A septuagenarian has parlayed a $220 satellite into a $294,290 payday after the Ukrainian, Elik Vodovoz, defeated a 1,050-entrant field to win the World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event in Horseshoe Hammond.
“What’s up Doc?”
72-years ago, Bugs Bunny was born, as was Elik Vodovoz.
The former became a cartoon carrot munching icon, and the latter has taken down the $1,700 No-Limit Hold’em Main Event at the World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) in Horseshoe Hammond.
It’s an incredible achievement for Vodovoz, who defeated 1,050 players to bank the $294,290 first prize in the $1m Guaranteed Main Event. And to make that victory as sweet as maple syrup and waffles, Vodovoz earned his seat via a $220 satellite.
The former dentist knows how to pull teeth, but he cut through the final day like a scalpel on gum, finishing on top of a 17-player last day field in less than five hours.
Adam Greenberg aside the entire final table achieved personal best ITM finishes, not a bad feat considering Josh Reichard (15th), Jose Montes (18th) and Maurice Hawkins (21st) were fishing at the deep end.
The win was the Ukrainian’s second of his career, the first coming in a $150 Seniors Event on the Heartland Poker Tour (HPT) for $5,286 back in 2014. His previous best score came in 2016 when he finished 4/619 in a $365 No-Limit Hold’em Monster Stack event also at Horseshoe Hammond.
As a result of the win, Vodovoz books a seat in the 2019 WSOP Global Casino Championship in Harrah’s Cherokee in August, giving him the chance to add a gold bracelet to his shiny golden ring.
Final Table Results
1. Elik Vodovoz – $294,290
2. Derek Hanauer – $181,950
3. Brek Schutten – $135,214
4. Peter Kelly – $101,649
5. Amelito Umbao – $77,295
6. Adam Greenberg – $59,462
7. John Lizzio – $46,275
8. Scotty Mio – $36,428
In other WSOP related news the 2013 WSOP Main Event Champion, Ryan Riess, has had a decent month. Not only did Riess make two final tables at the US Poker Open, finishing second in the $50,000 and fifth in the $100,000, but he’s also become a dad.
On to the next chapter… #MilaLove ❤️ pic.twitter.com/vm83ci1pXU
— Ryan Riess (@RyanRiess1) March 4, 2019
Riess isn’t the only WSOP winning poker player who recently became a dad. Charity Series of Poker (CSOP) founder, Matt Stout, is also wrist deep in baby doo-doo, and still found time to defeat 612-entrants to win the $320 No-Limit Hold’em Monster Stack Online Circuit Event for $44,982.
