Bilguun Odgerel Wins World Series Of Poker Thunder Valley Circuit Main Event For $195,194

Bilguun Odgerel – Photo credit: WSOP Circuit/Valley of Thunder

Two flights departing at World Series of Poker circuit the 2023 second leg created a 679-entry field at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California.

The $1,700 buy-in no-limit hold’em tournament had a prize pool worth $1,028,685, and the top 102 players bagged at least $2,558 in prize money over the four-day event.

There were 106 players who returned for day 2, and the money bubble burst early in the day before the field was whittled down to the last nine players. The final table resumed on Monday 23 January to cap off the second WSOP Circuit champion of the year.

That champion was Bilguun Odgerel, and the $195,194 prize money he was awarded is the highest point total of his career. The Oakland, Calif.-based player now has tournament earnings close to $300,000. This was also his first tournament victory.

The final table took just over seven hours to decide a winner. Odgerel came in with the third largest stack early in the game. Angela Jordison was the early chip leader, but her run at the tournament ended when she busted in fifth place. Brandon Zuidema was the only other player to have more chips than Odgerel to start the day, and the two would eventually meet in the heads-up final.

“I am ecstatic. It’s a little hard to believe right now. I’m grateful for the opportunity and I’m grateful that my family is here to rant at me,” Davis told the WSOP Circuit journalists after the victory.

Odgerel defeated Zudiema in the final game between two players from California with pocket eights to beat pocket sixes in the final hand. Zudiema took home $120,643 for his long run at the tournament, and his career winnings now stand at $792,760.

Odgerel also complimented his latest opponent during the winner’s interview: “Brandon is a really tough player. He is a friend of mine. I knew it was going to be really tough and I did my best not to give up my chips as best I could and get the job done.

Some other notables who cashed in the event included Joshua Morrow (15th), Justin Lapka (23rd), Dann Turner (25th), Kyle Kitagawa (29th), Amir Lehavot (37th), Brett Murray ( 38th), Pat Lyons (45th ), Adam Curchack (46th), Jarod Minghini (58th) and Curt Kohlberg (79th). Many of these players are regulars at the Thunder Valley Poker Room and play there year-round in multiple tournament series.

Here is a look at the winnings awarded at the final table:

The next WSOP Circuit The event is already underway at the Horseshoe Casino in Tunica, Mississippi and will run through January 30th. The $1,700 buy-in main event kicks off on Thursday, January 26th. You can see the full tournament series schedule right here.