The 2015 WSOP $1,500 Seven-Card Razz event was completed a few hours ago with Italian poker pro Max Pescatori capturing the first-place prize of $155,947 and his third WSOP bracelet.
Known to be one of the longest-running events in the history of WSOP, the Seven-Card Razz is quite an unusual game. Unlike Texas Hold’em, it requires for a player to get a hand of the lowest possible rank. Prominent poker pros, such as Phil Hellmuth, Doyle Brunson, and Ted Forrest, are among those who have previously won the event.
This year’s $1,500 Seven-Card Razz attracted a total of 462 entries who created a prize pool of $623,700. Of all the players who entered the event, only the first 48 finishers were paid, with the payouts starting from $2,738.
It took three days of play before the name of the event’s champion was announced. Quite expectedly, Pescatori faced extremely tough competition, given the fact that the event traditionally attracts more experienced players.
The Italian poker pro had to defeat Ryan Miller from Longhorne, Pennsylvania in a heads-up play. On the last hand of the event, Pescatori was dealt [3x][6x]/[Kx][2x][7x][Qx]/[4x]. As for Miller, he had [Ax][2x]/[Ax][2x][7x][8x][8x]. Miller shoved all his chips in and his opponent called. Pescatori made a [7x][6x]-low on seventh street and Miller made two pairs on fourth street, which meant a runner-up finish for the latter and the amount of $96,349 of the entire prize pool.
As mentioned above, Pescatori took the amount of $155,947 for his victory. He also collected his third WSOP bracelet, thus becoming the only Italian to hold three pieces of the jewelry that probably every single poker player craves for.
Up to now, Pescatori has won a total of $1,846,021 at 46 WSOP events. He was awarded his first bracelet back in 2006 for finishing 1st in a $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em event for $682,389, his biggest live cash so far. Bracelet number two was collected in 2008, when Pescatori won a $2,500 Pot-Limit Hold’em/Omaha event for $246,509. His total live tournament earnings now amount to $3,749,661.
Chris George from Croton on Hudson, New York, finished 3rd in the $1,500 Seven-Card Razz to be paid the amount of $61,247. Matthew Smith from Linthia, Florida scooped $44,164 of the entire prize pool for his 4th place. Nevada-based poker pro Eli Elezra, who has previously won two WSOP bracelets, took 5th place for a $32,245 payout. Randy Kaas from Scottsdale, Arizona finished 6th to be paid the amount of $24,049. Robin Lee from Norwich, Connecticut rounded up the seven-handed final table to collect $18,149.
