Patrick Wagner Gets Early Retirement Surprise with WSOPC Gold Ring Victory
The World Series of Poker Circuit Choctaw Durant $1,700 Main Event is just one of a dozen gold ring events at the stop.
One that wrapped up in recent days was Event #13: $400 No-Limit Hold’em One-Day, a tournament that drew 280 entrants and generated a $92,400 prize pool.
It was California native but Choctaw regular Patrick Wagner who took down the final WSOP Circuit ring at the stop. Not only did he win $21,414 in prize money but he also claimed his second gold ring. His first came two years ago in a $250 NLH Seniors Event.
“I play a lot of small poker tournaments over the years and won a few,” he told WSOP officials after the win. “No emotion really up or down. I like winning, I’m excited to win so I won’t say I’m not however there’s no weight lifted off my shoulders.”
To seal the deal, Wagner had to best 27-year-old poker pro Nick Pupillo in heads-up play.
“He had been shoving quite a bit, he shoved the last six of seven hands,” Wagner said of his opponent. “I actually folded quite a bit to him so that was probably a horrible call but I picked-up a slight tell that he was just making a move, and I could tell. At that point we were 60-40 on the chips and we flipped back-and-forth and I just wanted to play it out.”
The money will come in hand for Wagner, who plans on retiring next month from his position as an AT&T Accountant.
Event #13 Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patrick Wagner | Richardson, Texas | $21,414 |
| 2 | Nick Pupillo | Gilbert, Arizona | $13,233 |
| 3 | Rick Braun | San Antonio, Texas | $9,370 |
| 4 | Benjamin Thomas | Baton Rouge, Louisana | $6,756 |
| 5 | Robert Irby | Hudson, Florida | $4,961 |
| 6 | Benjamin Whittington | Chattanooga, Tennessee | $3,712 |
| 7 | Hank Sitton | Greenville, South Carolina | $2,830 |
| 8 | Reggi Trotter | Arlington, Texas | $2,201 |
| 9 | Katherine Bowen | Gladewater, Texas | $1,745 |
To see who all has captured gold rings at the Choctaw Durant stop, click here.