WSOPC Hammond: Michael Estes conquers Main Event for $198K

Day 3 of the $1,700 World Series of Poker Circuit Hammond Main Event returned six players, saw the chip lead a few times and Michael Estes won his second WSOPC ring, a seat to the Tournament of Champions, and $198,576.

Estes entered the final day as chip leader and closed the deal against Grant Keller in heads-up play. Kristopher Magruder was third and Sargon Guliana finished fourth, while Mark Cahill and Max Sheridan rounded out the six returning runners for the Day 3 finale. The Hammond Main Event drew 746 players for a prize pool just above $1.1 million. 

This old hat

"I don't know how it feels yet – I'm still trying to process this," Estes said moments after winning. "It's simply amazing. I wanted this really bad."

"The final table was great," he said. "That's because of me - I'm so nice," Estes joked. "No, everybody here was absolutely professional and nice. We understood that we all each couldn't win."

"I worried every single moment of the final table," Estes added. "This hat is AT LEAST 26 years old, it used to be red and used to be put together. I think we only have a couple more years left and hopefully I'll get another ring before it breaks."

The hat – and the St. Louis Cardinals – have seen better days.

Estes closes the deal

Jacob Fishbein, Christopher Weber, and Mykhailo Lendel were eliminated late in play on Sunday night before play wrapped up. Sheridan was the first casualty of Monday when his   failed to connect and Magruder's ended his day.

Cahill mistimed his all-in shove when holding pocket fours and Magruder flopped trip fives. Then, Guliana flopped top pair with a king, Estes made a straight straightand Guliana's chips slid next door to Estes.

Magruder's run ended when his pocket eights were out-flopped by Estes' that rivered two pair. Heads-up play saw both players exchange the chip lead before Estes closed out the win. He flopped top pair with a queen, Keller had pocket fours and said he was a non-believer in Estes' bet.

Grant Keller couldn't stop Estes from winning his second ring.

The WSOP Circuit is running across the county in Thunder Valley with their $1,700 Main Event kicking off Thursday, October 3rd. Then the Circuit rolls to Harrah's Pompano Beach October 10-21st and Caesars Southern Indiana October 17-28th.

WSOPC Hammond Main Event final table results