The final chip has fallen inside the walls of the event center at the Graton Resort and Casino. Twelve days of action at the World Series of Poker Circuit saw 18 rings awarded and millions in prize money.

The marquee event of the series, Event #12: $1,700 No Limit Hold'em Main Event, was a three-day tournament with an increased number of entrants since the inaugural event last year. 580 hopefuls were whittled down to the last man standing, and Sasha Sabbaghian took home the top prize of $168,015.

Sasha Sabbaghian

Andreas 'Rayo' Kniep, a crowd favorite, secured his first ring in Event #5: $600 No Limit Hold’em 6-Max. This victory marked the end of an incredible series of events that led the long-time player to achieve a major milestone in his career. This success came after dealing with a car fire, starting a new job, and obtaining his United States Citizenship all in the course of a week. We caught up with him to hear about the amazing story and you should too.

Andreas ‘Rayo’ Kniep

The World Series of Poker Circuit at Graton Resort and Casino has witnessed an impressive milestone with three women winning tournaments during this series. Manju Gera clinched her second WSOP Circuit ring in Event #7: $400 Omaha Hi-Lo Eight or Better, demonstrating her exceptional mixed-game skills. Her victory against a field of 90 entries and a final heads-up match against Kathy Chang added a compelling narrative to the tournament. In a remarkable display of women’s prowess, Eva Huang made history by winning the first-ever WSOP Ladies Circuit Ring in Northern California at Event #11: $400 No Limit Hold’em Ladies Event. Huang emerged victorious from a competitive field of 70, overcoming Alison Gray in a thrilling heads-up finale.

Eva Huang

Adding to this remarkable achievement, Elisa Nakagawa secured her first WSOP Circuit ring in Event #18: $400 Bay Area Closer No Limit Hold’em. With a competitive field of 150 entries, Nakagawa’s victory in a dramatic heads-up match against four-time circuit ring winner Brett Murray highlighted her resilience and skill. This impressive feat underscores the growing prominence of women in poker, making this WSOP Circuit stop particularly historic.

All of this just highlights a few of the many incredible feats that happened at the Graton WSOP circuit. It was an incredible event, but until the next one, that's a wrap!

Sasha Sabbaghian

After two starting flights, a full Day 2 of play, and an action-packed final table, Event #12: $1,700 No Limit Hold'em Main Event at the World Series of Poker Circuit Series at Graton Resort and Casino has crowned its winner.

Sasha Sabbaghian is $168,015 richer after taking down the event in magnificent fashion. He is the proud recipient of his first Circuit Ring after two second-place finishes in other ring events in the past. He came into the day second in chips, but would fall into a middling position early on Day 3. He battled as a short stack and a middling stack, but a crucial hero-call during three-handed play gained him the chip lead and eventually led him to the win.

The Graton Main Event drew 580 entries, creating a total prize pool of $877,185. The first two flights generated 87 players, who made the money, and moved on to Day two. Only nine hopefuls would move on to the final day to play the final table. They battled for the better part of six hours until Mitchell Tsang fell in second place, and the final pot was pushed to Sabbaghian.

Mitchell Tsang

Final Table Results

1. Sasha Sabbaghian - $168,015
2. Mitchell Tsang - $112,010
3. Peter Yang - $77,399
4. Michael Persky - $54,475
5. Robert Mather - $39,067
6. Marco Johnson - $28,557
7. Dan Casetta - $21,286
8. Elizabeth Tedder - $16,184
9. Francis Nguyen - $12,557

Final Table Action

The short stack of Francis Nguyen would be the first to fall on the final table when he couldn’t improve against the queens of Mitchell Tsang. Liz Tedder would be the second player to fall in the first level of the day when Mitchell Tsang continued to run pure with his second KO.

Following the first few knockouts it would be the Peter Yang show until three-handed play. He took the lead early in the final table and would hold the chip lead for the bulk of the final table. His dominance started with the knockout of Dan Casetta in seventh place when he was holding king-seven and drilled a king on the flop against Casetta’s ace-queen.

There was then a flurry of doubles before the chip leader to start the day, Marco Johnson, fell in sixth place. He got in pocket eights against the jacks of Bob Mather and gave him a pure double. That left Johnson short and he would be knocked out by Michael Persky the very next hand. Bob Mather would fall short of his second ring a few orbits later when Persky claimed another pelt with pocket sevens against the five-four of Mather.

Michael Persky

Persky only lasted a bit longer before he fell in fourth at the hands of Mitchell Tsang. He was the champion of the first-ever Graton WSOP Main Event, and although he fell short of his third overall ring, the general consensus at the table was that Persky was the ‘God of Graton.’  

This brought us to three-handed play, where the tournament's most critical hand took place. After betting flop and turn, Peter Yang moved in on Sasha Sabbaghian for all the chips. Sabbaghian took his time but eventually stuck in a single chip for a call, and heard those magic words. ‘Nice call’

He got a massive double that left Yang as the short stack, and Sabbaghian would never lose the chip lead again. Yang lost a flip to Sabbaghian and fell in third after an incredible showing.

