The decision by this year’s World Series of Poker organisers to boost the number of online competitions to three has seen a strong player response, with the initial $333 buy-in Little Grind NLHE contest attracting 2,509 entrants.
This weekend saw the culmination of the second such event – the $3,333 buy-in NLHE ‘Big Grind’ competition which pulled in 424 entries (104 re-ups and 320 uniques) and was won by 25-year-old New Jersey pro and former November Niner finalist, Thomas Cannuli, who bagged his first bracelet, and the $322,815 lion’s share of the $1,335,600 prize pool.
When final table action commenced Cannuli had the third biggest chip lead on a very competitive table led by Tara Cain, but relatively early in the action he scored some notable pots that positioned him in the lead, where he continued to play an aggressive game right into three handed play, where he faced Cain and Adam Owen.
The trio ended up in a three-way all-in from which Cannuli emerged victorious, ousting Cain and Owen respectively in second ($201,408) and third ($136,231).