Alex Lindop, a 25-year-old professional player from Stoke-on-Trent, has claimed the UK’s second bracelet in this year’s World Series of Poker, besting a talented field of 2,154 other players and claiming the $531,037 winner’s share of the $2.9 million prize pool.
Making a return to WSOP nine years after he won the 2006 Main Event for the biggest WSOP pay-out on record (see previous reports) was Jamie Gold, who managed a deep run but was ousted at fifth on the final table.
Haixa Zhang, a former Ladies World Champion also made the final table.
This was Lindop’s first WSOP winner’s bracelet after five years of travelling to Las Vegas for the annual tourney, and his biggest cash yet in a career which includes an impressive mix of online cash game and live tournament rewards.
The large entry field required an extra day for the event to produce a winner after an especially tough and protracted tussle at the four-handed stage, but in the end it was French amateur Aurelian Guiglini who Lindop faced in the heads up, with the Brit holding a 3 to 1 chip lead.
Lindop made sure his chip advantage was put to good use, quickly defeating Guiglini despite a spirited response, and sending the Frenchman to the exit and a runner up prize worth $330,578.
Other final table cashes were:
3rd Yorane Kerignard $229,787
4th Haixia Zhang $165,492
5th Jamie Gold $120,952
6th Luis Freitas $89,473
7th Jason Herron $67,058
8th Joshua Evans $50,897
9th Rick Alvarado $39,085