California poker pro Daniel Strelitz (27) is $1,001,110 wealthier this week after winning the $10,000 buy-in 2017 World Poker Tour L.A. Poker Classic NLHE main event by besting a field of 521 rivals.
It was the young pro’s first WPT title…and his first seven-figure win; his best previous cash was $338,774 at the World Series of Poker last year.
Strelitz performed strongly throughout the game, starting final table action with almost twice the amount of chips as his nearest opponent on a table that included three former WSOP bracelet winners in Jesse Martin, Mike Sexton and Simeon Naydenov.
Down to three-handed action the survivors were playing more cautiously, and the passage took over 60 hands before third placed Jared Griener was dismissed by Naydenov for $431,340, setting up a Strelitz vs. Naydenov heads up in which the latter had a small chip advantage.
Strelitz immediately went on the attack, grinding down the deficit over some 40 hands in which the lead changed several times before eventually holding the lead and building it to a 2 to 1 chip advantage and victory, sending a very able opponent home with a runner-up consolatory prize of $672,190.
Other final tables cashes were:
Mike Sexton $300,690
Jesse Martin $230,380
Richard Tuhrim $191,490
Matt Berkey $161,320
Joseph Serock $128,650
James Calderaro $96,640