Martin Ryan Captures 8 WSOP Circuit Ring in Only Two Years
December 11, 2018 11:40 amThe World Series of Poker Circuit has grown into one of the most competitive and exciting tournaments in the world since its launch in 2004. It is also famous for having produced a number of multiple ring winners over the years, with roughly half of the accolades handed out going to such players. This includes the likes of current all time ring winner Valentin Vornicu (12), a second placed Maurice Hawkins (11), as well as numerous other recognizable players in their own right, such as Ari Engel, Roland Israelashvili, Loni Harwood, and Mike Leah.
One player that has made an incredible splash on the tournament series over the past two year, however, is Martin Ryan, 57, who has captured an incredible 8 rings over the past two years. This has also elevated the Trinidad and Tobago resident to number 8 on the ‘WSOP Circuit Ring Winners Leaderboard‘, with nearest non-USA player on the list being Canada’s Mike Leah in 18th position on 5 rings.
Ryan’s Road To WSOPC Success
Before November 2016, Martin Ryan had just $25,948 in live tournament earnings dating back to his first cash back in 2007. That month, however, the WSOP Circuit visited St. Maarten in the Caribbean, an island located some 520 miles (840km) from his own native Trinidad and Tobago. The fateful decision subsequently saw Ryan take down first the WSOP Circuit Caribbean Event #5: $365 PLO for $8,730, before the very next day doing likewise at Event #6: $365 NLH for $10,900.
Buoyed by the sweet taste of WSOP Circuit success, Martin Ryan headed to the US the following month to take part in the WSOP Circuit Los Angeles series. He then proceeded to overcome a field of 115 players at the $1,125 event to claim a top prize of $34,510, as well as completing a hat-trick of gold rings.
In 2017, however, Ryan experienced a relatively quiet year and just claimed a single ring in February when he took down the WSOP Circuit Palm Beach Kennel Club Event #3: $580 NLH for $24,829.
2018 A Breakout Year
In 2018, Ryan started off the year in a similar vein as the one before after winning the WSOP Circuit Coconut Creek Event #1: $365 NLH for $22,416. This time around, however, the player would then go on to add a further three bracelets to his tally, making it four for this year so far.
This includes in September recording another WSOP Circuit Coconut Creek victory at Event #3: $1,125 NLH for $21,375, and in November at WSOP Circuit Choctaw Event #12: $600 NLH for $19,323. The very same month, Martin Ryan also capped off a hugely successful 2018 by claiming the WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Cherokee Event #8: $400 Monster Stack title. Having made his way past an impressive field of 1,166 players, Ryan polished off his last opponent, Forrest Raleigh from Georgia, to take home his biggest score to date worth $70,226.
Third On Trinidad and Tobago All Time Money List
In total, Martin Ryan has won $454,252 throughout his live tournament career, with all but $34,789 of that amount having been won playing on the World Series of Poker Circuit. This also places him at number 3 on ‘Trinidad and Tobago All Time Money List’, just behind Ryan Goindoo on $756,370, and Jeremy Pantin on $571,705. Meanwhile, Ramlal Basdeo lies a country mile back in fourth place on $54,870.
Needless to say, Ryan has had to spend countless time away from his home in Trinidad and Tobago to make his WSOP Circuit dream come true. While the decision has surely proved a lucrative one for the player, it looks like Ryan may be about to take a bit of a break from the WSOP Circuit. According to the 8-times ring winner his island friends back home have managed to persuade him to return to his island home as the Holiday period draws closer. As he recently explained to WSOP officials:
“I’m promising everybody I have to stop because back home in Trinidad they need me. I run a game.”