The first event in this year’s World Series of Poker festival has been completed at the Rio in Las Vegas, with Chris ‘CJ’ Sand (45) claiming the honours and the $75,157 first prize after besting a field of 730 other hopefuls.
Sand works for the sportsbook division of Caesars Palace, and the win gives him his first WSOP winner’s bracelet, although this was his second WSOP cash – the first was for a 1,596th placing in the Colossus competition last year.
The winner dedicated his bracelet to his deceased mother, who taught him to play the game in his youth.
Sand’s final opponent was Brit player Kerryjane Craigie, the head of poker at London’s Hippodrome Casino, who put up a good fight before being despatched for a second placing pay-out of $46,420.