Nathan Gamble, a former soldier and a long-time poker player, won last night the 2017 WSOP $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better for his first gold bracelet and a $223,339 boost to his poker bankroll.
Gamble was also the winner of a last-long side bet he had made with five other participants in the tournament, among whom former gold bracelet winners.
The 27-year-old Texan has been playing poker since teenager. What is more, Pot-Limit Omaha and Pot-Limit Omaha 8 or Better have been the most preferred formats he would hop into participating. This has given Gamble quite a lot of confidence in the $1,500 buy-in he just topped the 830-person field of.
This was the player’s fifth in-the-money finish in a WSOP event and his first-ever final table. Despite the lack of final-table experience, it can easily be said that Gamble dominated the one of the $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better, particularly in its later stages. By the time there were only eight players left in play, the eventual winner had already taken hold of the chip lead, holding a stack of 1.715 million.
Gamble’s actual domination began during five-handed play and did not end until the very last hand dealt as part of the tournament. The player needed around an hour to eliminate his four remaining opponents. His elimination spree resulted in him taking a gigantic portion of all chips left in play at the time when it was only him and Adam Hendrix left at the table. Heads-up battle began with Gamble holding a 10-to-1 chip lead over his final opponent and as it could be suggested, it did not last very long.
The match lasted just a single hand that saw Hendrix limping and Gamble checking pre-flop. The dealer turned [8d][Jh][3h] on the table. Gamble bet 120,000 and Hendrix shoved all his remaining chips. Gamble called, waiting to see his opponent’s hand. Hendrix turned over [4s][10h][10c][2c]. Gamble held [Kd][Qh][Jc][8h]. A [8c] turn and a [Kc] river secured him with the title, denying it to his opponent. Hendrix received $137,992 to console himself with for his runner-up finish.
Gamble told WSOP interviewers shortly after his big triumph that it meant the world to him. The player further explained that he would give his first WSOP gold piece to his father who had been the one to teach him how to play poker and who had always been supportive of his poker endeavors.
Gamble started the $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better’s final day as one of the players with the shortest stacks. Several hours later, boosted by good hands and the right moves, he emerged as the winner.
