Kurt Jewell Wins Third WSOP Circuit Title

Kurt Jewell won the 2012 World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah’s Tunica Main Event Monday, becoming just the third player to win two or more WSOP Circuit Main Event titles.

The win netted Jewel $192,984 and his third overall WSOP Circuit victory. Jewell made it through a field of 647 players, the largest field in the seven years that the Tunica tournament has been held.

Jewell reached heads up play with about a 5-4 chip lead over his final opponent, Chris Thompson. With the stacks still close after several lead changes, it came as little surprise when the tournament ended on a virtual coin flip. Thompson got all of his chips into play with pocket tens, while Jewell held the QJ of spades.

A K7J flop was enough to put Jewell into the lead and put him on the verge of winning the title. However, a ten came on the turn, breathing new life into Thompson, who now held an overwhelming lead in the hand.

Jewell would need an ace or a nine in order to win the tournament; anything else, and Thompson would instead hold a massive chip lead. The river came the nine of hearts, giving Jewell his third gold ring, and his second to come from a main event.

For second place, Thompson took home $119,415.

Jewell is hardly a big name in poker circles, and you won’t find any major tournament victories on his career record – but that’s not to say he hasn’t accomplished plenty of the course the last five years. He has achieved great results mainly in small and medium buy-in tournaments throughout the Midwest, and has won over $600,000 in live tournament earnings over his career.

Jewell had also reached the final table of the Tunica Main Event in 2011, finishing in 8^th place after entering the final table as the chip leader.