WSOP Circuit Ring Up For Auction

While it’s always nice to win a poker tournament bracelet or ring, there are those people who would jump at the chance to own a piece of poker memorabilia regardless of whether they participated in the event or not. This might be for a number of reasons from the novelty factor involved to preserving a piece of poker history.
Furthermore, fans and collectors are often presented with the opportunity to make such purchases, with the latest item currently up for auction being a 2011 WSOP Circuit ring won by Reed Zhao at the Palm Beach Kennel Club in Florida. A total of 877 players participated in the $345 WSOPC Re-Entry event, ultimately resulting in a $49,258 payday for Zhao, with the player having had just one other cash worth $3,668 throughout his career.
There is some historic interest associated with the ring, though, as it was not only the first time a WSOPC event had been held in Florida, but its prize pool of $255,207 represented a new high for The Sunshine State at the time, although that record has since been broken. In addition, the WSOP Circuit Palm Beach Kennel Club was also the first major poker tournament ever to take place at a dog track.
For those interested, Zhao’s WSOPC ring is up for auction on eBay, with its owner describing the ring as in “great condition with some discoloration on side.” There are currently just over three days left, but it has already received one bid at its starting price of $174.99. However, there is still plenty of time left for that figure to go higher, as three years earlier a 2009 WSOPC fetched $1,075 on the same auction site.
Reed Zhao is not the only player putting his poker souvenirs up for auction,however, and poker pro Matt Keikoan also has one of his WSOP bracelets listed on eBay at an asking price of $6,000. Keikoan has amassed $2,036,644 in live earnings throughout his career, and interestingly he failed to sell the same item a couple of years ago for $15,000. Although no bids have been placed on the bracelet at this time, it does appear to attracted the attention of two eBayers.
Other players who have auctioned off their poker memorabilia over the years includes the 2006 WSOP Main Event winner Jamie Gold, who sold his bracelet for $65,725, and the 2008 WSOP Main Event champion Peter Eastgate, who sold his for $147,500. Both players subsequently donated all the money they received to charity.