Earlier this month, Chicago poker participant Jennifer Lin parlayed a money sport promotion right into a World Collection of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) victory that earned her $17,416 and her second Circuit ring in below two years.
The March 10 victory at Horseshoe Hammond in Occasion #17: $400 No-Restrict Maintain’em 8-Handed marked Lin’s fifth WSOP Circuit remaining desk since November 2022, which is when Lin first determined to make the leap from money video games to tournaments.
PokerNews spoke with the rising Circuit grinder about stepping into poker in school, battling with Midwest crusher Josh Reichard to win her second Circuit ring and her plans to chase a WSOP bracelet this summer season.
WSOP Circuit Hammond Highlights
Early Success
Lin, who has a full-time consulting job, began enjoying poker severely six years in the past when she joined a school poker membership.
“I assumed, cool, I understand how to play poker,” Lin stated in an interview. “I grew up with a household who throughout household gatherings after dinner they might play informal poker video games. So I joined that and I simply made mates there.”
Lin and her poker mates moved to Chicago collectively “simply to maintain the house sport vibes going” and she or he began enjoying money video games at Illinois casinos like Grand Victoria On line casino in Elgin.
She ultimately determined to attempt tournaments and had rapid success. Her first-ever money was an eighth-place end within the WSOPC Elgin $200 Women Occasion for $631 in November 2022. Lower than six months later, she received the identical event for $7,191 and her first Circuit ring.
Lin referred to as the preliminary remaining desk run “the arrogance increase I wanted to essentially dive into this world of tournaments and actually find out about this new sport.”
“As a result of I really feel it is fairly completely different than money video games, which I used to solely play,” she stated.
Second Ciruit Ring Victory
Lin would have two extra Women Occasion remaining desk runs earlier than choosing up her second Circuit ring in March. In a full-circle second for her poker profession, the Circuit victory began with a low-stakes money sport.
After busting Day 2 of the WSOPC Hammond Major Occasion and having to attend 4 hours for the 8-max occasion to start out, Lin sat down on the $1/$3 desk. She made an ace-high flush and was stunned when the vendor referred to as the ground over, who informed her she had received a $400 Circuit seat.
“I didn’t know that this was a promo, it was like an ace-high flush promo. So not solely did I scoop the pot however I received the ticket to the occasion I used to be going to play anyway. So saved $400 there.”
Lin went on to win the occasion she freerolled into after battling on the remaining desk with Josh Reichard, who received his sixteenth ring earlier within the collection to shut in on Dan Lowery, Ari Engel and Maurice Hawkins.
After dropping a boat-over-boat cooler to Reichard within the mid-stages of the event, Lin doubled by way of the Midwest crusher on the remaining desk earlier than he bowed out in third forward of Lin’s defeat of runner-up Robert Moldovan.
“From one hour into this occasion, I simply stored saying I will win this occasion and have my first five-figure rating,” Lin stated. “And I did it, and I am fairly pleased with that.”
WSOPC Horseshoe Hammond Occasion #17 Last Desk Outcomes
Chasing a Bracelet
After successful her second ring, Lin is setting her eyes on a WSOP bracelet. She plans on spending a month in Las Vegas this summer season grinding the World Collection and different poker festivals round city.
“So I am saving up all my PTO for the summer season and attempting to play a few month at WSOP,” stated Lin.
If you happen to run into Lin on the tables this summer season, do not be stunned if she tries to get in your head with some desk speak.
“I am simply attempting to make it enjoyable,” Lin stated about her desk presence. “Make everybody have a very good time, get individuals to chuckle and smile. As a result of poker gamers are notoriously a depressing crowd. All of us are form of masochists. We love ache and might’t get sufficient of it, so we play tournaments. However I need to attempt to change that and make it a constructive expertise.”
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*Pictures courtesy WSOPC
Connor Richards
Editor & Stay Reporter U.S.
