Sean Yu Wins Global Casino Championship Claiming the Final Domestic WSOP Bracelet of 2017

Sean Yu
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  • PG News August 12, 2017
  • 2 Minutes Read

With WSOP’s November Nine concept no longer existing, the final bracelet awarded on U.S. soil for the year was claimed by two-time World Series of Poker Circuit ring winner Sean Yu (cover image) after he took down the Global Casino Championship (GCC) hosted at Harrah’s Cherokee, North Carolina.

The GCC brings together all players who have excelled most throughout the season on the WSOP Circuit and this year attracted a tough field of 124 runners. Yu topped them all to pocket a cool $296,341 along with his first gold bracelet. Yu won his seat into the event by defeating Eli Elezra heads up in the WSOP Circuit Planet Hollywood last September.

A total of 122 players qualified for the event with a few opting not to attend and hence only 115 “freeroll” entries this year. Previous year’s WSOP Player of the Year top 100, and ring winners from the past Circuit season were eligible to buy-in for $10,000. Nine additional players bought in taking the count to 124 with a mammoth $1,090,000 prize pool.

The event saw the top 19 places getting paid and a few who managed to make it in the money were Caufman Talley, Ryan Jones, Roland Israelashvili and all-time circuit cashes leader Rico Carli.

Yu had his friends from Los Angeles supporting him on the final table, who also managed to cash in the event. While Nikhil Gera made it to the final table and finished in eighth place, Sohale Khalil exited in 18th place.

 

Final Table Recap

Indian-origin player Nikhil Gera was the first casualty of the final table after his pocket nines failed against Russian player Alexander Lakhov’s pocket jacks.

That brought up the TV table bubble, with the final six set to bag and play in front of the cameras for Day 3. It burst in a very unusual hand with the shortest stack on the table, Will Berry eventually exiting the event.

WSOP Circuit Hammond champ Dylan Linde was the next player to fall from the final table followed by five-time bracelet winner Jason Mercier who went down in fifth place.

Jesse Cohen was the shortest at that point, and he hit the rail in fourth place followed by Josh Reichard to set up the short heads-up battle between Yu and Lakhov.

The eventual champion started the battle with an almost 3-1 chip advantage and ended it all within 10 hands. He check-shoved a backdoor flush on the river to end it, getting snap-called by Lakhov, who held ace-jack on a jack-high board and didn’t find a fold.

Yu after his win said “It feels amazing, It’s like 100 times better [than a regular Circuit win]. I mean, to be back at the Global Casino Championship for the second time. The first time was a big disappointment. The second time obviously worked out for me, so I’m like super happy. I have my amazing friends from L.A. It’s just amazing.”

Sean Yu
Sean Yu

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Sean Yu – $296,341

2. Alexander Lakhov – $183,527

3. Josh Reichard – $130,498

4. Jesse Cohen – $94,459

5. Jason Mercier – $69,624

6. Dylan Linde – $52,724

7. Will Berry – $39,993

8. Nikhil Gera – $31,189

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