Page 21 - May 2012 • Southern California Gaming Guide

May 2012 Gaming News (Continued)
JoeKuetherWinsHarrah’sRinconWSOPCircuitEventChampionship
oe Kuether (pictured right) won the World Series of Poker Circuit Event Championship at Harrah’s Rincon Casino & Resort on March 26th, after overcoming a eld of 332 players over three days to snare a gold ring and collect the $111,104 rst place prize. is was a $1,600 buy-in
No Limit Hold’em tournament.
Kuether’s victory at Harrah’s Rincon follows his recent wins at the Wynn Classic series, in which he collected around $20,000 each for two $500-entry tournaments.
Along with other wins in 2012, Kuether
has now taken his year earnings so far
to an impressive $191,083. Kuether is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin whereheearnedadegreeinaccounting.With this win, he also earned a seat in the $1 million WSOP Circuit National Championship in July.
Kuether was dealt A-A to Cronin’s Ks-9s, with both players going all in on the K-4- 2-7 board after Cronin check-raised
his opponent. e A on the river then sealed Joe Kuether’s victory, whose life-
time earnings have now reached over $430,000.
e nal payouts were as follows:
1st: $111,104, Joe Kuether, 24-year-
old poker player from Las Vegas
2nd: $68,686, Chris Cronin, 45-year-old
6th: $21,414, Leroy Ty Spires, 35-year-old engineer wide group of poker pros chasing the $483,060 prize pool. 3rd: $50,108, Ryan Gentry, 34-year-old poker from Las Cruces, NM
e $1,600-entry WSOP Circuit Tournament attracted a Among those falling along the way were Gavin Smith,
Bryan Devonshire, Fabrice Soulier, Dennis Phillips, Scott Clements, and Gavin Gri n.
Chris Cronin took a slight advantage into the heads-up phase of the competition, but Kuether managed to take the lead before the de ning hand was played.
editor and businessman from Gilbert, AZ professional from San Diego
4th: $37,167, Freddy Deeb, poker professional from Los Angeles and Las Vegas
5th: $27,998, David Funkhauser, 28-year-old poker professional from Los Angeles
7th: $16,617, Chris Bratene, 34-year-old software engineer from Temecula, CA
8th: $13,081, Stephen Plache, 45-year-old business owner from Manhattan Beach, CA
9th: $10,444, Ryan Buckholtz, 32-year- old entrepreneur from Studio City, CA.
MAY 2012
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
PAGE 21