US online and live tourney professional player Clayton Maguire (47) has emerged from a field of 1,247 as the winner in the innovative mixed online and live No Limit Hold’em competition at the World Series of Poker.
The online element in the event led to a final live table at the Rio in which Macguire started with the biggest chip stack, chased by Bulgarian pro Simeon Naydenov.
The duo maintained their dominance as other final table rivals were busted and headed to the exit until they faced one another in the heads up, which turned out to be a tough 130-hand confrontation in which the chip lead changed a number of times.
At one point it appeared that Macguire was a goner…his opponent had amassed a 20 to 1 lead and it looked as if it was all over, but then the US pro staged an impressive comeback through several double ups to reverse the situation in the last 13 hands and finally eliminate Naydenov in second place for $150,569.
Macguire was clearly delighted to receive his first WSOP bracelet and the main prize of $210,279.
“I’m really happy to win the bracelet,” he said. “It’s a feather in the cap.”
Other cashes at the live final table included:
Marc-Olivier Carpentier-Perrault Montreal, Canada $110,172
Spencer Taylor Knoxville, TN $82,926
Richard Tuhrim New York, NY $59,233
Park-Yu Cheung Hong Kong, Hong Kong $46,201