Ulises Roman may not be a full-time pro, but he looked every bit the part on Sunday as he outlasted a seasoned final table to win the $1,700 Main Event at the World Series of Poker Circuit at Caesars Southern Indiana. Roman topped a field of 250 entries to earn $84,399 and his first Circuit ring.
The event was scheduled to span three days, but after just 39 players returned for Day 2 from two starting flights, the pace accelerated, and the tournament wrapped up in two.
Roman had to navigate a stacked final table that included some of the most decorated players in the field. Trace Henderson, a three-time ring winner with a Circuit Main Event title, finished second for $56,658, while Bradford Albrinck, also a three-time ring winner with two Main Event rings, placed third for $38,898.
Kings cracked in comeback
“I’ve been playing since 2006 off and on, so I just recently came back to play,” Roman told us after the win. “I came here because it’s only three hours away from where I live and voilà, first ring.”
Roman lost some ground during three-handed play but surged back into the lead in a pivotal hand when his ace-king cracked the pocket kings of Brad Albrinck.
“I don’t know the player’s name who had the kings, but he was raising every time,” Roman said. “He was doing the right thing because he had the chips, but I three-bet, and I was going with it.”
Roman credited the tough field with forcing him to adapt and stay focused.
“It was tough because even though I didn’t know their names, I knew they were regulars,” he said. “There were like six good players who visit the Circuit. I was unhappy with my play at one point, but I just calmed down and turned it around.”
'I'm going to Vegas'
A resident of West Virginia who originally moved from Puerto Rico for school, Roman balances poker with a full-time job. He doesn’t study as much as some of the pros, but that hasn’t stopped him from holding his own.
“I’m definitely a feel player,” he said. “I work, so I don’t have time to study. I try to work on my game a little bit, but not like some of these guys.”
Though he’s had previous wins, including some online, this was his first WSOP Circuit title. Roman now has his eyes on a trip to Vegas, where he plans to put some of his winnings to use.
“I’m going to Vegas,” he said. “Hopefully play a little bit over there and see what happens.”
He also made sure to shout out his wife, who’s been learning the game and came along for the ride. “She just recently learned about poker,” he said. “She said she loves coming with me. She’s here for my first ring. This is awesome.”
WSOPC Southern Indiana final table results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ulises Roman | $84,399 |
| 2 | Trace Henderson | $56,658 |
| 3 | Bradford Albrinck | $38,898 |
| 4 | Iverson Shuffer | $27,324 |
| 5 | Frank Covich | $17,649 |
| 6 | Niles Lawless | $14,274 |
| 7 | Brian Jones | $10,921 |
| 8 | Aaron Gamino | $8,459 |
| 9 | Eric Poole | $6,721 |
| 10 | Veronica Shireman | $5,483 |
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