I was looking for a couple of tells that I saw. 'My game plan was to be conservative as much as possible, and apply pressure when I saw openings to do so.

Then there's how he applied those studies. I've read books about mental preparedness, specifically poker. I've studied a lot of scenarios with them. Kornechuk credited his continued study for his win. 'I started a year ago dedicating one trip somewhere a month, if I can.' Kornechuk has played events on several tours and logged his first two cashes at the WSOP last summer. 'I think I have what it takes,' he said, and this result offers proof of his hard work. It was a breakthrough effort for Kornechuk, who decided a couple of years back to dedicate himself to studying poker. The last and perhaps most feared was Brett Murray, who won this same event in the September Circuit Thunder Valley series. By the time the last card was dealt, Kornechuk had eliminated four of his final-table foes. After that hand it seemed like the Auburn, WA, resident, a 57-year-old software engineer who took up the game only two years ago, couldn't be stopped. Chai had just lost a couple of hands in a row and moved all in, only to run into Kornechuk's aces.

A key hand for Kornechuk occurred against Paul Chai during 10-handed play. Kornechuk was only occasionally in danger thereafter, and by the time the later stages of Day 3 arrived, he was among the dominant stacks. He started to heat up early in the day, doubling up while there were still 16 remaining, when Jeremy Joseph pushed all in from the small blind and Kornechuk woke up with queens, which held. The victory gives Kornechuk his first WSOP Circuit ring, his biggest career cash - by a wide margin - and also locks up an entry into the 2019 Global Casino Championship.įrom 608 entries, just 17 players remained as Day 3 began, with Kornechuk roughly in the middle of the pack. Janu(Thunder Valley) - The latest ring winner in the World Series of Poker Circuit is Thomas Kornechuk, who has taken down the Thunder Valley Main Event for $193,439.

57-year-old software engineer takes down first major title

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