August 18 2012, Chad Holloway

The 2012-2013 World Series of Poker Circuit presented by Southern Comfort 100 Proof kicked off on Aug. 9 with the first of 20 stops – the WSOP Circuit IP Biloxi at the IP Resort Casino and Spa in Mississippi. The stop will run through Aug. 20, in which time 12 rings events will be held including the $1,675 Main Event.

The stop kicked off in a big way when a WSOP Circuit regular finally laid claim to his first gold ring. We’re talking about 23-year-old Blake Barousse from Lafayette, Louisiana, who is also a student at McNeese College. Barousse conquered a field of 202 players, earned $15,757, and took an early lead in the Casino Champion race.

“It’s good to get it at the beginning of the Circuit for the [WSOP National Championship] points,” Barousse said. “That’s what I was trying to do last year even though I didn’t pursue it much. Now that I’m starting off with 50 points, I will definitely grind more.”

He went of to add: “It feels pretty good. It has been a while since I’ve won a tournament. I haven’t won one in about a year and I’ve played a lot of them – especially WSOP Circuit events. Last year I think I played 35 or 40 events and cashed in maybe two or three of them.”

In Event #2: $580 No-Limit Hold’em, Elisa Burkett made history by besting a field of 103 players in just over 10 hours, the fastest ring event in WSOP Circuit history. “The ring lasts forever and money doesn’t,” Burkett said. “I have something to look at and know I made an accomplishment. This feels awesome. I’m very, very excited.”

A couple of days later, Event #4: $365 No-Limit Hold’em Re-Entry began and attracted a field of 461 entrants, the second largest Circuit event ever held at IP Biloxi, trailing the 477 players in the same event last year. It took some time, but eventually Caufman Talley of Lafayette, Louisiana, emerged victorious and laid claim to the $29,743 first-place prize.

In Event #6, a familiar face made the final table – 2010 November Nine participant and Gulf Coast poker regular John Dolan. If you recall, Dolan finished sixth at the 2010 WSOP Main Event for nearly $1.8 million.

“I have more freedom in life and in poker,” said Dolan about life after the Main Event. “I can play when I want to for the most part and if I feel like taking a month off it isn’t that big of a deal anymore. It’s really nice in that sense.”

Dolan made the most of his latest WSOP final table appearance and bested the field to capture the $12,265 first-place prize. “It always feels good to final table something and especially win something, even if it is small,” Dolan said after his win. “I’ve always been pretty competitive and I like $12,000 just as much as anyone else.”

Here’s a look at the WSOP Circuit IP Biloxi events completed thus far: