Half of poker’s most iconic broadcast team took home World Series of Poker hardware in California.
Lon McEachern kicked off the WSOP Circuit stop at Thunder Valley Casino with a victory in the $400 no-limit hold ’em seniors event. The Golden State native topped a field of 181 to win $15,008 in the largest tournament score of his poker career.
The 65-year-old’s tournament resume may be sparse by poker pro standards. But he is no stranger to the game.
McEachern teamed up with Norman Chad for commentary of the 2003 World Series of Poker $10,000 main event. The duo gave the play-by-play during Chris Moneymaker’s legendary run to a $2.3 million payday. They have been a part of the WSOP broadcast ever since and were Poker Hall of Fame nominees last year.
As a result, McEachern became a mainstay in the poker world. His voice became synonymous with the game’s most prestigious events and his victory highlighted a successful WSOP stop at the California tribal casino.
Thunder Valley’s WSOP schedule featured a $1 million main event prize pool
From Jan. 12 – 23, the Northern California casino ran a 13-event schedule highlighted by the $1,700 no-limit hold ’em main event.
The schedule was mostly made up of smaller buy-in no-limit hold ’em events. However, there were also two mixed game events and a $3,250 high roller.
While schedules differ slightly between venues, the $1,700 main event is a staple of the Circuit. Thunder Valley’s main event drew 679 entries, which generated a prize pool just north of seven figures.
Oakland native Bilguun Odgerel was the last man standing, which netted him his first Circuit ring and $195,194. Fellow Californian Brandon Zuidema finished runner-up, good for a $120,643 payday.
Main Event final table results
| Place | Name | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Bilguun Odgerel | $195,194 |
| 2nd | Brandon Zuidema | $120,643 |
| 3rd | Casey Sandretto | $88,817 |
| 4th | Narongsak Khanjaichon | $66,145 |
| 5th | Angela Jordison | $49,839 |
| 6th | Kevin Vanderbeek | $37,999 |
| 7th | Kenneth Baime | $29,320 |
| 8th | Roman Shainuk | $22,898 |
| 9th | Jordan Griff | $18,104 |
Jordison scores big
Nobody enjoyed Northern California more than Angela Jordison. The Oregon native won her first ring in the high roller event for $86,579, but she wasn’t done yet.
The following day she hopped in the main event and nearly won consecutive events. She final tabled the main event and finished fifth for $49,839. Over the course of just a few days, Jordison cashed for $136,418.
Her performance at the California poker venue boosted her career tournament earnings over the $1 million mark. Furthermore, she is proving 2022 was no fluke. Last year, she made a name among tournament regulars by cashing for just shy of $600,000.
O’Dell Displays mixed game mastery
Longtime grinder Frankie O’Dell continued his dominance in mixed-game events with a good showing at Thunder Valley.
The Denver native won the $600 HORSE event for $11,083 and fifth career Circuit ring. O’Dell’s fourth ring came three years ago at the same stop when he won Thunder Valley’s $400 HORSE.
His three other Circuit titles, as well as his three WSOP bracelets, all came in either HORSE or Omaha hi-lo.
Rosario gets the monkey off her back
Along with O’Dell, Shirley Rosario is a familiar face in the mixed-game community. The Southern California native is regular in mixed game tournaments of all stakes.
She has cashes dating back to 2004 but began playing high-stakes events more regularly over the last several years. Despite tournament wins all over the West Coast, a WSOP victory eluded her.
That ended with her win in the $600 Omaha hi-lo event. She topped a 97-entry field to win $14,524.
WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley Casino complete results
| Event | Dates | Field Size | Winner | First Place Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $400 Seniors No-Limit Hold'em | Jan. 12 | 181 | Lon McEachern | $15,008 |
| $400 No-Limit Hold'em 'The Opener' | Jan. 12 - Jan. 13 | 1,530 | Gregory Simon | $77,159 |
| $600 No-Limit Hold'em | Jan. 15 - Jan. 16 | 206 | Henrieto Acain | $25,938 |
| $400 No-Limit Hold'em | Jan. 16 | 164 | Ramzi Zumout | $14,018 |
| $600 Omaha Hi-Lo | Jan. 16 - Jan. 17 | 97 | Shirley Rosario | $14,524 |
| $400 No-Limit Hold'em Eight-Max | Jan. 17 | 129 | Roberto Valdez | $11,438 |
| $600 HORSE | Jan. 17 - Jan. 18 | 66 | Frankie O'Dell | $11,083 |
| $400 No-Limit Hold'em Monster Stack | Jan. 18 - Jan. 19 | 742 | Richard Peloquin | $45,374 |
| $600 No-Limit Hold'em Six-Max | Jan. 19 - Jan. 20 | 133 | Yotam Shmuelov | $18,401 |
| $3,250 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller | Jan. 19 - Jan. 20 | 101 | Angela Jordison | $86,579 |
| $1,700 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event | Jan. 20 - Jan. 22 | 679 | Bilguun Odgerel | $195,194 |
| $1,125 No-Limit Hold'em Knockout | Jan. 22 - Jan. 23 | 158 | Jarod Minghini | $20,690 |
| $400 No-Limit Hold'em | Jan. 23 | 102 | Jose Esparza | $9,709 |
