Arkansas-native Mike Cordell has spent the last 15 years competing in small poker tournaments around the southern and mid-western United States, racking up close to $800 in live earnings and making a name for himself in Hold’em and Omaha events. Last week, Cordell added another title to his ever-growing resume when he earned his second ring and $148,171 at the World Series of Poker Circuit Horseshoe Baltimore $1,675 Main Event.
Cordell had to top all-time Circuit wins leader Maurice Hawkins and back-to-back WSOP Circuit Cherokee winner Vanessa Troung to come out on top, but he eventually clinched the first-place spot and bested 448 other players.
Play lasted two days and Ryan Tamanini was the first to depart the final table. Tamanini tangled with Troung early, losing with kings to pocket fours. Richard Smith was the first final table player to be eliminated by Cordell when his A-K ran short against pocket jacks. The eventual winner found a set on the flop and eighth-place earned Smith $17,538.
Hawkins, who came to the final table with the largest reputation and third-largest chip count, went bust in seventh-place and Cordell snagged his massive chip stack to take a commanding lead.
Josh Vizcarra was the next to go at Cordell’s hand, but Jeremy Stein got in on the action prior and ended Troung’s run. Stein held kings and played it cool until Troung shoved with two pair. A king on the river had him on top and Troung earned $37,460 for fifth.
Cordell barely managed to maintain the lead during four-handed play, but got a little redemption when he knocked Robert Garrett out in fourth. Queen, Stein and Codell all went all-in preflop in a move that looked like it would end the event, but Queen held on with a straight while Stein fell in a side pot.
Queen had just one-fourth of the chips as his opponent when heads-up play began, but held a pair of ace’s against Cordell’s A-K in the game’s final hand. A king-high straight bested his twins, and Queen took just over $91K for second.
Final table results:
- Mike Cordell, Ark. – $148,171
- Alex Queen, Penn. – $91,562
- Jeremy Stein, D.C. – $66,905
- Robert Garrett, Mass. – $49,667
- Vanessa Troung, N.C. – $37,460
- Joshua Vizcarra, Texas – $28,671
- Maurice Hawkins, Fl. – $22,266
- Richard Smith, Maryland – $17,538
- Ryan Tamanini, Penn. – $14,009
Photo credit: WSOP.
