WSOP 2019: Rick Alvarado Wins Crazy Eights To Claim His Best Score Of $888,888

The $888 buy-in Crazy Eights of the 2019 World Series of Poker (WSOP) lived up to its name with some crazy turnout. The event drew a huge field of 10,185 entries, generating $8,139,852 in prizepool. The lion’s share of the prizepool went to American pro and former fast-food worker Rick Alvarado, who rode some late good fortune to the top, winning his first bracelet and $888,888 in top prize.

“I’m stoked. It’s quite unbelievable. I’m thrilled. This is my biggest cash,” Alvarado said post his win.

Alvarado had entered final day as a shorter stack among the remaining 10, but he played aggressively and it paid off. After Vlad Darie eliminated Mario Hofler in 8^th place ($105,888), he battled with Alvarado who held 10d 8d against his As 9h. Unfortunately for Darie, the board brought three diamonds and he was busted in 7^th place ($136,888). The next eliminations came in Patrick Clarke – (6^th for $177,888), Aleksandras Rusinovas – (5^th for $233,888) and Vivian Saliba – (4^th for $308,888) and eventually it went to 3-handed play where Alvarado’s aggression almost costed his tournament life when his Qs Js ran into Kh Kc of Thomas Drivas. Luckily for the champion, the board brought him flush and he eliminated Drivas in 3rd place ($409,888) to take the chip lead into heads-up.

The heads-up began with Alvarado holding 302,400,000 against 105,000,000 of Mark Radoja. The two-time WSOP bracelet winner Radoja tried to make a comeback, but ultimately his Ah 10d failed to hold against Alvarado’s Ad 4d as the board ran out 2h Qc 6h 5s 4s, giving a pair of 4 to Alvarado to win the coveted title and his career-best live score of $888,888 along with the WSOP gold bracelet.

Final Table Payouts (USD):

1. Rick Alvarado – $888,888
2. Mark Radoja – $548,888
3. Thomas Drivas – $409,888
4. Vivian Saliba – $308,888
5. Aleksandras Rusinovas – $233,888
6. Patrick Clarke – $177,888
7. Vlad Darie – $136,888
8. Mario Hofler – $105,888

Team India

The $888 Crazy Eights  was a big event from India’s perspective as 22 Indian players finished in the money with Baadshah Gaming’s Madhav Gupta being the last man standing among them. He exited on Day 2, finishing 188th for $7,318. Here is the list of 15 Indians who scored ITM finishes on Day 2:

1. Madhav Gupta – (188^th– $7,318)
2. Lawrence Sanjay – ( 271^stfor $4,424
3. Ashish Ahuja – ( 432^nd– $3,013)
4. Siddharth Mundada – (461st – $3,013)
5. Naresh Veeravalli – (731st – $2,202)
6. Raghav Bansal – (780th – $2,015)
7. Karik Ved – (853rd – $1,859)
8. Rohan Roshi – (890th – $1,859)
9. Rahul Byrraju – (937th – $1,729)
10. Kunal Patni – (958th – $1,729)
11. Navkiran Singh – (985th – $1,729)
12. Meherzad Munsaf- (1,038th – $1,622)
13. Akshay Nasa – (1,064th – $1,622)
14. Sanjay Taneja – (1,073rd -$1,622)
15. Tarun Goyal – (1,093rd – $1,500)