Many poker players have added a first ever WSOP Bracelet to their resume this summers and Ben Volpe and Vladimir Shchmelev also became first time winners as Day 30 continued at the WSOP 2013 at the Rio here today. And it was mix of fortunes for both winners since they both came from behind to topple chip leaders. While Vladimir Shchmelev’s defeated Mel Judah to win Event 46, a $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Low tournament, Ben Volpe prevailed over Paul Lieu who was chip leader heading into the final table of $1,500 Ante-Only No-Limit Hold’em tournament.
Volpe was on the losing end of many poker games but it was his strong perseverance that got him back in heads up play against Lieu. The 26 year old CPA from Chicago got $201,399 in earnings and a historic first bracelet for himself. This event had drawn 678 players and generated a prize pool of a little less than a Million. The top 72 poker players cashed in including Daniel Idema, JC Tran and David Williams. The final table of 9 featured two former bracelet winners in Louis Bonnecaze and Blair Hinkle.
The final results for the $1,500 Ante Only No Limit Hold’em event:
1st: Ben Volpe – $201,399
2nd: Paul Lieu – $124,352
3rd: Louis Bonnecaze – $80,839
4th: Blair Hinkle – $59,375
5th: Chris Moorman – $44,227
6th: Horacio Chaves Cortes – $33,371
7th: Adam Stone – $25,472
8th: Danny Johnson – $19,660
9th: Sam Panzica – $15,331
Vladimir Shchmelev of Russia overcame a stacked field of players to win Event 46 and $279,094 in cash. This final table win made Shchmelev the 27th player at WSOP 2013 to have multiple final table appearances since he finished eight in $5,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Low two weeks ago. The event saw a strong 435 player field with 45 players including Mike Matusow, Gavin Smith and Joe Hachem cashing in. The final table was a fairly tough one to beat with former bracelet winners Mel Judah, John Cernuto and Allyn Jaffrey Shulman also occupying seats.
The final results from the $3,000 Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Low event:
1st: Vladimir Shchmelev – $279,094
2nd: Mel Judah – $172,361
3rd: Ashly Butler – $124,645
4th: Brian Hacker – $91,085
5th: “Miami” John Cernuto – $67,262
6th: Tyler Nelson – $50,197
7th: Andrey Zaichenko – $37,847
8th: Allyn Jaffrey Shulman – $28,821
9th: Alexey Makarov – $22,171