The seventh event of the WSOP Circuit series at Graton Resort & Casino concluded early Wednesday morning with circuit grinder Benjamin Primus emerging victorious in the $400 H.O.R.S.E event.
And he was helped by some direct advice from crusher Bin Weng.
Primus outlasted a field of 82 entries to capture the $7,667 first-place prize, his third career WSOP-C ring, and a package to WSOP Paradise this December, including entry into the $5 million guaranteed $2,750 Mystery Bounty.
For Primus, taking home WSOP hardware is meaningful because it validates his hard work on and off the felt. “I was chasing rings for a long time before I really honed in on my tournament skills," Primus told us after his win.
"The first one in 2024 was fun, then I won one like a week later, which was really cool, and now winning this third one a year later has told me I'm doing the right thing," He added. "The work is paying off."
Primus defeated Adriano Wise heads-up to take a bulk of the $27,060 prize pool, and said the real turning point was winning a big stud pot.
"I won a massive three-way stud hand with 21.5 bets in the pot. That gave me about four times the average stack, and that was when I thought I had a chance to take it down."
Forget the conservative approach
Primus' first recorded tournament cash was in 2017, and he has now won three rings in the last year. He credits conversations with his friend and fellow tournament crusher Bin Weng with helping him to develop the skills to start closing these things out.
"I learned from my buddy Bin Weng to keep the pressure on the gas and not let up," Primus said. "And to not give a f*** if you bust early on. When you're down to the final two tables, it's better to push, push, push and keep the pressure on, that's what'll get you to the top three every time."
If you're looking for some help of your own, Primus recommends the book Mastering Mixed Games by Dylan Linde.
"It's mostly cash game focused," he told us, "but there are some simple concepts in there that I don't see 80% of tournament players doing."
More rings ahead for Primus — on and off the felt
Allen Kessler made the final table but crashed out in sixth for a cash of $1,287. Primus won the tournament in a limit hold'em hand. Wise raised the button and Primus three-bet, with Wise committing the rest of his short stack.
- Wise:
- Primus:
The board ran out 
to secure Primus the ring. And, with a wedding on the horizon (congrats!), he's got at least one more to look forward to in the near future. After that he is going to carry on looking for more gold – rings and bracelets.
"I'll grind everything at Thunder Valley and all over Northern California," he told us, "and I plan to definitely focus on mixed game events at the WSOP next summer. I'm in it for the long run."
Event #7: $400 H.O.R.S.E. results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benjamin Primus | $7,667 |
| 2 | Adriano Wise | $4,888 |
| 3 | Ronnie Diaz | $3,257 |
| 4 | David Morrison | $2,274 |
| 5 | David Allison | $1,667 |
| 6 | Allen Kessler | $1,287 |
| 7 | Kevin McIntosh | $1,048 |
| 8 | Sean Hew | $904 |
| 9 | Verle Shawk | $828 |
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