The American poker pro Frank Kassela was crowned as the champion of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) $1,500 No-Limit 2-7, winning his third WSOP bracelet, emerging on top of 266-entry players field.
Seven years ago, the then-49-year-old Kassela got both of his first two bracelets at the 2010 Edition of the WSOP. The first gold bracelet came in the player’s after him winning the $10,000 Buy-In Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split-8 or Better Championship event. Then, Kassela won the $2,500 Razz event and took home another gold bracelet and was also granted with the 2010 WSOP Player of the Year Award.
Including his latest achievement, the American has won a total of three WSOP bracelets, cashed thirteen times WSOP events and made it to a five WSOP final tables, winning three of them. Up to date, he has managed to generate total live winnings estimated to $3,002,447, with a best live cash of $556,053.
In order to lay his hands on the largest portion of the guaranteed prize pool and the $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw, Kassela managed to outlast all of his 265 opponents. He also entered a fierce heads-up battle for the event’s title, not allowing Bernard Lee to claim the prize. This was not an easy victory for Kassela, as he faced a tough final table featuring a couple of bracelet winners and a mixed games pro. The presence of Benny Glaser, a three-time WSOP bracelet winner, and the bracelet winner Matt Waxman was enough to make things tough enough, but there as also Jared Bleznick, known as one of the top mixed games players.
The players reached the final table on Wednesday night, but it was not until Thursday when the final day of the $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw event saw only six players return. At that time, Bernard Lee was the chip leader, but Kassela managed to soon take the lead and even extended it, eliminating Stuart Rutter.
At the time when the game reached the three-handed play, Kassela still got the chip lead, but it was soon taken back by Bernard Lee who held it for a few hours, until the heads-up play was reached. Kassela, however, did not quit and eventually managed to take the lead and emerge as the event winner. Despite the fact that he does not play poker for living and even considers himself a recreational player, Kassela proved his qualities and added another WSOP to his collection.
With Frank Kassela emerging as the event’s winner, taking home a cash portion estimated to $89,151, Bernard Lee remained at the runner-up position. He was granted with the second-largest cash portion, amounting to $55,086. Tim McGuigan took the third place in the ranking, receiving a money prize of $37,032.
The fourth position was occupied by Matt Waxman, followed by Jared Bleznick. The sixth and seventh places in the final table’s ranking were taken by Stuart Rutter and Benny Glaser, respectively.
- Author
Harry Evans
