IP Biloxi Casino Championship thanks to four cashes. First, he took down Event #4: $400 NLH for $12,659 and his first ring. Two days later, he placed third in Event #7: $400 NLH One-Day for $6,025, and the day after that took 13th in Event #8: $400 Monster Stack for $1,651. Toss in his fourth-place finish and it was more than enough to earn a seat into the Global Casino Championship.
Another big story coming out of the stop was Robert Matthews winning not one but two Seniors events. First, he topped a field of 135 entries to win the $250 Seniors I for $9,620 and his first gold ring. A week later, he was at it again when he bested a 136-entry field to win the $250 Seniors II for $7,615 and a second ring.
While they weren��t official gold ring events, meaning they didn��t count toward the Casino Championship leaderboard, Matthews going back-to-back was certainly newsworthy. Below is a look at all those who won tournaments at the WSOPC IP Biloxi:
WSOP Circuit IP Biloxi Ring Winners
| Event | Winner | Entries | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Event #1: $250 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack | Samuel Bowles | 266 | $13,035 |
| Event #2: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Multi-flight | Debra Irvine | 729 | $44,264 |
| Event #3: $400 No-Limit Hold'em (1 Day) | Paul Sokoloff | 109 | $10,791 |
| $250 SENIORS I | Robert Matthews | 135 | $9,620 |
| Event #4: $400 No-Limit Hold'em | Benjamin Thomas | 137 | $12,659 |
| Event #5: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Six-Max | Sley Sanchez | 146 | $13,731 |
| Event #6: $400 Pot-Limit Omaha | Matthew Silva | 75 | $8,416 |
| Event #7: $400 No-Limit Hold'em (1 Day) | Russell Sullivan | 152 | $13,539 |
| Event #8: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Monster Stack | Gavin Munroe | 352 | $26,278 |
| Event #9: $600 No-Limit Hold'em Big-Blind Ante | Scott Brewster | 150 | $21,629 |
| Event #10: $1,700 MAIN EVENT | Kevin Johnson | 382 | $127,319 |
| Event #11: $400 No-Limit Hold'em (1 Day) | David Valone | 133 | $12,287 |
| Event #12: $400 No-Limit Hold'em (1 Day) | Christopher Carey | 109 | $10,791 |
| $250 Seniors II | Robert Matthews | 136 | $7,615 |
| Event #13: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack | Eric Salazar | 153 | $3,632 |
The WSOP Circuit continues January 2-14 at Choctaw Durant followed by stops at Thunder Valley Casino Resort, Horseshoe Tunica, and Milwaukee��s Potawatomi Hotel & Casino.
Images courtesy of WSOP
