Chip Saechao Grabs 1st Bracelet of 2012 WSOP in Casino Employees Event #1
All nine of those making the final table were from the United States, with six dealers among them. Also of note, WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart finished 19th for a $2,223 cash, marking the second time he's made the money in the event.
The first bracelet of the 2012 World Series of Poker has been won by Chiab "Chip" Saechao in the $500 buy-in Casino Employees event. Saechao overcame a field of 732 players and an eighth-position chip stack to start the final table to win the event and the $70,859 first prize that went with it.
Saechao's final table comeback culminated a lengthy second day that began with 81 players returning.
In the final hand against eventual runner-up Patricia Baker, Saecho reraised all in over a Baker open with Td-Ts and Baker called with Ad-Qs. The flop brought a queen, but a ten fell on the turn to put Saecho in front. The river then brought another queen to give Baker trips but Saecho a full house, and at about 2 a.m. Tuesday morning the event had finally concluded.
A 35-year-old blackjack dealer who works at the Tachi Casino in California, Saechao was born in Thialand and emigrated to the U.S. as a teenager. The victory marks his first-ever cash at the WSOP, with his prior poker experience largely consisting of low-stakes cash games and tourneys. As Saecho explained to WSOP Media Director Nolan Dalla after the win, he has in the past won a seat into the $10,000 Main Event, something that helped his confidence as a player.
The turnout of 732 was down a bit from last year's Casino Employees Event in which Sean Drake topped a field of 850.
All nine of those making the final table were from the United States, among them six dealers including runner-up Baker who works at the Rio where the WSOP is being held. Also of note, WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart finished 19th for a $2,223 cash, marking the second time he's made the money in the event.
Here's how the payouts looked at the first final table of the 2012 WSOP:
2012 WSOP Event #1: Casino Employees NLHE ($500) final table payouts:
1. Chiab Saechao -- $70,859
2. Patricia Baker -- $43,754
3. James Routos -- $28,206
4. Ray Pulford -- $20,663
5. Nicolas Vaca-Rondon -- $15,359
6. Jay Pinkussohn -- $11,571
7. Steven Phan -- $8,824
8. Matthew Wilmot -- $6,808
9. Georgi Ivanov -- $5,309
The Casino Employees Event is one of three that aren't considered "open" events, the other two being the Seniors event and the Ladies event, both $1,000 NLHE tournaments. The first open event bracelet will be won later today in Event #2, a $1,500 NLHE event in which J.P. Kelly is among the leaders entering the final day.
Prices quoted in copy are correct at time of publication but liable to change.
