Harry Arutyunyan Wins WSOP Circuit Cherokee Main Event for $283,597

(Photo: Worldpokertour.com)

A trip to North Carolina to cheer on his friend, Sean Yu, at the WSOP Circuit Cherokee Global Casino Championship turned out to be an excellent career move for Harut "Harry" Arutyunyan, as he entered the $1,675 Main Event while in town and topped the field to win $283,597.

Yu was the chip leader heading into the final day of the $10K championship at Harrah's, prompting Arutyunyan to grab the next flight out of L.A. in order to be on the rail for his poker buddy. That support did not go for naught, as Yu won the title and $296,941 in prize money.

Arutyunyan stuck around for the Main Event, navigating his way through 1,022 entries to collect a WSOP Circuit ring of his own and nearly as much prize money as Yu. The victory pushed Harut's career winnings past the $1 million mark at $1,117,456, per the Hendon Mob database.

“It feels great, man," Arutyunyan told WSOP.com. "I guess I need to take more chances on Circuit mains."

Either that or follow his friends' urgings more often.

"[Sean] was just like, 'Fly out here, man. We got the tournament going.' Or else I was going to Florida," Arutyunyan said.

Harry Never Looked Back

The three-day event saw Arutyunyan second in chips behind Randy Lowery on the final day of action with 19 players remaining. Harry took over the lead not long after play began and continued amassing chips as opponents hit the rail.

In control when final table action commenced, Arutyunyan solidified his status as chip leader when his pocket deuces caught another deuce on the turn. Josh Vizcarra held big slick and hit an ace on the flop and another on the river for a set, but was eliminated in 7th place when he was second-best to Harut's deuces over aces boat.

Marshall White, winner of three Circuit rings, was next to hit the rail when he shoved his short stack holding pocket sixes that lost to trip kings. Scott Ryder and his pocket fours followed a few levels later when Arutyunyan connected for a straight.

Arutyunyan commenced to bust the next two opponents as well, Kindah Sakkal falling victim to his pocket queens that flopped a set, and Norman McKeldin able to muster only one pair against Harry's two pair. That left only Randy Lowery, who was a huge underdog in chips and lasted only six hands before Arutyunyan put him away to capture his first WSOP Circuit championship.

Final Table Results - WSOP Circuit Cherokee $1,675 Main Event