WSOPC Cherokee

Derek Sein-Lwin

Derek Sein-Lwin completed a storybook run by winning Event #12: $1,700 No Limit Hold’em Main Event at the World Series of Poker Circuit at Harrah’s Cherokee, navigating a massive field of 1,190 entries to capture his first WSOP Circuit ring and $281,514. The Main Event generated a $1,802,850 prize pool, and with the victory, Sein-Lwin’s name is now permanently displayed on the winner banner inside the Cherokee Convention Center during future Circuit stops.

Sein-Lwin wasn’t just the last player standing; he set the tone for the entire tournament. He entered Day 2 as the chip leader and returned again as the chip leader when the Day 3 final table began. An early rush of premium hands briefly pushed him even further ahead, but as the cards cooled and the stacks tightened, the tournament compressed. Sein-Lwin weathered the middle stretch, regrouped, reclaimed the chip lead, and surged to the finish with the poise of someone far more experienced than a player with just one prior Hendon Mob cash.

For Sein-Lwin, the moment felt almost unreal. “It’s surreal,” he said. “When I woke up today, I was just telling myself to take good spots and not do anything dumb in front of my friends. They’re watching every hand.” That rail, made up largely of poker friends from Atlanta, grew as the week went on and peaked at the final table. “I had like a 12- to 15-person rail,” he said. “It was very, very cool, especially because I felt like I was the only one with anybody there.”

Derek Sein-Lwin

The final table started fast for Sein-Lwin, with the cards cooperating early. “The hands were just coming,” he said. “I kept getting aces and kings, and I even had spots where aces were getting jammed into. I got super lucky.” As eliminations mounted, the momentum shifted. “The cards kind of stopped coming in the middle,” he explained. “There was a point where four of us were all within a few million of each other. It was any man’s game, and that’s when I really felt the pressure to make sure every decision was right.”

That composure proved critical, especially heads-up against Patrick Plott, who put together one of the most determined performances of the series. Plott came into heads-up play facing a massive chip deficit but battled for more than two hours, repeatedly clawing back and forcing Sein-Lwin to earn the title. Plott finished second for $187,676, the biggest score of his career, eclipsing his previous best of $175K for a third-place finish in the Cherokee Main Event earlier this year.

Despite the significance of the win, Sein-Lwin described himself as more of a cash-game player, making the run even more unexpected. Coming into the event, he had a single recorded tournament cash for roughly $11,000. This win changed everything. He credited friends and mentors for pushing him toward tournament poker and believing he could make deep runs. “They showed me that I could last long enough in these fields,” he said. “It’s surreal that it actually happened.”

Derek Sein-Lwin

Family added another emotional layer to the victory. Sein-Lwin’s mom was on the rail for the final table, cheering him on every step of the way. He also dedicated the win to two influential women in his life. One was MaryAnn Wood, a mother figure who passed away earlier in the week. The other was his grandmother, Sheila Sein-Lwin, who first taught him to play Hold’em when he was seven years old in Atlantic City. “We used to play with nickels and dimes,” he said. “She was a slot attendant back then, and this whole run kind of brought everything full circle.”

When the last hand was complete and the ring was secured, Sein-Lwin already knew how the night would end. “We’re going to party,” he said with a grin. “We’ll stay here tonight, hopefully not gamble too much, but we’re definitely going to party.”

Final Table Payouts

1. Derek Sein-Lwin, $281,514
2. Patrick Plott, $187,676
3. Vladyslav Shovkovyi, $131,070
4. Rohit Kwatra, $93,884
5. Jacob Ferro, $68,001
6. Sanjay Gehi, $50,059
7. Chico Pho, $37,463
8. Eric Yanovsky, $28,510
9. Ricardo Eyzaguirre, $22,069

Derek Sein-Lwin

From leading the field at the start of Day 2 to standing alone at the end of the Main Event, Derek Sein-Lwin turned a breakthrough run into a defining victory at Harrah’s Cherokee, delivering a performance that showed an experienced tournament crusher in the making.

Event #18: $400 Double Stack Closer at the World Series of Poker Circuit at Harrah’s Cherokee wrapped up the 2025 Fall stop with 401 entries, generating a $132,330 prize pool and giving players one last shot at a title.

When the final table played down to a winner, it was Iverson Snuffer of Cross Lanes, West Virginia, who came out on top. A long-time Circuit grinder, Snuffer earned $26,138 for the victory and captured the third WSOP Circuit ring of his career, a fitting way to close out the series.

Snuffer defeated Jacob Anglin of Conover, North Carolina, who finished runner-up for $17,429, while Pierce Webster claimed third place and $12,052. 

Final Table Results

1. Iverson Snuffer – $26,138
2. Jacob Anglin – $17,429
3. Pierce Webster – $12,052
4. Alexandru Vasilescu – $8,509
5. Brandon Craswell – $6,137
6. Cynthia Solesbee – $4,523
7. Ryan Eriquezzo – $3,408
8. Jarret Holland – $2,627
9. Richard Ali – $2,072

The Double Stack Closer delivered a strong turnout and a worthy champion, sending the 2025 Fall WSOP Circuit stop at Harrah’s Cherokee out on a high note.

Damarjai Davenport

Event #17: $600 No Limit Hold’em at the World Series of Poker Circuit at Harrah’s Cherokee brought together 223 entries, generating a $114,845 prize pool and another competitive field during the 2025 Fall stop.

When play wrapped up, Damarjai Davenport of Tyler, Texas came out on top, earning $26,572 for the victory. Davenport navigated the final table and closed it out to take home the title and his first ring.

Christopher Perkins of Nashua, New Hampshire, finished runner-up for $17,403, while Russell Prevatt rounded out the podium with a third-place finish worth $11,720. The final table featured a mix of regional regulars who battled through a full afternoon and evening of play.

Final Table Results

1. Damarjai Davenport – $26,572
2. Christopher Perkins – $17,403
3. Russell Prevatt – $11,720
4. Giuseppe Lomuscio – $8,122
5. John Sitton – $5,799
6. Dylan Lemery – $4,268
7. Rodney Turvin – $3,242
8. Mark Presley – $2,544
9. Brandon Flowers – $2,064

Jason Thompson

Event #16: $400 No Limit Hold'em 40/40/40 at the World Series of Poker Circuit at Harrah’s Cherokee drew a massive field of 912 entries, creating a $300,960 prize pool and another long, competitive grind during the 2025 Fall stop.

This two-day event had players start with 40,000 chips; they had to be over 40 years old, and they enjoyed 40-minute Levels. When the tournament wrapped up, Jason Thompson, a WSOP dealer who decided to jump into the action, emerged as the champion. Thompson topped the stacked field and earned $47,786 for the win, turning in his badge for chips and making a deep run all the way to the top.

Thompson outlasted David Damone of Locust, North Carolina, who finished runner-up for $31,849, while Dominic Ferrauilo claimed third place and $22,703. The final table featured players from across the region, each navigating the unique 40/40/40 structure and a long Day 2 push.

Final Table Results

1. Jason Thompson – $47,786
2. David Damone – $31,849
3. Dominic Ferrauilo – $22,703
4. Khoan Ho – $16,425
5. Richard Robb – $12,062
6. Jefferson Morrill – $8,994
7. Donald Levine – $6,810
8. Jacob Perkins – $5,239
9. Jim Wyatt – $4,094

Event #16 delivered another memorable finish in Cherokee, capped off by a unique win from a familiar face on the other side of the table.