Los Angeles entrepreneur Gal Yifrach (31) claimed his first World Series of Poker winner’s bracelet and the main prize of $461,798 over the weekend in the $3,000 buy-in NLHE Six Max competition, besting an entry field of 868 that included a slew of top professional players.
Yifrach is happiest playing high stakes cash games when he can spare the time from running his businesses, but he showed that he can handle tournament action with equal aplomb despite the large crowds.
He played a skilful but low profile competition until the finalists reached four-handed play, when he won a major pot that gave him the chip lead…a position he was to maintain and increase over the next three hours of aggressive poker and significant pay jumps.
By the three-handed stage Yifrach had amassed two-thirds of the chips on the table when the organisers decided that an extra day would be required to complete the event. Yifrach appeared unhappy with the call but bagged up with his two remaining rivals, who in a last-minute clash had managed to reduce his chip stack but not overtake it.
On Saturday – the additional fourth day – the trio reassembled and play recommenced with no eliminations in the first level, but Yifrach busted Gary Hasson at third for $193,716 in the following level to enter the heads up against James Mackey with the lead. Mackey staged a fight-back that saw him almost level the chip counts, but Yifrach pulled ahead again and ultimately defeated his last opponent.
Mackey’s second placing reward was $285,377.
Other final table cashes included:
4th: Aaron Mermelstein – $133,731
5th: Darren Rabinowitz – $93,917
6th: Ana Marquez – $67,116