The only player left to get through was Sabbaghian’s heads-up opponent, Mitchell Tsang, who was a short-stack ninja on his way to heads-up play. He got all the chips in good with ace-queen but Sabbaghian, who was holding ace-nine, would drill a nine on the river to win the final pot. Sabbaghian then shook some hands and raised the ring in victory.

Final Table

Winner Reaction

Sabbaghian, who has previously experienced the sting of finishing in second place, was determined to avoid repeating that scenario. “Usually, when I make it this deep, I find a way to punt it off,” he said with a wry smile. “That was the goal of the day—don’t punt, and I’ll be good.” It’s clear that his focus and resolve played a crucial role in his success.

When asked what motivates him to play, Sabbaghian candidly admitted, “I like the money, but I don’t normally enjoy tournaments. However, Graton and Thunder Valley are two stops I actually look forward to. The vibes and the layout here are just better—it’s less grindy than Vegas. It’s more fun and casual.”

Discussing his strategy, Sabbaghian highlighted his meticulous approach. “I just valued every big blind I had and tried not to give anything away in close spots. I took the safer route most of the time. With multiple short stacks at the start, my main focus was to ensure I didn’t bust before them.” His strategic mindset and discipline were pivotal in navigating the tournament’s challenges.

One of the standout moments of the tournament was Sabbaghian’s three-handed hero call against Peter Yang. Reflecting on the pivotal decision, he explained, “I thought it was a pretty polar spot. It seemed like he wanted to fold on the turn and didn’t seem like he was setting up a three-street hand. So, I just felt like it was a good spot. If I bust, I bust, but if I win, I’d have all the chips.” This bold and calculated decision was a key turning point in securing his victory.

Sasha Sabbaghian

Overall, Sabbaghian’s blend of strategic acumen, careful planning, and a preference for a more enjoyable playing environment culminated in a well-deserved win. Congratulations to him on a remarkable performance!

Elisa Nakagawa

Elisa Nakagawa has secured her first WSOP Circuit ring with a stunning performance at Event #18: $400 Bay Area Closer No Limit Hold’em at the World Series of Poker at Graton Resort and Casino. The event, which drew a competitive field of 150 entries, saw Nakagawa take the top spot and a prize of $12,414. The tournament generated a total prize pool of $49,500, with 23 places paid.

In a dramatic heads-up battle, Elisa Nakagawa faced off against four-time circuit ring winner Brett Murray, who finished as the runner-up with a prize of $7,949. The final showdown highlighted Nakagawa’s skill and resilience.

Elisa Nakagawa

Final Table Payouts:

1. Elisa Nakagawa - $12,414
2. Brett Murray - $7,949
3. Johnny Bromberg - $5,277
4. Wesley Haymond - $3,635
5. Phillip Good - $2,603
6. Gragong Chew - $1,940
7. Jacob Miller - $1,507
8. Gerry Dutra - $1,224
9. Sequoyah Wallach - $1,039

Winner’s Reaction

Elisa Nakagawa shared her surprise at the victory, saying, “I didn’t want to play; I wanted to go home. We came to support someone who made it to Day 2. I wanted to go home, but a friend wanted to play slots.” Her unexpected decision to stay turned into a triumph.

On her tournament experience, Nakagawa remarked, “I do play tournaments. I got lucky at Thunder Valley. I satellited in for $250 and won $64,000 the first time I played a multi-day. So it got me hooked.”

To celebrate, Nakagawa plans to enjoy a special dinner, noting, “I’m going to have a good dinner to celebrate, and it’s my turn to treat my friends.”

Elisa Nakagawa

This victory marks Elisa Nakagawa’s first WSOP Circuit ring, adding a significant achievement to her poker career and showcasing her impressive ability to seize opportunities in the game.

Michael Coleman

Michael Coleman has achieved a milestone in his poker career by winning Event #17: $250 No Limit Hold’em Seniors at the World Series of Poker at Graton Resort and Casino. This event, tailored for players over 50 years old, attracted a competitive field of 194 entries. Coleman emerged victorious, capturing his first WSOP Circuit ring along with a prize of $9,037. The tournament generated a total prize pool of $39,200, with 30 places paid.

In a heads-up showdown for the title, Michael Coleman faced off against Peter DeStefano, who finished as the runner-up with a prize of $5,870. The final battle was a testament to Coleman’s skill and determination.

Final Table Payouts:

1. Michael Coleman - $9,037
2. Peter DeStefano - $5,870
3. Douglas Newland - $3,935
4. David Rose - $2,724
5. Charles Himes - $1,950
6. Carolyn Langley - $1,445
7. Gerald Buhrz - $1,110
8. Luke Unzelman - $885
9. Steven Olufs - $733

Winner’s Reaction

Michael Coleman

Reflecting on his victory, Michael Coleman shared, “I play about three tournaments a week for the past ten years. I just celebrated 2000 tournaments.” He described his usual approach, saying, “I’m a low-level grinder. If it’s above a $250 buy-in, I normally pass on it. I’m trying to grind my way up to the high buy-ins.”

When asked about his plans to celebrate, Coleman said, “I’ll probably take my two kids and my wife to dinner and then maybe take them to the Tournament of Champions too.”

This win marks Michael Coleman’s first WSOP Event cash and his first ring ever, adding a significant achievement to his poker career and highlighting his dedication and perseverance in the game.