Curtis King Wins Harrah's Cherokee WSOP Circuit Main Event for $363,703

West Virginia's Curtis King has claimed his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit ring in emphatic fashion, taking down the Harrah's Cherokee WSOP Circuit Main Event for a career-defining $363,703 payday.

The $1,700 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event, held at Harrah's Cherokee in North Carolina, attracted a massive field of 1,681 entries, easily surpassing the $2 million guarantee to generate a total prize pool of $2,307,380. A total of 247 players finished in the money, ensuring a deep run for those who survived the two starting flights and subsequent days of play.

King entered the final stages with a strong stack and navigated a talented final table, ultimately facing Toby Boas heads-up for the Circuit ring and the lion's share of the prize pool. Boas settled for runner-up and $242,423, while Ryan D'angelo rounded out the top three with $172,763.

This victory marks not only King's first WSOP Circuit ring but also the largest tournament cash of his poker career. His win capped an action-packed Cherokee series that featured 18 scheduled Circuit ring events. Other notable winners included Donovan Dean, who captured the $400 6-Max event, Preston McEwen, who won the $1,100 No-Limit Hold'em event, and Jordan Schneible, who claimed the $2,200 High Roller.

The Cherokee Main Event continues the property's reputation as one of the premier stops on the WSOP Circuit. Earlier in 2026, the February Main Event drew a record 1,824 entries and awarded Maxwell Guo $386,231, while the May edition attracted 1,489 entries and was won by Hamid Izadi for $332,405. With another successful Main Event now in the books, Harrah's Cherokee once again demonstrated its ability to attract large fields and award substantial prizes to Circuit players.

Harrah's Cherokee WSOP Circuit Main Event Final Table Results

• 1st place: Curtis King - $363,703
• 2nd place: Toby Boas - $242,423
• 3rd place: Ryan D'angelo - $172,763
• 4th place: Kataka Eaton - $124,782
• 5th place: Donta Moss - $91,361
• 6th place: Andrew Kelsall - $67,820
• 7th place: Scott Gronroos - $51,053
• 8th place: Caio De Lucca Sobral - $38,980
• 9th place: David Sathue - $30,194

A Special Reward for All 2026 WSOP Circuit Ring Winners

Winning a Circuit ring is a significant accomplishment, and in 2026, every champion receives an even greater reward. All 2026 WSOP Circuit ring winners are awarded an exclusive $5,000 WSOP Paradise package, which includes a seat in the 2026 WSOP Circuit Championship and complimentary accommodations in the Bahamas. The added prize gives every Circuit champion the opportunity to compete on one of poker's biggest international stages while enjoying a world-class resort experience.

The value of this promotion was showcased at WSOP Paradise 2025, where Mark Darner turned his qualification into a career-defining victory. Darner captured the $2,750 WSOP Circuit Championship No-Limit Hold'em Mystery Bounty, earning his second WSOP gold bracelet along with the tournament's $350,000 first-place prize. His success demonstrates the incredible opportunities available to Circuit champions and highlights the path from winning on the Circuit to competing for major titles on poker's global stage.

Full List of Harrah's Cherokee WSOP Circuit Ring Winners

• WSOPC Event #1: $400 40/40/40 No-Limit Hold'em - Matthew Kovitch - $51,138
• WSOPC Event #2: $400 Mini Main Event No-Limit Hold'em - Brandon Sunshine - $154,267
• WSOPC Event #3: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Seniors - Matthew Damos - $53,974
• WSOPC Event #4: $600 No-Limit Hold'em - Louis Bonnecaze - $42,074
• WSOPC Event #5: $400 Pot-Limit Omaha 8 or Better - Dustin Murphy - $26,074
• WSOPC Event #6: $400 6-Max No-Limit Hold'em - Donovan Dean - $46,265
• WSOPC Event #7: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Monster Stack - John Kim - $128,450
• WSOPC Event #8: $600 8-Max Pot-Limit Omaha - Robert Lupo - $36,252
• WSOPC Event #9: $1,100 No-Limit Hold'em - Preston McEwen - $130,433
• WSOPC Event #10: $400 Ladies Event No-Limit Hold'em - Jennifer Frankenstein - $13,205
• WSOPC Event #11: $400 No-Limit Hold'em - Dylan Crawford - $31,445
• WSOPC Event #12: $1,700 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event - Curtis King - $363,703
• WSOPC Event #13: $400 No-Limit Hold'em - Sean Hampson - $31,445
• WSOPC Event #14: $400 No-Limit Hold'em - John Petro - $34,157
• WSOPC Event #15: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Seniors - Michael Gregson - $36,535
• WSOPC Event #16: $400 No-Limit Hold'em - Jose Alicea - $26,236
• WSOPC Event #17: $2,200 High Roller No-Limit Hold'em - Jordan Schneible - $97,831
• WSOPC Event #18: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack Closer - Hongxiang Xu - $26,376