Back in 2011, Arkansas' Sam Barnhart had a dream year. It started when he won the 2010/2011 World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's Tunica $1,600 Main Event for $148,612, a victory that came off a decision to play a last-minute satellite. Not only was it a big payday, it also came with a seat into the inaugural National Championship, which was held at Caesars Palace prior to the WSOP.
Well, Barnhart managed to win that tournament for $300K and a gold bracelet. As if that wasn't good enough, Barnhart jumped in that year's Main Event and made a deep run, ultimately finishing in 17th place for $378,796. Needless to say, it was a life-changing experience for the man from Little Rock.
Since then, Barnhart has relocated to Las Vegas and has made poker his career. He managed to notch four cashes at the 2014 WSOP, and he was hoping to replicate the Main Event experience he had three years ago. Unfortunately, any hope of that happening just came to an end.
We missed Barnhart's elimination hand, but we do know that he fell to Darren Rabinowitz. Barnhart had backdoored a Broadway straight with 
, but it was no good as the same card gave Rabinowitz a flush.
"I thought I played it great," Rabinowtiz joked.
| Jogador | Fichas | Oscilação |
|---|---|---|
|
46,000
14,000
|
14,000 |
|
||
|
Eliminado | |
.
.
, commonly know as "The Doyle Brunson" because Brunson won both of his World Series of Poker Main Event victories with the hand. Twenty-nine-year-old Mike Ziemba may not have been alive when Brunson earned both of those victories, but he knows what the hand is and just showed how to make it work.
flop, Antonio Scalzi and Peterllese Francesco checked to Ziemba, and he bet 2,500. Scalzi folded, but Francesco called. Then after the 
landed on the turn, Francesco checked, Ziemba bet 4,500, and Francesco called.
, and Francesco checked again. Ziemba fired 11,500, and Francesco went deep into the tank. After a minute or two, Francesco called.
for a spade flush, and Francesco mucked his hand.
, and the turn was a third diamond - the 
- and the bettor tossed out an additional 2,300.
, the bettor moved all in for 5,025, and Giang re-shoved. The other player folded.
for a king-high flush, but Giang had the stone-cold nuts: 
for a straight flush. Giang chipped up to 46,000.
board in a blind battle against Joe Cada. On the 
river, Longoria checked again and Cada bet 12,600. Longoria called without much hesitation, and Cada turned over 
