Curtis King Wins WSOPC Cherokee Main Event

Jonathan Rodriguez

Written by: Jonathan Rodriguez

Published: Thu Aug 20, 2026, 7:00 am ET

Read Time: 4 minutes

Curtis King Wins WSOPC Cherokee Main Event

poker

Curtis King captured his first WSOP Circuit (WSOPC) gold ring at Harrah's Cherokee. He defeated a 1,681-entry field in the $1,700 Main Event.

King collected $363,703 for the breakthrough victory. The result also marked the largest tournament score of his poker career.

The Cherokee Main Event created a $2.55 million prize pool. King navigated a talented final field before overcoming Toby Boas heads-up.

His victory also pushed his career tournament earnings beyond $1 million. It capped a remarkable turnaround after what King described as a difficult year.

Curtis King Survives a Critical Clash With Ryan D'Angelo

King entered three-handed play alongside Toby Boas and Ryan D'Angelo. D'Angelo then found pocket kings in a crucial confrontation with King.

King held pocket fours and faced a difficult decision against the experienced tournament player. He ultimately committed his chips and needed help to survive.

The flop gave D'Angelo a major advantage, leaving King facing potential elimination. However, the river delivered the four he needed to make a set.

That dramatic card kept King alive and changed the tournament's momentum. King later acknowledged that he had taken a significant risk.

"I feel bad actually because I have been in that spot with kings this whole summer. So I feel for him," King explained.

"[D'Angelo] is on the tighter side, but I feel like he'd have some three-bet bluffs there, so I went with it. Got very lucky; it's maybe a punt vs him and feels a little dirty, but it's part of the game."

King's fortunate escape ultimately helped propel him into heads-up play.

King Faces the Cherokee Bridesmaid

King faced Toby Boas heads-up for the Cherokee championship and the $363,703 top prize. Boas initially managed to take the chip lead.

The matchup carried extra significance for Boas, who has become something of a Cherokee bridesmaid. He has now reached 11 final tables at Harrah's Cherokee.

This Main Event also marked his second runner-up finish there within 18 months. Despite those deep runs, Boas still has not captured a WSOP Circuit ring at the venue.

King soon responded by applying pressure and winning several important pots. He also picked up ace-eight suited during a pivotal stretch.

The hand helped King regain momentum as the match approached its conclusion. He then carried that aggression into the tournament's final hand.

King Seals the Victory

King made a large turn shove worth roughly twice the pot. Boas faced a difficult decision before calling with a pair and a straight draw.

King's hand held through the river, securing the championship and sending him into celebration.

King later explained his strategy behind the aggressive finish.

"My plan was to call it off on the river," King said of the ace-eight hand before discussing his final-hand decision.

"There were two flush draws; I thought his nines would raise flop, so I thought I had the best hand, and I thought it would look like I had a big draw, jack-ten of spades or queen-jack suited. Lucky to get called by worse and hold."

The victory completed a remarkable run for King after a challenging stretch at the tables.

WSOPC Cherokee Main Event Final Results

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

A Breakthrough Moment for King

King's Cherokee victory finally delivered the Circuit title he had been chasing. It also provided a timely boost after a difficult period at the tables.

The win gives King a new milestone to build on as he continues his tournament career. Meanwhile, Boas will have another chance to end his long wait for a Cherokee ring.

For players following major tournament results through US online poker sites, the Cherokee Main Event delivered plenty of drama. King survived a critical cooler, overcame Boas, and finally secured his first Circuit championship.

Jonathan Rodriguez
Jonathan Rodriguez

Jonathan is an avid basketball fan, and is often looking forward to the next upcoming NBA season when not checking players' stats during games. He also likes to keep his ears on the ground for the latest rumblings in the online casino industry.

This site contains commercial content. We may be compensated for the links provided on this page. The content on this page is for informational purposes only. Betting News makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event.