$5,000 WSOP Caesars Circuit Finale

$5,000 WSOP Caesars Circuit Finale

  A man who goes by the name of "Li'lholdem" does not look like he lives old enough to play in a casino, but despite his looks, he knows his poker game. Chad "Li'lholdem" Batista is old enough at 25 and he is the new champ after winning the $5,000 championship at the WSOP Circuit Tour at Caesars Indiana. Taking up a $10,000 seat in next year's WSOP Main Event is part of the package, along with $262,002.  Batista started out with the chip lead at the final table but waffled back and forth with his poker game until, at his lowest ebb, he was out-chipped about 9-1. But, as they say, all you need is a chip and a chair and the Coral Springs, Florida resident managed to hang on, regain his lead, and then defeat runner-up Hoyt Lance.  Batista is primarily an online poker player, having won two PartyPoker million-guarantee events in one month. In his first brick-and-mortar tournament he took fourth place, and the $5,000 Championship at the WSOP Circuit he won was only his second ever live event.  The final table of the event started with this lineup:NameHometownChip CountSeatChad BatistaCoral Springs, FL388,0005Robert ArthurColumbus, OH286,0008Joel CasperChicago, IL217,0003Ed CorradoNaples, FL206,0004Hilbert ShireyWinter Havel, FL166,0001William BrownFillmore, IN149,0006Hoyt LanceRinggold, GA112,0007Thomas FullerBoulder, CO89,0002Douglas CarliAlliance, OH78,0009  Heads-up, Batista held only about 175,000 of the 1,670,000 chips in play, but he never gave up, doubling through twice, evening the field. A final hand with a 5 on the river to give Batista a winning straight ended the event and made the young man a champion.

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