Israel-based poker pro Timur Margolin (34) has claimed his first World Series of Poker winner’s bracelet and the main prize of $507,274 after winning the $2,500 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em event.
The competition pulled in 1,248 entrants, creating a prize pool of $2,808,000 from which 188 players cashed.
Margolin said the win was satisfying from the bracelet and prize money aspect, but also because he had managed only a runner up finish in the same event three years ago.
Organisers called for an additional fourth day of play after three players had been eliminated from the final table.
On the last day the notorious Chris “Jesus” Ferguson led the remaining six finalists. It was a tough day, with four-handed action extending for a marathon three hours before the heads up formed, with Margolin leading Ireland-based Ismael Bojang (31) 2 to 1 in chip stacks.
Margolin pushed that lead up to 4 to 1 but then Bojang fired up to close the gap and take the lead. The battle continued with the lead changing until Margolin was finally in a position to dispatch a tenacious opponent, sending Bojang home with a consolatory runner up prize of $313,444.
Other final table cashes included:
3rd: Michael Marder, $223,564
4th: Chris Ferguson, $161,371
5th: Dylan Linde, $117,894
6th: Ryan Laplante, $87,189
7th: Jeff Hakim, $65,284
8th: Andre Haneberg, $49,498
9th: Josh Bergman, $38,009