The 2021 World Series of Poker Circuit Bicycle Casino $1,700 buy-in no-limit hold’em main event drew a field of 525 entries, creating a prize pool of $795,375 that was paid out among the top 79 finishers. In the end, the lion’s share of that money was awarded to France’s Yoann Gimenez. The 36-year-old earned $156,160 and his first WSOPC gold ring as the champion.
“It’s been amazing. I’ve been playing poker for a while now. I have a background like cash game players. I’ve been playing MTT (multi-table tournament) a few times, but I’ve been working a lot. For sure I’ve been very lucky, but I also played very well,” Gimenez told WSOP reporters after coming out on top.
This was the largest live tournament score of Gimenez’s career topping the $26,880 he earned as the third-place finisher in a $1,700 buy-in event at the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood’s Rock’N’Roll Poker Open in late November.
“I would like to say thanks to all my crew; My crew here, my crew in France, my girlfriend, parents, and also my crew in Thailand, like all my friends around poker. MTT games are very hard. When you have a victory, you have to enjoy yourself… Now it’s time to enjoy with my friends.”
In addition to the title and the money, Gimenez was also awarded 840 Card Player Player of the Year points for the win. With his two final-table finishes this year, he now sits inside the top 250 in the 2021 POY race, which is sponsored by Global Poker.
Gimenez came into the final day of this event in sixth chip position with 10 players remaining. He flopped a set of nines to eliminate David O’Day in 10th place ($11,695) to add to his stack heading into the official final table.
Derrick Yamada finished ninth for $14,545, leaving just eight contenders for the title. Thorben Vellrath got all-in with A
10 against Gimenez’s pocket kings with eight players remaining. The big pair held up and Vellrath was knocked out in 8th place ($18,330).
Gimenez picked up another monster pocket pair to score the next elimination. Start-of-day chip leader Darrell Lane was at risk with KJ facing the AA of Gimenez. The aces remained best after the flop, turn, and river, and Lane was sent home with $23,415 as the seventh-place finisher.
Two-time WSOPC ring winner Alan Myerson was the next to fall. He got all-in preflop with QJ and was dominated by Jared Smith’s KQ. Neither player improved and Myerson was knocked out in sixth place ($30,300).
Despite taking down that hand, Jared Smith’s run in the event came to an end in fifth place. Facing a cutoff raise from Hennock Fessehaie, Smith three-bet shoved from the small blind with KJ. Gimenez picked up AA in the big blind and made the call. Fessehaie folded and the aces held up for Gimenez. Smith was awarded $39,720 for his strong showing.
Two-time WSOP $10,000 heads-up no-limit hold’em championship runner-up John Smith was the next to be eliminated. He got all-in with AQ racing against the 44 of Gimenez. A four on the flop gave Gimenez a set for a large lead in the hand. He held from there and Smith was sent to the rail in fourth place ($52,735).
Having already scored knockouts with aces and kings on the final day, Gimenez completed the big-pair hat trick with QQ beating the K10 of Hennock Fessehaie in an all-in confrontation. Fessehaie was awarded $70,905 for his third-place finish.
With that, Gimenez took a massive lead into heads-up play with Sun Tongguang. The shorter stack managed a double-up, but Gimenez was still well ahead by the time the final hand was dealt. Tongguang limped in from the button with 105 and Gimnez checked with K5. The flop came down AK7 and Gimenez checked-called a bet of 400,000 with his middle pair. The turn brought the J. Gimenez checked again and Tongguang moved all-in for 2,270,000 with his gutshot straight draw. Gimenez made the call, and the A on the river secured him the pot and the title. Tongguang earned $96,535 as the runner-up.
Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded at the final table:
| Place | Player | Earnings (USD) | POY Points |
| 1 | Yoann Gimenez | $156,160 | 840 |
| 2 | Sun Tongguang | $96,535 | 700 |
| 3 | Hennock Fessehaie | $70,905 | 560 |
| 4 | John Smith | $52,735 | 420 |
| 5 | Jared Smith | $39,720 | 350 |
| 6 | Alan Myerson | $30,300 | 280 |
| 7 | Darrell Lane | $23,415 | 210 |
| 8 | Thorben Vellrath | $18,330 | 140 |
| 9 | Derrick Yamada | $14,545 | 70 |
Winner photo provided by WSOP.
