November Niner Josh Beckley has won the opening event of the World Series of Poker Circuit at the Palm Beach Kennel Club, Florida, after a heads-up victory over Aric Pluskiat.
Joshua Beckley has sharpened up his skills, ahead of his World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event November Nine final table appearance, by winning the opening event at the World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) at the Palm Beach
In previous years, the period of play sandwiched between the end of the WSOP Las Vegas mayhem, and the November Nine final table, has been littered with a string of impressive results for the habitants of that glorious achievement.
The class of 2015 is yet to live up to that hype. Prior to Beckley’s victory, the largest score racked up by any Nov Niner was a $25,000 score by Neil Blumenfield’s 29th place finish at the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open. None of them has won an event of any true significance. Whilst Beckley’s $22,349 prize may seem ‘significant’ the addition of WSOPC gold, in the form of that famous ring, will do nicely thank you.
“It’s definitely an ego boost. It makes me more confident with my game. It might also show the other {November Niners} that I can win a tournament.” Beckley told the WSOP after his win.
Beckley will start the WSOP Main Event final table with the third lowest chip stack, but it’s still good for 29 big blinds. Bruno Politano finished eighth with a similar size chip stack in 2014. Beckley will be hoping for better fortune than that. He has already locked up a million bucks for making the final table.
The 25-year old East Coast grinder topped a field of 317 entrants in Event #1: $365 No Limit Hold’em Monster Stack. Beckley was the chip leader going into the final day’s play, which incidentally, was the day that people starting to realize who he was: “I think I maybe got a tiny bit of respect and a little bit more folds.”
It was a final table free of experienced live tournament players. Sean Shah recently bubbled the World Poker Tour (WPT) Season XIII Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open final table for $168,550, but Shah apart the road was free of potential land mines.
Beckley ultimately defeated Aric Pluskiat, in heads-up action, when his AQ proved too strong for the AJ of his opponent. Beckley told the WSOP that his victory was a result of an extensive run of clean eating and working out.
Keep it up Josh.
There’s a bracelet to go with that ring.
Final Table Results
1st. Joshua Beckley – $22,349
2nd. Aric Pluskiat – $13,818
3rd. Sean Shah – $10,036
4th. Robert Hodson III – $7,413
5th. Joshua Sperko – $5,565
6th. Steven Sanzone – $4,244
7th. Jonah Miller – $3,288
8th. Vigorn Dancharnjitt – $2,585
9th. Adam Ruen – $2,063
Other notables to cash included former gold ring winners Jason Bolton (29th) and Cody Pack (11th).
