'Gramps' wins WSOPC Southern Indiana

You might expect a poker player called "Gramps" to be an old man in plaid pants and suspenders, but the "Gramps" who won the 2008 World Series of Poker Circuit main event at the Horseshoe Southern Indiana turned out to be 22-year-old Samuel Oberlin.

"My friends are idiots, and I take care of them," Oberlin said to explain the nickname.

He certainly showed he could take care of a final table as well, walking away with $143,064, a gold and diamond trophy ring and the $10,000 buy-in to the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event for his WSOPC win.

Oberlin is a finance student from Grand Rapids, Mich., who got started playing poker when he was 4. He is a student of the Gavin Smith "flat-call strategy." He told WSOPC officials that when you link, it's easier to trap your opponent.

His winning hand was a good example of that strategy. He was up against Jerry Martin, who had held a commanding 4-1 chip lead when the two started play. Oberlin battled back, and on the final hand, he just flat-called Martin's pre-flop raise holding pocket queens.

The flop came J♠ 5♥ 4♣, and Oberlin bet $85,000. Martin went all-in holding J♥ 7♦, and the rest of the board brought an 8♦ and A♦ to give Oberlin the win.

The final-table results were:

This was the opening stop of the 2008-2009 WSOPC season. Next up will be the events at the Horseshoe Hammond, also in Indiana, Oct. 24 to Nov. 2.

The main event of the Horseshoe Hammond stop will begin Friday, Oct. 31. It has a $5,000 buy-in, and may draw a big turnout because the casino is close to Chicago. This may be a good stop for poker players looking for a big WSOPC score and a seat in the 2009 Main Event.

Oberlin said in an interview with PokerListings that he isn't looking to give up his usual cash game, but he may head to the Horseshoe Hammond to take on another WSOPC event as well.

For more information about how this stop on the tour played out, visit the Live Tournaments section.