Event 5: William Watson Defeats Ian O’Hara, Earns First Gold Ring and $6,805 in Coconut Creek

September WSOP Circuit
Seminole Casino Coconut Creek
Coconut Creek, FL
Event 5
$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Entries: 55
Prize Pool: $18,150
September 17-18, 2018

(Coconut Creek, FL) — William Watson is a World Series of Poker Circuit gold ring champion. The accolade came following a victory in Event 5 at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, a $400 buy-in No Limit Hold’em Re-Entry tournament, and earned Watson $6,805 to complement his jewelry.

“It was a long time coming. I just finished second in Cherokee a month ago,” Watson said of the win.

The event drew an intimate field of 55 entries and was ripe with Casino Championship points. There were a number of notables in the action including Martin Ryan, Bernard Lee and Wally Maddah. Kicking off at the afternoon hour of 4pm, the event played 18 levels on Day 1. John Gorsuch found the rail in sixth and narrowly missed a Day 2 berth as the final five punched their ticket to another day of play. Greg Paryani bagged the chip lead and restarted the event atop the counts.

The final playing session moved fast with no shortage of double-ups. Matt Bretzfield was first to go in fifth followed by Paryani who hit the skids early. Watson eliminated Karim in third place and took a huge chip lead into heads-up play against South Florida pro Ian O’Hara. O’Hara managed a lone double-up, but ultimately bowed out in second place. O’Hara, a past Coconut Creek champion, moved over $2,150,000 in earnings for his runner-up finish.

Following the win, Watson’s poker resume boasts 26 cashes and more than $185,000 in earnings. He is 29 years old and resides in Louisville, KY.

Full $400 results:

1st: William Watson – $6,805 + WSOP Circuit ring
2nd: Ian O’Hara – $4,211
3rd: Zo Karim – $2,759
4th: Greg Paryani – $1,906
5th: Matt Bretzfield – $1,398
6th: John Gorsuch – $1,071