September 25-27
Time of play from start to finish in a rare two-day WSOPC Main Event.
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1ST
Connor Hayward
$76,797
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2ND
John Ypma
$50,593
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3RD
Matthew Riffel
$34,304
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4TH
Jake Flores
$23,961
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5TH
Nick Barksdale
$17,257
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6TH
Nicholas Stille
$12,828
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7TH
Robert Wilson
$9,852
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8TH
Kevin Berhelsen
$7,826
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9TH
Ryan Brown
$6,438
Connor Hayward came to Council Bluffs, Iowa, looking to build on a deep tournament run from the previous week. It's safe to say that he accomplished that goal.
Hayward defeated a 232-entry field in the $1,700 WSOP Circuit Main Event at Horseshoe Council Bluffs, earning $76,797 and his first circuit ring.
The win capped a remarkable two-week stretch for Hayward, who had finished third in a big tournament the previous week before making another deep run in Council Bluffs.
“I got third last week, and I’m back on the road,” Hayward said. “I live in Kansas City. I came up here to spend time with my buddy.”
Hayward has only been playing poker tournaments for roughly six or seven months, but has been a full-time cash grinder for eight years and calls Harrah's Kansas City his home casino.
In just that short time, however, Hayward said he's already racked up more than $67,000 in tournament earnings, which he more than doubled with his trip.
Asked what a win like this means to him, Hayward kept it low-key: “It’s cool to put on the resume.”
The rookie bests the veteran
Hayward defeated a tough opponent, heads-up in John Ypma, a well-established tournament player, who won a Circuit ring and $102,650 earlier this year at TCH Social Austin.
“He’s fearless,” Hayward said of Ypma. “He’s tough.”
The two had never played together before today.
“He’s a good player,” Hayward said. “He did well all day.”
Hayward entered heads-up facing a 2-to-1 chip deficit against Ypma, but things would quickly change.
Only a few hands into heads-up, the two played one of the biggest pots of the tournament. Ypma tried to run a big bluff on a three-flush, paired board, but ran into Hayward's nut flush. This would set the tone for the rest of the match, and when asked at what point Hayward felt he had a legitimate shot at winning the tournament, he pointed to this hand.
“I ran really good in that short little session,” he said. “Picked up some big hands, and I kind of trapped him.”
Bitten by the tourney bug?
This time, the big hands went his way. Asked whether he plans to play more tournaments moving forward, Hayward didn't hesitate.
“Yeah, definitely.”
After years of playing cash games, Hayward now has a WSOP Circuit Main Event title to add to his résumé. And if his recent results are any indication, there may be plenty more to add in the future.
