The latest World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) stop is underway at Harrah’s Cherokee in North Carolina and already has awarded a player multiple Circuit rings. That player is Georgia’s Spencer Smith, who picked up his third and fourth rings for a payday of $153,000.
The WSOPC Cherokee stop started on May 4 and will run until May 15, which is when the currently underway $1,700 buy-in Main Event will reach a winner.
Helluva week so far at @HarrahsCherokee for the @WSOP ! Won rings 3 and 4 for a total of $153,000!
Hard Work Pays Off
Smith, an attorney and poker pro from Atlanta with $409,088 in Hendon Mob earnings, started off his hot run by getting through a massive field of 2,232 runners in Event #2: $400 No-Limit Hold’em to win his third Circuit ring and $104,177.
Smith defeated heads-up opponent Tony Peacock ($64,392) after the fall of Daniel Lowery (3rd - $47,818), who was looking for a record-tying 14th Circuit ring after winning his 13th ring at WSOPC Horseshoe Tunica in April.
Great job! You played amazing at FT. Keep crushing cherokee kid!✌# https://t.co/30SuAy8Yfu
Just a few days later, Smith found himself at another final table in Event #6: $400 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed and walked away with a fourth ring and $41,949.
Nearly all of Smith’s live cashes have been recorded in Cherokee, including both of his previous Circuit ring victories. Smith first took down a $400 Monster Stack event in February 2022 for $106,113 before winning the same event two months later for $107,458.
Smith is a student of Faraz Jaka Coaching and the poker coach called his student’s back-to-back victories “epic.”
This is EPIC! #jakacoaching student @Donkey_Dawg won #2 circuit rings back2back days @HarrahsCherokee! Spencer’s an… https://t.co/Cl4sd0BKvb
Other Winners at Cherokee
Another early highlight at WSOPC Cherokee was North Carolina’s Daniel Kusnerak picking up his second ring with a victory in Event #1: $400 No-Limit Hold’em Big 30K Stack for $26,954. Kusnerak earned his first ring in 2018 in the same venue when he took down a $365 No-Limit Hold’em event for $30,894.
Later in the series, Florida’s Simon Philip won his third ring and $48,050 with a victory in the $400 Seniors Event. Both of Philip’s previous ring victories were in Seniors events at Horseshoe Hammond in 2019 and 2020.
Other players to pick up Circuit rings include John Evans (Event #7: $600 No-Limit Hold’em - $30,266) and John Petro, who won a second ring by taking down Event #5: $1,100 No-Limit Hold’em for $57,137.
A full list of winners so far at WSOPC Cherokee is available in the table below.
Winners So Far at WSOPC Cherokee
| EVENT | ENTRANTS | PRIZE POOL | WINNER | HOMETOWN | PRIZE (IN USD) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WSOPC Event #1: $400 No-Limit Hold’em Big 30K Stack | 398 | $131,340 | Daniel Kusnerak | Newton, NC | $26,954 | |
| WSOPC Event #2: $400 No-Limit Hold’em | 2,232 | $736,560 | Spencer Smith | Atlanta, GA | $104,177 | |
| WSOPC Event #3: $400 No-Limit Hold’em | 602 | $198,660 | Christopher Storie | Asheboro, NC | $37,630 | |
| WSOPC Event #4: $400 Seniors Event | 837 | $276,210 | Simon Philip | Pensacola, FL | $48,050 | |
| WSOPC Event #5: $1,100 No-Limit Hold’em | 255 | $248,625 | John Petro | Fredericksburg, VA | $57,137 | |
| WSOPC Event #6: $400 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed | 668 | $220,440 | Spencer Smith | Atlanta, GA | $41,949 | |
| WSOPC Event #7: $600 No-Limit Hold’em | 264 | $135,960 | John Evans | Vinncennes, IN | $30,266 | |
| WSOPC Event #8: $400 No-Limit Hold’em Monster Stack | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
| WSOPC Event #9: $600 Pot-Limit Omaha | 245 | $126,175 | Seth Weinberg | Key West, FL | $28,694 |
Lead photos courtesy WSOP