Brian Ali is the undisputed champion of the WSOP-C Main Event at Caesars Atlantic City (Photo courtesy IMPDI/WSOP)

Caesars Atlantic City was the home of the 10th stop of the World Series of Poker Circuit tournament series with the $1,650 Main Event the highlight attraction of the ten WSOP-C ring events, drawing a field of 442 entries. When the final table was finally established early Sunday morning it was Brian Houchins the chip leader at the final table with defending WSOP-C winner Roland Israelashvili looking to win back-to-back rings.  When the players returned Sunday afternoon to play down to a winner, it would be a short night for most of the participants as a buzzsaw named Brian Ali rope-a-dope’d his opponents, delivering knockout blows to win $139,284 and a seat in the $1,000,000 National Championship held in Las Vegas in May.

Ali’s path of destruction began on the second hand at the final table as Houchins must have felt like he was hit  with what seemed like a rabbit punch punch.  All the chips were in the middle on the river as Houchins held trip jacks while Ali went runner-runner to make a flush and take the chip lead as Houchins became the short stack. A few hands later, Joe Caffrey was the first casualty at the final table when John Andress relieved Caffrey of the rest of his chips.

The remaining eight players would then experience the chips of fury that Brian Ali held in his hands as the dominating chip leader.  The first to fall in the 28th round of tournament action was Albert Winchester after losing a flip to finish in eight place.  Ali would then deliver a body blow to finish off Jerry Von Strydonck by flopping a set against Von Strydonck’s pair and a flush draw to send the former World Poker Tour final tablist to pick up his seventh place winnings.  Ali’s carnage continued when he rivered the nut flush and moved in on Jeff Rowland, who called with a smaller flush to fall in sixth place.

Players were still on level 28 when Roland Israelavshili’s chances of winning for a second straight year were scuttled when he ran into a set of aces to double up John Andress, then his remaining chips were handed over to Patrick Houchens to hit the rail in fifth place.  In a setting that people who write updates were waiting for, Jeff Frazier ran up against Brian Ali in a big hand.  Like the trilogy of fights their namesakes would have in the 1970′s, Ali would best Frazier once again as Ali’s A-Q dominated Frazier’s A-8 to send Frazier from the arena in fourth place.  The level would conclude with one more elimination as Houchins rallied from a short stack nine-handed to survive into a third place finish, with Ali yet again sent Houchins reeling when he shoved with 7-4 on an 8-7-2 flop. Ali quickly called with K-7 and no further help was coming for Houchins.

Heads-up play began with Brian Ali holding a 2-1 chip lead over John Andress as it appeared a formality that Ali would win the final man v man confrontation. Andress had other ideas in mind as he chipped away at Ali’s stack, eventually doubling up after outflopping Ali to take the chip lead for the first time.  The lead was short-lived however as Ali would retake the lead a few hands later to set up the final hand of the tournament.  On a flop of K-6-5, Andress held K-6 and check-raised Ali’s bet as he held 7-4.  An 8 on the turn gave Ali a straight and he bet out with the made straight as Andress moved in for his remaining chips as Ali called.  Andress didn’t see that punch coming, left drawing to just four outs to stay alive.  The river brought a 3 as Andress was floored at the stunning result while Ali was triumphant in victory.

Mun Nguyen was declared the Casino Champion, earning a seat at the $1,000,000 National Championship.  He followed a runner-up finish in a  no-limit holdem event with a win in a discipline you rarely see in a cash game or tournament these days, limit Omaha.

The next stop for the WSOP-C is already underway at Harrah’s Rincon, located in the vicinity of San Diego, California. Rincon will have two major events on the docket, starting with the $1,500 + $100 Main Event running March 24-26. The following day begins the third $10,000 Regional Championship event, filmed to air on Versus later this year with a field of established players looking to earn a guaranteed seat at the $1,000,000 National Championship by making the final table.

Final table results from the $1,650 WSOP Circuit Main Event held at Caesars Atlantic City:

1st: Brian Ali – $139,284
2nd: John Andress – $86,071
3rd: Partick Houchins – $62,893
4th: Ellis Frazier – $46,698
5th: Roland Israelavshili – $35,213
6th: Jeff Rowland – $26,951
7th: Jerry Van Strydonck – $20,930
8th: Albert Winchester – $16,486
9th: Joe Caffrey – $13,168

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