US poker pro scores his first WSOP bracelet and $1,289,074 in $25,000 buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed High Roller.
Congenial Florida poker pro James Calderaro (51) scored his biggest ever pay-day over the weekend, claiming his first WSOP bracelet and $1,289,074 in the $25,000 buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed High Roller.
A popular WSOP veteran, Calderaro bested a field of 205 players, who created a massive prize pool of $4,868,750, well up on the 184 entries last year.
Entering the final table with the chip lead, Calderaro remained the man to watch as the finalists dwindled. However by the time the heads up against Russia’s Alexey Rybin began, the Florida pro was trailing 2 to 1 in chips.
Calderaro remained confident, assuring his rail supporters that he was still very much in the game, and then going on to prove it by overtaking the Russian and eliminating him in second for $796,706.
Other final table chip counts included:
Esther Taylor $543,713
Artem Babakhanyan $379,128
Bryce Yockey $270,242
Dario Sammartino $197,007
Dan Smith $146,961
Ben Tollerene $112,239