Evan Sandberg grabbed the tournament title at the World Series of Poker Circuit stop at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe on Nov. 4 in Nevada. The top score was good for $133,841, and the first gold ring for the poker player originally from San Francisco.
Sandberg now holds four tournament victories, including two WSOP online gold bracelets, moving his career earnings up to nearly $1.9 million overall. His biggest cash remains his win in a Wynn Fall Classic mystery bounty event for $293,322.
“It feels quite amazing, especially because Lake Tahoe is probably my favorite place to travel for poker, which I can only do once a year. I live in Vegas and I go to Thunder Valley sometimes, but this is the number one spot I’d like to win at, so it makes it extra special,” Sandberg told WSOP Circuit reporters after the win. “I always enjoy a challenge. It just motivates me to really play my best.”
The $1,700 buy-in no-limit hold’em event attracted a field of 439 entries over the course of two starting flights to put the prize pool at $665,085. The top 48 players secured a payout worth at least $4,292 in prize money.
Every player in the money returned for Day 2, and it took just under six hours for that field to whittle down to a final table to set things up for Day 3. Dann Turner was the runaway chip leader before the final day of play with Sandberg holding less than half his stack.
Travis Stenerson fell first at the final table in sixth place, and then two-time WSOP Circuit Lake Tahoe champion Michael Pearson followed in fifth place. Poker professional and former WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley champion Brett Murray followed in fourth place, and third place was claimed by Turner, who also holds a WSOP online bracelet and WSOP Circuit gold ring.
Sandberg found himself facing James Czarnecki (at his third WSOP Circuit final table) in the final match with the chips nearly even between them. That’s when Sandberg made two pair with Q-6 to take a massive chip lead and eventually the victory.
Czarnecki was awarded $87,0777 as a consolation prize, bringing his career earnings to more than $400,000.
Final Table Results
Place | Player | Payout | POY |
1 | Evan Sandberg | $133,841 | 720 |
2 | James Czarnecki | $87,977 | 600 |
3 | Dann Turner | $59,232 | 480 |
4 | Brett Murray | $40,871 | 360 |
5 | Michael Pearson | $28,921 | 300 |
6 | Travis Stenerson | $21,101 | 240 |
7 | Vinny Chu | $15,649 | 180 |
8 | Bilguun Odgerel | $11,999 | 120 |
9 | Lee Viloria | $9,455 | 60 |
The next tournament series on the WSOP Circuit schedule is already underway at Choctaw Durant with events running from Oct. 30 to Nov. 11. The $1,700 buy-in main event begins on Nov. 8 with two starting flights.