Loni Harwood Wins the WSOP Circuit Las Vegas High Roller for $72,802
Loni Harwood outlasted a field of 130 entrants to win the WSOP Circuit Las Vegas Event #13: $2,200 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino for $72,802.
Harwood now has a five WSOP Circuit rings to go along with her two WSOP gold bracelets as part of her more than $2.6 million in total career cashes.
WSOP Circuit Las Vegas $2,200 High Roller Final Table Results
| Position | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loni Harwood | United States | $72,802 |
| 2 | Joseph Cheong | United States | $44,998 |
| 3 | Ankush Mandavia | United States | $32,089 |
| 4 | Stephen Bierman | United States | $23,340 |
| 5 | Phue Nguyen | United States | $17,308 |
| 6 | Seth Davies | United States | $13,081 |
| 7 | Ryan Leng | United States | $10,070 |
| 8 | Vincent Moscati | United States | $7,896 |
| 9 | Viet Vo | United States | $6,302 |
The second and final day of the High Roller began with 49 hopefuls battling it out for the title and 16 guaranteed to bank at least $3,557.
According to WSOP.com, Ryan Olisar (who ended the first day in the chip lead) missed out on the unofficial final table finishing in 10th place for $6,302 after he four-bet jammed ace-seven and couldn't get there against the ace-king held by Ankush Mandavia.
After that hand, Mandavia lead the unofficial nine-max final table, with Harwood and Joseph Cheong on his tail in second and third place.
Viet Vo was the first to go in ninth place for $6,302 after he jammed his ten big blind stack from early position with ace-ten suited and didn't improve against Vincent Moscati ace-king suited.
Moscati's day ended soon after with an eighth-place finish for $7,896. He four-bet jammed ace-nine suited and the board ran all blanks after he was called by Cheong with ace-queen. That hand made Cheong the chip leader for the first time before Mandavia claimed it back right after.
After the dinner break, Mandavia opened from early position and Ryan Leng three-bet all-in with ace-nine from the small blind. Harwood four-bet jammed with ace-king and Mandavia folded. Leng was drawing dead after a king spiked the turn and he bowed out in seventh place for $10,070.
Not too much later, Mandavia eliminated Seth Davies in sixth place for $13,081 after his ace-king suited held against his opponent's king-queen.
Shortly after, Phue Nguyen jammed eight big blinds with ace-five from the button. Steve Bierman shoved over the top with pocket jacks from the small blind and the big blind folded. Nguyen seemingly got the help he needed after an ace appeared on the turn. However, Bierman nailed a set on the river to eliminate Nguyen in fifth place for $17,038.
Cheong then reclaimed the chip lead. He opened with pocket queens from the button and called Bierman's jam with pocket eights from the small blind. Bierman claimed fourth place for $23,340 after the board was unable to improve his hand.
Harwood found herself with fewer than 10 big blinds. She doubled twice against Mandavia to push herself back in contention. Mandavia faced off one last time against Harwood. He was eliminated in third place for $32,089 after he three-bet all-in with ace-eight and failed to improve against Harwood's ace-ten.
Cheong began heads-up play with a 9-to-7 chip advantage against Harwood before extending it to a 2.5-to-1 advantage after he picked off a bluff from his opponent.
Harwood: "thanks to my 'donk Dad'"
Harwood battled back and was able to turn the tables to take the chip lead for the first time with an almost 2:1 chip advantage before the final hand took place.
Cheong's hopes for a second WSOP Circuit ring ended after he four-bet jammed ace-nine and didn't improve against Harwood's ace-queen suited. Cheong didn't walk away empty-handed as he claimed the runner-up prize of $44,998 to add to his more than $12 million in live tournament cashes.
According to WSOP.com, Harwood dedicated her latest tournament victory to her dad. "He wanted me to win a tournament for him since I won a tournament last week ($365 WSOP Circuit Coconut Creek for $10,801, PokerNews) and dedicated it to my brother's wife, said Harwood. "So, thanks to my 'donk Dad'"
*Image and hand details courtesy of WSOP.com.
