Phil Bertram is $237,307 richer after shipping the $1,700 Main Event at the World Series of Poker Circuit at Choctaw Casino and Resort in Oklahoma.
Across two starting flights, 944 entries were tallied, which created a staggering prize pool of $1,430,130. At the end of the starting flights, 106 players punched their ticket to Day 2 of the Main Event where they would battle for the ring — and to be immortalized with a banner in the rafters of the Event Center.
'Humbled' Bertram survives frantic finale
The players grinded their way to a final table of eight that returned for Day 3 looking to finish the job and pocket the cash. The play was fast, but when the last chip landed, it was Bertram who came out on top after an intense heads-up battle with Zak Baron.
“Pretty amazing,” Bertram told PokerOrg after the win. “I’m absolutely humbled. I had an awesome week, and I’m just super glad I made it this far.”
Bertram shared his plans for the prize money: “I’ll save and invest it, and then go for ring #2."
A big part of his success, he says, is the support from his family and his job. “I just appreciate my family and my job for supporting me,” he explained. Having played poker for about 10 years, Bertram believes his victory is proof that anyone can succeed. “A recreational player can win,” he said.
This final table had no shortage of action, especially with each player downing a tequila shot by the second level of the day.
The first player to go would be Ben Anderson at the hands of the eventual champion when he jammed blind versus blind and could not fade the rungood of Bertram. There would be a long wait until the elimination of Vincent Rubianes in seventh place, but a pattern started to form as Bertram was the lucky recipient of that knockout, too.
Six-handed play continued for an hour until the elimination of the table’s favorite singer, Lawrence Wayne, in sixth place. He may not have won the tournament, but his show tunes in between hands won the hearts of players and spectators alike. Vincent Pratt took the fall in fifth place at the hands of Baron when he drilled a straight against the top pair of Pratt. This gave Baron a massive chip lead as they entered the four-handed play.
Bertram catches Baron
The knockouts of Robert Peacock and Michael Perrone in fourth and fifth followed directly after Pratt. Both of the bracelet winners put up an incredible performance with Perrone entering the final table with the chip lead. He would lose a couple of key hands to Bertram, who would ultimately be the one to send him to the rail in the end.
It was then on to heads-up play, where Baron came in with about a three-to-one chip lead. However, that would not last long, as potentially the most important hand of the tournament changed the tides. Bertram moved all in on the flop with the top pair of aces and Baron called off with a combo draw. The turn and river bricked, and Bertram jumped into a big chip lead. He would never lose that lead again on his way to the victory.
WSOP Circuit Choctaw Main Event final table results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phil Bertram | $237,307 |
| 2 | Zak Baron | $158,217 |
| 3 | Michael Perrone | $110,000 |
| 4 | Robert Peacock | $78,345 |
| 5 | Vincent Pratt | $56,538 |
| 6 | Lawrence Wayne | $41,509 |
| 7 | Vincent Rubianes | $31,013 |
| 8 | Ben Anderson | $23,587 |
