The eyes of Texas were upon Nicholas Seiken (29) Sunday when he took down the World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in 2-7 Triple Draw championship event, besting a field of 109 laden with top players despite his relative inexperience.
In fact it was that inexperience that persuaded him to play much of the competition tight, emerging late in final table play to cut loose and battle his way to the top spot, his first bracelet and main prize money of $287,987.
It’s been a good WSOP summer so far for the Texan, who has also finished twelfth in the $10,000 buy-in Seven Card Stud championship, and managed a ninth place in a $1,500 buy-in Eight Game Mix competition.
Seiken entered the heads up stage with a 3 to 2 chip lead over experienced pro player Randy Ohel and enjoyed a dream finish, winning key pots and virtually every showdown to eliminate Ohel in a short but thrilling encounter that left Ohel with a second placing pay day of $177,992.
Final table paydays were:
3rd: Kristijonas Andrulis – $125,190
4th: Farzad Bonyadi – $89,078
5th: Matt Glantz – $64,131
6th: Jason Gray – $46,722