Connor Hayward Wins First WSOP Circuit Ring in Council Bluffs Main Event
The Kansas City cash-game grinder turned a heads-up comeback into a $76,797 breakthrough after only months on the tournament circuit.
Connor Hayward won his first World Series of Poker Circuit ring by taking down the $1,700 Main Event at Horseshoe Council Bluffs. The Kansas City cash-game player earned $76,797 after beating a 232-entry field, while the tournament generated a $351,480 prize pool and paid 36 places.
Hayward overcame John Ypma in heads-up play after beginning the match at a 2-to-1 chip disadvantage. Ypma, who had already won a Circuit ring and $102,650 at TCH Social Austin earlier this year, collected $50,593 for second. Matthew Riffel finished third for $34,304.
The closing hand came with blinds at 40,000/80,000 and an 80,000 ante. Ypma moved all-in for 700,000 with jack-ten of spades, and Hayward called with king-three offsuit. The board ran nine of spades, five of spades, five of diamonds, three of hearts and four of diamonds, giving Hayward the winning two pair.
A pivotal earlier pot helped swing the heads-up match. Ypma tried to bluff a paired board containing three cards of the same suit, but Hayward had made the nut flush. Hayward later said he had run well in the short session, picked up big hands and “kind of trapped” his opponent.
The title is a quick tournament breakthrough for Hayward, who had spent eight years as a full-time cash-game grinder based at Harrah’s Kansas City before starting to play events roughly six or seven months ago. He said he had earned more than $67,000 in tournaments before Council Bluffs, meaning the $76,797 first prize more than doubled that total.
His momentum had already included a third-place finish in the $700 Main Event at RGPS Golden Expedition Joplin a week earlier. Hayward said he came to Council Bluffs to spend time with a friend and intended to keep playing tournaments following the win.
As covered last week, the same Horseshoe Council Bluffs stop also produced Daniel Lowery’s 21st Circuit ring in the Big O event, underscoring the range of milestones at the series.
