The 2024 World Series of Poker Circuit Grand Victoria Casino $1,700 buy-in no-limit hold’em main event drew an impressive field of 757 entries, far exceeding its $750,000 guarantee to generate a prize pool of over $1.1 million.
After three starting flights and two more days of play, Jeremy Lenz of Illinois claimed victory. The 39-year-old earned the top prize of $194,977, his first WSOP Circuit gold ring, and 912 Card Player Player of the Year points—marking his first POY-qualified score of 2024. This win significantly eclipsed Lenz’s previous live tournament earnings, which totaled just over $16,000 across five recorded cashes.
Speaking with WSOP reporters, Lenz shared his practical plans for his winnings: “I am going to pay my house off, taxes, and mortgage. It’s getting pricey out here.”
The final day began with six players, led by 2019 WSOP Circuit Potawatomi main event champion Richard Bai. Early action saw Bai win a massive pot with a set-over-set cooler against two-time WSOP Circuit ring winner Dana Marie Muse, eliminating Muse in sixth place for $38,601.
The next elimination came when Caleb King’s pocket nines fell to Roland Israelashvili’s pocket queens. King exited in fifth place with $50,350. Israelashvili continued his momentum by winning a significant pot with quads against Bai. Shortly after, Bai was all-in with 10♠7♠ against Cero Zuccarello’s 10♠8♠, which improved to queens and eights, sending Bai to the rail in fourth place for $66,514.
Israelashvili’s run ended in third place for $88,976 after his K♥7♣ lost to Zuccarello’s A♠8♠, which improved to a full house. The 11-time Circuit ring winner added another strong finish to his resume, bringing his career tournament earnings to nearly $5.3 million and notching his 262nd WSOP Circuit cash.
Heads-up play began with Lenz holding a better than 2:1 chip lead over Zuccarello. The gap widened as the match progressed. The final hand saw Zuccarello shove for just over 10 big blinds with Q♥6♣, only to be snap-called by Lenz’s A♥A♣. The board ran out 9♥8♥8♦9♠A♥, giving Lenz aces full and the title. Zuccarello finished as the runner-up, earning $120,506.
