Paul Volpe has once again proved himself as a player with immense skills and technique, after he bested the field of the 2016 WSOP $1,500 Eight-Game Mix (Six-Handed). He collected his second WSOP gold bracelet and added $149,943 to his poker bankroll. Volpe’s victory came after he has come really close to winning several WSOP tournaments over the past few years.
In fact, the player captured his first WSOP gold piece in 2014 for taking down the $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball. Since then, he has cashed in a number of WSOP tournaments, making two runner-up finishes and appearing at the final tables of several of those.
The $1,500 Eight-Game Mix drew a field of 491 entries. As its name suggests, the event included eight different poker formats, with those being No-Limit Hold’em, Seven-Card Stud, Omaha Hi-Low/8, Seven-Card Razz, Pot-Limit Omaha, Limit Hold’em, Seven-Card Stud Hi-Low/8, and 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball. The overall prize pool totaled $662,850 and the top 74 performers were paid a share of it. The tournament ran from June 10-12.
Day 3 of the event saw 11 players returning with Volpe leading the way. The player was also the one to prevail at the official eight-handed final table, which was compiled by other poker professionals and amateurs as well.
The final hand for the day and the tournament as a whole was a Pot-Limit Omaha one and was played by Volpe and his heads-up opponent Jason Stockfish. The latter raised pre-flop from the small blind and Volpe called. The flop came [8s][6s][3c]. Volpe checked to see his opponent bet 80,000. Volpe called.
The [Ah] appeared on the turn and Volpe checked once again. Stockfish bet 180,000 and Volpe took a minute of thought before announcing a bet of 600,000, enough to put his opponent all in. Stockfish called.
Volpe tabled [Ac][Ks][Qd][4s] against Stockfish’s [As][Jh][10s][3d]. The river was the [6d], which secured Volpe with the pot and the victory. As for Stockfish, his consolation prize amounted to $92,638.
Being asked to compare his two WSOP triumphs, Volpe said that he held the first victory dearer as it was the result from a heads-up against none other but Daniel Negreanu. Yet, the player noted that his second WSOP victory was special, too, as he had won an Eight-Game Mix, a feat that was not easy to achieve.
Ron Ware from Discovery Bay, California was the player to emerge in 3rd place for $60,882. The 4th place was reserved for Benjamin Ludlow from New York City. The player took home the amount of $40,911. Anthony Lazar from Maple Grove, Minnesota collected $28,123 for taking 5th place in the event.
Gavin Smith from Anchorage, Alaska took 6th place for $19,787. Belgian Bart Lybaert scooped $14,257 for finishing 7th. Tommy Coker from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma took 8th place, good for $14,257.
