Statistics Instructor Barry Schultz Wins Tunica Circuit Event #18

Final Results:

Finish	Name	City	State	Country	Prize
1	Barry Schultz	Cordova	TN	USA	$51,534
2	Matthew Lawrence	Tulsa	OK	USA	$31,644
3	Ray Martin	Bargersville	IN	USA	$22,396
4	Damjan Radanov	Memphis	TN	USA	$15,989
5	Jeremy Drewery	Arlington	TN	USA	$12,795
6	Christopher Sullivan	Conway	AR	USA	$9,601
7	Gary Lucht	Cissna Park	IL	USA	$6,407
8	Marcus Barnes	Huntsville	AL	USA	$5,192
9	Kenneth Blanton	Caddo Mills	TX	USA	$4,409
10	Gary Laduca	Woodstock	GA	USA	$3,860
11	Fredrick Smith	Loganville	GA	USA	$3,860
12	David Wininger	Birmingham	AL	USA	$3,860
13	Johnathan Elliott	Hixson	TN	USA	$3,174
14	John Miraglia	Clarksville	TN	USA	$3,174
15	William Kelly	Concord	OH	USA	$3,174
16	Scott Hall	Memphis	TN	USA	$2,645
17	Rickie Merritt	Arlington	TX	USA	$2,645
18	William Hinson	Byhalia	MS	USA	$2,645
19	Wesley Snow	Virginia	IL	USA	$2,312
20	James Price	Oklahoma City	OK	USA	$2,312
21	Vincent Byrd	Dayton	TN	USA	$2,312

TUNICA, MS – Barry Schultz is the winner of event #18 of the World Series of Poker Circuit Events at Harrah’s Tunica. Schultz teaches statistics at a college in his hometown of Cordova, TN. He has been playing poker for 21 years and has six prior Circuit Event cashes and two WPT final table appearances.

This was his first final table on the WSOP Circuit.

The $1,080 buy-in event attracted 202 entrants and generated a prize pool of $195,940.

While the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints were preparing to take the field on this Superbowl Sunday, the remaining nine players of Event #18 began final table play with Schultz sitting on more than a 2-1 chip lead over his nearest opponent.

Name	Hometown	Seat	Chip Count
Ray Martin	Bargersville, IN	1	145,000
Kenneth Blanton	Caddo Mills, TX	2	127,000
Chris Sullivan	Conway, AR	3	85,000
Matt Laurence	Tulsa, OK	4	283,000
Gary Lucht	Cissna Park, IL	5	87,000
Damian Radanov	Memphis, TN	6	131,000
Jeremy Drewery	Arlington, TN	7	217,000
Marcus Barnes	Huntsville, AL	8	240,000
Barry Schultz	Cordova, TN	9	614,000

Ninth Place
Blinds and antes were at 5,000/10,000/2,000. There were a number of short stacks at the final table, each biding their time, looking to double up or the least climb a spot or two up the prize ladder. Kenneth Blanton made the jump when he moved his remaining 53,000 all-in pre-flop with 9h-7d from the button. Chris Sullivan called from the small blind with 10d-10h. A nine on the board did not improve Blanton’s hand, making him the first elimination of the afternoon. Blanton earned $4,409.

Eighth Place
Marcus Barnes saw his marginal stack reduced to 69,000, which he moved all-in before the flop with Ah-Kh. Damian Radanov called with most of his chips and showed As-10s. The flop came Ah-3s-8c, giving both players top pair. But with the lower kicker, Radanov was looking to pair his ten, or catch a running straight or flush. A Js and Qs on the turn and river came through for Radnov and Barnes was eliminated. Barnes is a paper maker from Huntsville, AL. Over his two day run, he made $5,192’s worth of it.

Seventh Place
Gary Lucht moved his short stack all-in with pocket tens. Barry Schultz shoved his monster stack to isolate the all-in player. After Schultz turned over As-Kc, the flop came king high with blanks on the turn and river. Lucht’s second final table in as many days earned him $6,407.

Sixth Place
Chris Sullivan was eliminated in 6th after Matt Laurence flopped quad fours on him all-in. The 41-year old pest control company owner collected $9,601 for sixth place.

Fifth Place
35-year old sheriff’s deputy, Jeremy Drewery was eliminated in fifth place. He took home $12,795.

Fourth Place
After doubling up a number of times to move up the prize ladder, Radinov’s streak ended after he was all-in with 5c-9h against Matt Laurence’s Jh-5h. Both players paired their five, but with the lower kicker, Radinov was sent to the payout table to collect $15,989 for fourth

Third Place
Down to three players, Schultz had over a 3-1 chip lead over his two opponents, Ray Martin and Matt Lawrence. The two smaller stacks got it all-in with Martin showing pocket tens and Lawrence turning over As-Js. Martin spiked the 10 on the flop for a set along with a jack and a queen and was looking pretty good until an 8h hit the turn. A king on the river left Martin in disbelief as Lawrence rivered the straight. Martin is a 56-year old farmer from Bargersville, IN. He earned $22,396 in his second final table appearance at the 2009/2010 Harrah’s Tunica Circuit.

Second Place
As the final minutes of the first half of Super Bowl XLIV ticked away, Schultz offered to chop first and second prize with Lawrence for the ring.

“I have money,” Schultz told Lawrence. “What I don’t have is a ring.”

It was an incredibly generous offer for Lawrence, who had just caught a river straight to survive and had less chips than his opponent.

Even still, he tanked for a while before deciding to forfeit the Circuit Event gold ring and take the money. First and second places paid $51,534 and $31,644, respectively.

“Feels great,” Schultz said about his win. “I squandered a lot of chip leads and a lot of opportunities so I’m glad to have this.”

The 42-year old statistician sees the deal as an investment the he expects to pay dividends in
the long run.

“Everybody is always telling each other I’m better than you, but when I go to my home game and throw those chips out there and they see the ring, well I’m hoping to get a few more folds from here on out.”

Still to come is the Harrah’s Tunica $5,150 Main Event. The WSOP Circuit at Harrah’s Tunica runs through February 10th.