WSOP-C Tunica

David Cook posing with his first career ring

When it comes to winning a WSOP Circuit ring, it’s better late than never!

Going the distance in the very last tournament of the WSOP Circuit series here in Tunica, appropriately named Double Stack Closer, David Cook finished on top of a 121 player field to win his first career WSOP Circuit ring along with the $10,120 top prize.

Becoming a WSOP Circuit champion and punching his ticket to the 2025 WSOP Tournament of Champions, Cook has accomplished a goal that many poker players strive to accomplish.

To reach the “top of the mountain”, Cook had to outplay an incredibly talented field that included the likes of WSOP bracelet winner Richard “Ricky” Ali, three-time WSOP ring winner Frank Covich, and eight-time WSOP ring winner Hamid Izadi.

Reaching the final table and battling with second place finisher Brandon Dirnberger heads-up, Cook outplayed his opponent to take a shiny, new WSOP Circuit ring back home to his hometown of Madison, Alabama.

Congratulations to David Cook for ending the WSOP Circuit series here in Tunica with a bang by winning the Double Stack Closer in spectacular fashion. We hope you, your WSOP ring, and $10,120 in prize money make it back to Madison safely.

William Cody Stanford with ring #3 of the series

Brian Patterson

Pulling off an incredible accomplishment and winning his third WSOP Circuit ring of the series, William “Cody” Stanford has stolen the show these past two weeks in Tunica.

Winning the $400 30K event on Sunday, Stanford locked up not only $17,262 but a WSOP Main Event seat as he clinched first place in the Casino Champion standings sponsored by the Horseshoe.

A pleasure to interact with on and off the felt, Stanford is a familiar face that is welcome in any poker room or tournament floor.

Now having seven career WSOP Circuit rings to his name, Stanford continues to set himself apart from being just any Circuit champion.

Earning a seat to the 2025 WSOP Tournament of Champions three times over, we wish Stanford the best of luck as he continues to prove himself at poker tables across the country.

Congratulations once again to Cody Stanford not only for winning Event 17, but for his remarkable performance throughout the Tunica WSOP Circuit series.

Brian Patterson

Whether it was his large chip stack or his charismatic personality on the tournament floor, it was nearly impossible to ignore the winner of the second Seniors Event of the Tunica Circuit series Marcus “Big Mo” Moore.

Outlasting a 302 player field and taking home the $15,454 top prize, Moore’s first career WSOP Circuit win was almost prophetic.

Telling the Poker.Org live reporter onsite that they should be ready to interview him following his big win, Moore spoke it into existence by winning the event.

When asked how he felt after winning Event 16, “I’m very excited, this is my first ring and I’m very happy. I hope I got some more coming along soon.”

A lifelong poker player, Moore shared how his journey to his first career WSOP Circuit ring started from the very beginning.

“I’ve been working on my craft for almost 30 years,” Moore said. “I’ve been around gambling ever since I was five or six playing tonk, pity pat, crazy 8’s, and spades, but poker, I learned my father.”

When asked how he planned to celebrate his big win, Moore shared how he looked forward to going home and spending time with his wife, who had been on Facetime throughout the entirety of the interview.

Congratulations again to Marcus Moore for winning his first career ring event in the Seniors Event and taking home the $15,454 top prize.

Jessie Bryant posing with the 8-6 that cracked aces

Brian Patterson

Coming into the final day of play for the $1,700 WSOP-C Main Event at the Tunica Horseshoe, a camo-donned Jessie Bryant not only had the chips but the experience to go the distance. 

Along with having five WSOP Circuit rings to his name, Bryant notably finished 17th in the 2024 WSOP Main Event for a $450,400 payday.

A proven poker player who has shown he is capable of running deep and competing in even the biggest tournaments, it was a surprise to no one that Bryant would use his sizeable chip lead at the final table to win the Tunica Circuit Main Event here today.

When asked how he felt following the second biggest cash of his poker career, Bryant gave a fitting answer for the momentous moment.

“I’m pretty excited,” Bryant said. “This feels like a long time coming. Every time I’ve been in the Circuit Main nothing ever works out. I had one where I had three kings against aces with one card to come. Ari Engel spikes an ace on the river after we were all in to win it. Things always seem to happen, but in this one since Day 1 it just seemed meant to be.”

Recounting how he felt throughout the Circuit Main Event, Bryant shared that it seemed he was firing on all cylinders for all three days.

“Two levels into Day 2 I just felt like everything was clicking, “ Bryant said. “It just felt like everything I was doing was correct. I knew I had a great shot.”

Recounting the extremely competitive heads-up match he had with second-place finisher Dylan Leremy, Bryant shared the strategy he had that eventually led to victory.

“I had an idea that Dylan was very capable,” Bryant said. “I was going to put a little pressure on him, but I wasn’t going to get crazy.”

Even when he would relinquish the lead to Lemery, Bryant maintained his composure and confidence.

“I didn’t get too stressed,” Bryant said when talking about losing his sizeable chip lead to Lemery. “I never felt like I didn’t have enough chips to win it. My mentor Shawn Rice tells me to forget about those hands, to be a beast and take what you got to get them back.”

Keeping his mentor’s words in mind, Bryant would do exactly that and grind his way back into the chip lead and the WSOP-C Main Event title.

Cracking Leremy’s pocket aces when he flopped bottom two pair, Bryant would get the remainder of the chips and accomplish his goal of taking down the Circuit Main Event.

When asked how he planned to celebrate one of his biggest poker achievements to date, all Bryant could think about was getting back home to Arkansas.

“I got a lot of work and some important stuff to do at home. I put a lot off to come here and play.”

Although Bryant may have missed some important work while away from home, at least he is returning $144,962 richer!

Final Table Action

Coming into Day 3, only six players remained at what seemed like would be a very quick final table.

Short-stacked at the start of the action, B.J. McBrayer would quickly be eliminated in 6th place for $23,825.

Not too long after, Jason Munlin was eliminated by Bryant in brutal fashion, having his ace-jack lose to ace-five via a rivered five of clubs.

Mark Kehrees would be the next to go after getting out-kicked with A-3 suited to Donald Voyles A-7 suited.

Three-handed play would allow some time before another elimination took place, but that would change when Bryant’s pocket eights won the flip against Donald Voyles K-Q suited, eliminating him in third place.

Following Voyles' exit from the tournament, an incredibly competitive heads-up match began.

Even though he was at a substantial chip disadvantage when heads-up play began, Dylan Lemery showed how he had gotten so far in the tournament by showcasing his poker acumen.

Eventually pulling even with Bryant and then taking the lead, for a number of hours Leremy and Bryant would take turns serving as the biggest stack.

At some point though, something had to give, as only one player was able to leave the tournament stage as the winner.

Getting it all-in on a K-8-6 rainbow flop, Lemery flipped over pocket aces only to see that Bryant had flopped two pair with 8-6 offsuit.

Although losing in brutal fashion, Lemery could take solace not only in receiving $96,893 for second place, but knowing that he had played incredibly well throughout the tournament.

Finally securing every single chip in play, Jessie Bryant became the official Tunica WSOP Circuit Main Event champion.

Congratulations once again to Jessie Bryant for winning the Tunica WSOP Circuit Main Event for $144,962 and his sixth career ring!

WSOP-C Tunica Final Table Results:

1. Jessie Bryant - $144,962
   
2. Dylan Lemery - $96,893
3. Donald Voyle - $66,100
4. Mark Kehrees - $46,043
5. Jason Munlin - $32,762
6. B.J. McBrayer - $23,825