Steven Bell Wins WSOPC Northeast Regional

Chris Bell won the 2010 World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) Northeast Regional Championship, winning $358,295 and his second major tournament victory of the year.

Bell is not one of the poker’s biggest names, but he has had a big year in 2010. In June, he won his first World Series of Poker bracelet by taking down the $5,000 buy-in pot limit Omaha H/L event, winning $327,040. His previous accomplishments include making a World Poker Tour final table earlier this year, making three WSOP final tables in previous years, and finishing in the top six at three WPT events in his career. Bell’s career winnings are now over $2.7 million.

At the WSOPC Northeast Regional, Bell faced a very tough final table for a circuit event. Others at the table included Todd Terry (finished 5^th), Andy Frankenberger (6^th) and Micah Raskin (4^th). In fact, it took seven hours before the first player – Seth Fischer – was eliminated from the final table, making it a true marathon session.

But Bell’s final opponent would be Chris Klodnicki, a two-time World Series of Poker final table finisher who was looking to win the WSOPC Main Event at Harrah’s Atlantic City for the second consecutive year. With the two players approximately equal in chips, both players got their money into the pot on a 653 rainbow flop. Klodnicki had 64 for top pair and an open-ended straight draw, but he was behind, as Bell showed 33 for bottom set. The turn and river failed to improve either player, giving Bell a monster pot.

But after a few minutes of counting and double-checking, it became clear that Bell slightly outchipped Klodnicki, meaning that the tournament was official over. For his second place finish, Klodnicki took home $221,452.

The full results of the final table were as follows:

1st: Chris Bell — $358,295

2nd: Chris Klodnicki — $221,452

3rd: Ketan Pandya — $159,851

4th: Micah Raskin — $117,457

5th: Todd Terry — $87,808

6th: Andy Frankenberger — $66,758

7th: Jason Burt — $51,607

8th: Nick Mitchell — $40,538

9th: Seth Fischer — $32,362