Fifty-two year old Roland Isra overcame a massive chip disadvantage to win the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit Event at Caesars Palace Atlantic City early Monday morning. The New York City pro bested a field of 174 total players to capture the $264,715 top prize, a $10,000 seat in the 2010 WSOP Main Event, and his first WSOP Circuit gold ring.
Isra entered the final table seventh in chips with 210,000, as chip leader Chris Mitchell had control with nearly one-third of the chips in play (1.8 million). Others in contention when the day began were Philadelphia pro Chris “SLOPPYKLOD” Klodnicki (1.1 million), Grayson Ramage (627,000), Jesse Chinni (427,000), Dan Witcher (411,000), Feming Chan (292,000), Richard Austin (178,000), and Konstantino Dimitroulakos (104,000).
After the short stacks – Austin, Dimitroulakos, and Chan – were eliminated, Ramage was the victim of a cooler, as his pocket Queens were outmatched by Mitchell’s pocket Aces. Ramage collected $40,851 for his fifth place finish. He was followed shortly after by Chinni, whose pair of fives couldn’t hold up against Witcher’s A-J.
Klodnicki was attempting to win back-to-back WSOP Circuit championships, but his quest was denied after taking a dreadful beat at the hands of Witcher. Klodnicki, who won the WSOP Circuit championship event at Harrah’s Atlantic City in December for $215,915, moved all-in with pocket nines and was called by Witcher, who had eights. An eight on the river gave Witcher a full house and sent Klodnicki home in fourth place.
After four hours of three-handed play, Witcher was the next to hit the rail, as his pocket tens ran into Mitchell’s pocket Aces. Witcher’s third-place finish was the biggest cash of his career; he took home $81,702.
Mitchell and Isra entered heads-up play nearly even in chips, but Isra was able to chip away at the South Carolina poker pro and take control of the match. On the final hand of the tournament, with the board reading 10-9-6-A, Mitchell was all in with Q-J and needing help against Isra’s A-9. Mitchell’s straight draw failed to improve against Isra’s two pair and Isra claimed the title.
“I’ve been trying very long to get this gold ring and finally this makes me very happy,” said Isra, who was a jeweler for 25 years before becoming a poker pro in 2002. “I really don’t like to wear any jewelry because I was handling it for a long time, but this one is going to stay with me.”
Mitchell dominated the tournament from the start. He led the field in chips at the end of Day 1 and Day 2, but suffered a series of bad beats and went card dead at the final table to allow Isra to climb back into it. On coming from behind at the final table to defeat Mitchell, Isra simply stated, “When it’s your day, it’s your day.”
The top 18 players collected prize money at Caesars Atlantic City. Among those who cashed, but missed the final table were 2006 WSOP Main Event runner-up Paul Wasicka (12th), Jacobo Fernandez (14th), and Las Vegas pro Nick Bringer (17th). Here’s a look at the final table results of the WSOP Circuit stop at Caesars Atlantic City:
1. Roland Isra – $264,715
2. Christopher Mitchell – $138,894
3. Dan Witcher – $81,702
4. Chris Klodnicki – $65,362
5. Jesse Chinni – $49,021
6. Grayson Ramage – $40,851
7. Feming Chan – $32,681
8. Konstantino Dimitroulakos – $24,511
9. Richard Austin – $16,340
