The poker gods giveth and they taketh away. Chris Bell stayed around long enough to catch them in a giving mood again as he takes top spot in the regional championship at the World Series of Poker circuit events at Harrah’s Resort.

The win nets him $358,295.

The Champ

The win comes just months after another win at the WSOP in June, which led to Bell disclosing that after an extended bad run that had exhausted his bankroll, he was considering quitting the game. As the father of two daughters, the former Real Estate agent from Raliegh N.C. couldn’t see continuing.

But as outlined in a WSOP press release, Bell got a sponsorship from poker pro and good friend, Erick Lindgren, who also gave him the moral support to continue.

First came a win at the WSOP in a $5,000 buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Low Event, good for $327,000 and now this win. He also squeezed in a $3,745 cash at The Borgata Open in September, which he probably uses to hit the buffets or something.

Now, Bell is officially the comeback kid.

According to the WSOP: “Bell played one of the best games of his career, slowly climbing up the leader board to end day two as the chip leader. He stayed near the top of the chip counts the rest of the way, and ultimately defeated 2009 WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Atlantic City Main Event champion, Chris Klodnicki heads up to earn the title of WSOP Circuit Eastern Regional Champion.”

No. 2 again

For Klodnicki, it’s another big number two finish in an A.C. event this year for the Voorhees resident. He had a $92,000 cash at The Borgata Spring Open’s East Coast Championship earlier this year. He takes home $221,452 for this finish.

Here’s a rundown of the final hands:

With the two remaining players about even in chips, heads up play was expected to go on for at least a couple of hours, especially as evidenced by the two’s thoughtful play in the early stages of the final table. However, Klodnicki turned up the aggression a bit, which pushed a number of pots his way, but ultimately got the best of him on a flop of [5d][3h[6c] after which Klodnicki fired out 225,000 holding [4d][6h].

After a few minutes, Bell announced that he was all-in. With top pair and an open straight draw, Klodnicki made the call. Bell tabled pocket threes for the flopped set, which held through the [9d] turn and [Qc] river. At first, it was unclear whether Bell had Klodnicki covered, but after doing some chip inventory, it was determined that Bell did indeed have more chips and was declared the champion.”

Here’s the final results:

It was freakin’ carnage for big name pros Monday at Day 2 of the World Series of Poker circuit events Regional Championship at Harrah’s Resort with names such as Vanessa Selbst (the Day 1 chip leader), Jordan Morgan, “Miami” John Cernuto, Brock Parker, Bernard Lee, Dwyte Pilgrim, Nick Schulman and TJ Cloutier hitting the rail.

The  $9,700 event played down to 27 players going into today’s Day 3 action.

Selbst

Selbst couldn’t continue her amazing 2010 run in this, the last big tournament of the year. Still, she has nearly $3 million in tournament cashes this year, so she’ll probably get by.

The WSOP offered this rundown of the hand that did her in:

“The decisive blow to her stack came in a hand with 2009 Harrah’s Resort WSOP Circuit Main Event champion, Chris Klodnicki

Holding pocket kings on a 10h, Ad, 4d] flop, Selbst called after Klodnicki check-raised all-in. With 8d, 7d]in the hole, the turn came 10d to complete his flush, leaving Selbst crippled. She was eliminated a couple of hands later.”

Bell

Pro Chris Bell, who won a bracelet at this year’s WSOP, is the chip leader with 434,500 in chips. Klodnicki, Victor Ramdin, Beth Shak, Sorel Mizzi, Jonathan Little and this year’s Harrah’s Resort WSOP Circuit Main Event champion, Matthew Waxman are among those who will join Bell on day three.

Fifteen players will collect their share of the $1,279,624 prize pool with the final nine earning an automatic bid into the $1 million freeroll WSOP Circuit National Championship to be held May 27-May 29, 2011 at Caesars Palace Las Vegas.

The Eastern Regional Champion will take home $358,295 and the Regional Championship gold ring.

The final table will be televised on VERSUS Network, marking the first time in three years that a WSOP Circuit Championship will appear on national television. Coverage of this and the other three Regional Championship events will air in mid-2011.

Also today, the final ring event of the circuit events gets underway at 11am. It’s a $300 + $50 No Limit event.