Running from August 1 to 12, the latest World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit stop at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino in North Carolina has come to a close with Donovan Dean taking down the highest honor with his Cherokee main event win for $326,206 after a thrilling three-day battle. This marked his second WSOPC Cherokee Main Event victory, following his win in the same event for $ 356,952 in 2022. Also, this was his second title of 2024 after his Deep Stack victory at SHR Hollywood Deep Stack Poker Series 2024.
The 12-day festival also saw Susan Faber win her first two WSOP Circuit rings. Notably, there was also a second Susan – Susan Green from Brevard, NC who clinched her first WSOP Circuit ring with her victory in Event #15: $400 No-Limit Hold’em. Here is a quick recap of recent victories!
Donovan Dean Wins Second Cherokee Main Event for $326,206
The biggest highlight of the latest World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit was Event #13: $1,700 Main Event, which drew an impressive 1,451 entries for a massive $2,198,265. In the end, the largest chunk of this prize pool went to Donovan Dean, the long time the crusher out of Alabama, who eventually defeated AJ Rebhan in the heads-up battle to claim his third WSOPC ring and second Cherokee Main Event victory. The latter walked away with an impressive $217,454 for his runner-up finish.
In this three-day main event, only 158 players made Day 2. The action was hot and heavy on the second day of the event and the field whittled down to the final table after 10 levels of play.
The final table played out on the final day with Donovan Dean having the massive chip lead. Although he did not hold for the entire final table but did not drop below second in chips in standings. The first player to fall was local favorite Sokchheka ‘Chico’ Pho. The second elimination at the final table was scored by the eventual champion as he sent Srinivasa Vadlamudi to the rail in eighth place.
Up next, Justin Hall’s inferior ace failed to improve against eventual second-place finisher AJ Rebhan. He was followed by Brett Bader in sixth, Tuan Nguyen in fifth, and Michael Hunsucker in fourth, who were busted by Rebhan, who ran hot and was a crowd favourite going into three-handed play.
Tommy Doyle ran well, and even had the chip lead for some time at the final table but he ended up the unfortunate third-place finisher after getting short and losing with three’s to the nines of the eventual champion.
The heads-up saw Dean with a massive chip lead. After the dinner break, they returned and played over ten hands before all the chips got in the middle. Dean’s king-jack spiked a pair and bested Rebhan’s pocket eights, earning Dean the coveted pot as well as his second Cherokee main event win.
WSOP Circuit Cherokee Main Event Final Table Results (USD)
1. Donovan Dean – $326,206
2. AJ Rebhan – $217,454
3. Tommy Doyle – $153,664
4. Michael Hunsucker – $110,186
5. Tuan Nguyen – $80,192
6. Brett Bader – $59,249
7. Justin Hall – $44,450
8. Srinivasa Vadlamudi – $33,870
9. Sokchheka ‘Chico’ Pho – $26,281
Susan Faber Claims Her Second Ring of the Week With Her Turbo Event Win
Women have been making waves at various stops in Asia, Europe and America and this festival was no exception. We saw several ladies making their mark, with Susan Faber stealing the show. The poker powerhouse won an impressive two rings at the just concluded series, with her latest victory coming in Event #16: $600 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo where she overcame a competitive field of 174 entries, claiming her second ring of the series, and third piece of WSOP hardware overall.
The latest win netted her a cool $21,484, a few thousands short of her previous score $33,493, which she earned for beating a field of 305 entries and 16-time champion Maurice Hawkins in heads-up in Event #5: $600 No Limit Hold’em of the series.
Event #16: $600 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo generated a prize pool of $89,610, which was shared by the top 27 finishers. Faber’s journey to the title culminated in a heads-up against David Lieberman, who earned $14,071 for his runner-up finish. This victory marked Faber’s second WSOPC ring this week alone.
WSOP Circuit Cherokee Event #16: $600 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo Final Table
1-Susan Faber – $21,484
2-David Leiberman – $14,071
3-Matthew Emmel – $9,496
4-Alexander Kinney – $6,611
5-Srinivasa Vadlamudi – $4,751
6-David Moses – $3,530
7-Keith Seidel – $2,713
8-Jeremy Perrin – $2,161
9-Lucas Kavanaugh – $1,785
Another Susan Claims Victory in Event #15: $400 No Limit Hold’em On The Same Day
But hold on, there was another Susan – Susan Green from Brevard, NC, who picked up $31K and her first ring after defeating a tough field of 513 entries in Event #15: $400 No Limit Hold’em.
The tournament generated a total prize pool of $169,290, with 77 players making the money. Green is the newest member of the WSOP Circuit and her victory marks a historic moment as her first-ever outright win in her poker career. The North Carolina native overcame Clayton Rhodes in heads-up and emerged victorious, leaving her opponent to console himself with a runner-up payout of $20,932.
WSOP Circuit Cherokee Event #15: $400 No-Limit Hold’em Final Table
1-Susan Green – $31,406
2-Clayton Rhodes – $20,932
3-Ian Holt – $14,654
4-John Holley – $10,447
5-Merton Toler – $7,587
6-Bounketh Vongsouvan – $5,614
7-Dylan Lemery – $4,235
8-Michael Discepoli – $3,258
9-Justin McClinton – $2,557
Jennifer Germany Claims Her First Ring With Her Victory in Ladies Event
Another lady who made waves at the World Series of Poker Circuit Cherokee was Jennifer Germany, who captured Event #12: $300 No Limit Hold’em Ladies Event title after beating a field of 209 entries that generated a total prize pool of $50,160. She eventually overcame Pamela McGhee in heads-up, who earned $7,582 for her runner-up finish. This was Germany’s first WSOP Circuit ring, marking a significant milestone in her poker career.
WSOP Circuit Cherokee Event #12: $300 No Limit Hold’em Ladies Event Final Table
1-Jennifer Germany – $11,794
2-Pamela McGhee – $7,582
3-Pamela Speed – $5,032
4-Margarita Corona-Willard – $3,452
5-Yekaterina Lukina – $2,450
6-Susan Green – $1,801
7-Jaymie Virtusio – $1,374
8-Chanda Davis – $1,088
9-Karen Buerki – $897
The full list of winners from the 12-day festival will be added soon. Keep following PokerProNews for the latest updates and results from live poker events across the world.
Image Credit: Poker.Org and WSOP
