2019 February WSOP Circuit
Seminole Casino Coconut Creek
$1,700 WSOP Circuit Main Event
$1,000,000 Guaranteed
Entries: 805
Prize Pool: $1,219,575
February 15-18, 2019

(Coconut Creek, FL) — The headliner on the Coco WSOP Circuit schedule was the $1,000,000 Guarantee Main Event and it drew a stellar group of players to the four-day tournament. There were 805 entries taking a shot at the big title and it was Zach Donovan standing out among them all, running big at the final table to take the WSOPC Main Event ring along with more than $240,000.

It was an emotional win. Donovan wasn’t expecting to play in the Main Event this weekend. Unfortunately for Donovan and his family, his grandfather passed away on Friday and he planned to spend the weekend with his family. Instead, they convinced him that playing was exactly what his grandfather would want.

“I guess he was with me the whole time. We won.” he commented when it was done.

So Donovan played Flight B and went on to book his second career WSOP Circuit win.

The tournament featured two starting flights that pushed the prize pool over $1,200,000. Some of the best players from around the country and South Florida came for the Main Event including Brian Altman, Martin Ryan, Robert Mizrachi, Jessica Dawley, Sam Panzica, Tristan Wade, and Tony Ruberto.

Donovan came into Day 2 with a below average stack among the 171 returners but he ran it up and finished Day 2 second in chips. He made his move after the Main Event made it into the money with 81 getting paid and he entered Day 3 behind only Jason Young.

It did not take long to reach the final table and Donovan took over the lead shortly after they reached ten-handed play. With only a few exceptions, he held the lead throughout and sat behind a castle of chips until he sent Young out in third place.

Sokchheka Pho made the most of a long heads-up battle and briefly held the lead until Donovan reasserted himself to take the title.

“I felt in control most of the way,” Donovan said after the victory. “Near the end, I felt like I might tilt.”

“But no one likes that,” Donovan laughed.

Pho took home more than $150,000 for outlasting all but one player while Donovan earned $243,916 along with a seat in the WSOP Global Casino Championship later this year.

Congratulations to Donovan and everyone who made a big run. Thanks to our players for another great series and Main Event.

Main Event final table results:

1st: Zach Donovan – $243,916 + WSOP Circuit ring
2nd: Sokchheka Pho – $150,374
3rd: Jason Young – $110,859
4th: Hamid Izadi – $82,626
5th: Warren Sheaves – $62,406
6th: Chad Eveslage – $47,746
7th: Jack Shea – $36,990
8th: Jessica Dawley – $29,014
9th: Mike Azzaro – $23,038
10th: Brandon Duvdivani – $18,513

Click the link below for full Main Event results:

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$1,700 WSOP Circuit Main Event
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 33: 120,000/240,000 with a 40,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 805

The swingy match continued and then ended with two big hands. Sokchheka “Chico” Pho pulled his way into a small lead over Zach Donovan before the first big hand of heads-up.

Donovan opened his button to 550,000 and Pho called to see the flop. Pho checked, Donovan bet 600,000 and Pho check-raised to 1,600,000. Donovan called, the turn was and Pho announced: “all in”. Donovan quickly called for 8,665,000 to get an expletive from Pho.

Donovan:
Pho:

Donovan flopped the nine-high straight and improved to the ten-high straight on the turn. Pho needed his two pair to turn into a boat but the river put Donovan up to nearly a ten-to-one lead.

A few hands later, Pho moved all in for his last 1,700,000 and Donovan called with a chance to end the tournament.

Donovan:
Pho:

Pho was ahead with big slick but Donovan jumped to the front after the flop. The board finished turn and river to give Donovan all the chips and the Main Event title.

1st: Zach Donovan – $243,916 + WSOP Circuit ring
2nd: Sokchheka “Chico” Pho – $150,374

$1,700 WSOP Circuit Main Event
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 33: 120,000/240,000 with a 40,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 805

Even facing a big lead, Sokchheka Pho has not slowed down and has slowing worked his way back into contention for a near dead heat.

Seat 1: Sokchheka Pho – 11,725,000 (49 bb)
Seat 2: Zach Donovan – 12,425,000 (52 bb)

$1,700 WSOP Circuit Main Event
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 33: 100,000/200,000 with a 30,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 805

Zach Donovan and Sokchheka Pho have been trading good-natured barbs along with chips. The first 30 minutes saw Pho pull nearly even with Donovan but the door quickly closed and Donovan pushed his advantage to better than three-to-one.

Seat 1: Sokchheka Pho – 5,275,000 (26 bb)
Seat 2: Zach Donovan – 18,875,000 (94 bb)

Remaining payouts:

1st: $243,916 + WSOP Circuit ring
2nd: $150,374

$1,700 WSOP Circuit Main Event
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 33: 100,000/200,000 with a 30,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 805

After a short break to readjust the seats for heads-up play, Zach Donovan and Sokchheka Pho are now playing for the Coco WSOP Circuit Main Event title. Donovan holds a better than two-to-one lead but the stacks are deep to set up a potentially long match for the ring.

Seat 1: Sokchheka Pho – 6,475,000 (32 bb)
Seat 2: Zach Donovan – 17,675,000 (88 bb)

Remaining payouts:

1st: $243,916 + WSOP Circuit ring
2nd: $150,374

$1,700 WSOP Circuit Main Event
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 33: 100,000/200,000 with a 30,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 805

Jason Young open-shoved from the button for ~4,100,000 and Zach Donovan called in the small blind with the bigger stack.

Young:
Donovan:

Young was dominated and outkicked and the run out could not keep him in the game. He went out in 3rd place for $110,859 and the result also pushed him to the top of the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Player of the Year race.

Zach Donovan – 17,675,000 (88 bb)
Jason Young – Eliminated in 3rd place ($110,859)

$1,700 WSOP Circuit Main Event
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 32: 80,000/160,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3 of 805

Jason Young opened the action to 325,000 from under the gun and Hamid Izadi called on the button to see the flop. Young announced all in and Izadi took his time to think it through. After a couple minutes, Izadi called for his last 2,750,000.

Young:
Izadi:

Young was ahead with ace-high and the open-ended straight draw with Izadi looking for hearts or jacks or nines. The turn was no help to Izadi and he was sent out in fourth place after the river.

Jason Young – 6,500,000 (40 bb)
Hamid Izadi – Eliminated in 4th place ($82,626)

$1,700 WSOP Circuit Main Event
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 32: 80,000/160,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining: 4 of 805

After Jason Young doubled, he went on to chip up into the lead before another big hand. Zac Donovan three-bet shoved for 4,565,000 from the small blind after Young opened his button. After getting a count, Young said: “let’s go.”

Donovan:
Young:

Donovan was dominated and the former chip leader began gathering his belongings. The rail was yelling as the flop came and the turn was harmless. But the two out river drew an “ohh” from Donovan followed by a little celebration of getting back in the game.

Zach Donovan – 9,370,000 (59 bb)
Jason Young – 3,640,000 (23 bb)

$1,700 WSOP Circuit Main Event
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 32: 80,000/160,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining: 4 of 805

Jason Young and Hamid Izadi folded and Zach Donovan announced all in from the small blind. Sokchheka Pho quickly called in the big for 2,345,000.

Pho:
Donovan:

Pho was ahead for the double, paired the flop, and dodged Donovan’s wheel draw on the turn and river to double.

Sokchheka Pho – 4,770,000 (30 bb)
Zach Donovan – 6,935,000 (43 bb)