A.J. Jejelowo from Houston, Texas is no stranger to going deep in major live poker tournaments. In fact, in May 2011, Jejelowo won the $10,000 World Series of Poker Circuit Regional Championship in New Orleans for almost $236,000 and walked away with a ceremonial gold ring. He also stuck his head inside an alligator’s mouth for good measure after defeating a rather small field of 74 opponents. In the 2012 WSOP Main Event, he finished in 66th place for $106,000.

The final table at the WSOP Circuit Regional Championship included Gary Friedlander (second place), Harry Cullen Jr. (third place), and brand name poker pros like Allen “Chainsaw” Kessler and Allie Prescott.

In February 2012, just months before his deep run in the WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas, Jejelowo finished 14th in the World Poker Tour’s L.A. Poker Classic in February 2012 for over $47,000. That tournament attracted 549 players and came with a price tag of $10,000. His experience in $10,000 buy-in tournaments likely proved invaluable during his 2012 WSOP Main Event run.

On Day 3 of the 2012 WSOP Main Event, with blinds at 2,000/4,000, Jejelowo opened from the button for 9,000 in chips. Fellow American Derek Gregory 3bet from the big blind to 26,000 and Jejelowo called. When the flop came A-9-4, both players checked.

After another nine fell on the turn, pairing the board, Gregory pot-betted 65,000, which Jejelowo called. With a seemingly harmless six on the river, Gregory checked and Jejelowo promptly shoved out 340,000 in chips, putting Gregory all-in for his remaining 180,000 in chips if he called. After tanking on the river, Gregory folded, bringing Jejelowo near the one million mark.

On Days 4 and 5 of the Main Event, Jejelowo chipped up to put himself in a comfortable position going into Day 6. At the start of Day 6, he was sitting in 18th place with 97 players remaining with chip count of 3,340,000.