Idan Raviv, a 24-year-old IT manager from Holon in Israel, is the latest World Series of Poker gold bracelet winner after claiming the $457,007 first prize in event 12, a $1,500 buy-in NLHE Six Handed competition that pulled in 1,651 entrants – 64 more than the same event in 2014.
The multi-national final table lasted just over five hours and featured experienced players who had all cashed previously in World Series of Poker events and were determined to get a major share of the $2.22 million prize pool.
Raviv’s first WSOP bracelet came late Friday night after he eliminated his heads up opponent, the UK’s Iaron Lightbourne, who took home the runner up prize of $283,063.
Lightbourne started the heads up with a 2 to 1 chip advantage, but the determined Israeli ground down the advantage and then took control until he dispatched the Brit.
The Israeli player is no stranger to WSOP, having achieved a small cash in last year’s main event, and two other cashes prior to that. He has also cashed in EPT tournaments in the past, but this win gave him by far his biggest live tournament pay-day.
There was a strong female component in the event, with 45 women at the tables.
The other final tablers were:
Manoel Filho (Brazil) $186,108
Markus Gonsalves (USA) $122,586
Craig McCorkell (UK) $82,467
Mike Watson (Canada) $56,835
Daniel Maor (USA) $40,565