Three late-20’s poker pros each won the first gold bracelet of their careers yesterday at the 2016 World Series of Poker. Let’s take a quick look to see what went on:
David Peters – Event #56: $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em
29-year old poker pro David Peters finally broke through, besting a field of 1,860 players one of the 2016 WSOP’s several $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em events for his first bracelet. He had already made seven WSOP final tables in his career but was never able to quite get over the hump. Previously, his best finish at the World Series was second place in the $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em event in 2010.
Peters has been extremely successful in live tournaments, amassing $12.1 million in his lifetime, highlighted by a $2.3 million second place finish in the 2016 WPTN $200,000 No-Limit Hold’em Triton Super High Roller in the Philippines. He is also very accomplished online, with over $4.8 million in recorded tournament earnings on PocketFives.com.
In his post-game interview, Peters commented in always being the bridesmaid, saying, “I was definitely surprised it took me as long as it did (to win). There were a lot of close calls. I came in almost every place at the final table, except first. I knew it was coming, so it definitely feels amazing to get it.”
David Nowakowski – Event #57: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo Split-8 or Better
David Nowakowski took a circuitous route to his first bracelet win. Originally from New Jersey, he moved out of the country after Black Friday so he could continue his online poker career (he actually dropped out of college because the games were so good). He used to travel to the WSOP regularly, but took the last couple years off to focus solely on his internet game in Panama. It was a wise decision to come back, as he won the $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo event, capturing the $203,113 first prize.
He was so much of an online grinder that he achieved Supernova status at PokerStars, but that grind can take a toll. In his interview after the victory, Nowakowski admitted that he has been burnt out and moved back to New Jersey to restart his schooling. It sounds like he is going to be taking a break from the full-time poker life, though living in New Jersey, he at least has the option to continue to play online. Whether it is for tuition or for his bankroll, though, $200,000 will go a long way.
Corey Thompson – Event #58: $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em (30-minute levels)
One of the biggest differentiators between live and online poker is that the levels in live poker tournaments tend to be much faster than those online (at least if you are in a live tournament that is structured at all properly). Levels at the World Series of Poker last one to two hours, depending on the event, which makes the tournament Corey Thompson just won unique: it was a turbo even with only 30-minute levels.
Thompson didn’t seem to have much of a problem at the final table – a table filled completely with players seeking their first WSOP win – as he held the chip lead most of the time. He gave a ton of credit, though, to runner-up Enrico Rudelitz, saying, “There was no doubt (Rudelitz) was the best player at the table – if not me, then definitely him. You always like to think of yourself as the best, but towards the end, I think it was him.”
Though this was Thompson’s first WSOP bracelet, he is no stranger to the feeling of victory. In October of last year, he won a Heartland Poker Tour (HPT) event for $131,000. But this one takes the cake.
“It’s been a huge year,” Thompson said. “I don’t play cash games that much. I’ve been playing more tournaments. The HPT win was really huge. I really caught fire since then. I started coming out here (to the WSOP) four years ago, but mostly played just a few smaller events. This win was huge.”