Dealer Turned Player Campisano Wins WSOP Bracelet in Mini Main Event

With 1,286 entries in the $1,500 buy-in Mini Main Event, only 195 players made the money as underdog Christopher Campisano upset the odds to win $240,000 and fulfil his poker dreams. Capturing his first-ever WSOP gold bracelet, Campisano’s victory came after he outlasted players such as former WSOP bracelet winners Ran Koller, Anson Tsang and Artan Dedusha along the way to the final table.

Near-Miss for Bracelet Winner Saliba

Down to the top 100 places, players such as Event #4 winner Vivian (90^th for $2,970), Tobias Peters (69^th for $3,525), Stephen Nahm (25^th for $7,340), Florian Duta (23^rd for $8,940) and the overnight Day 2 chip leader Candido Cappiello (17^th for $8,940 too) all going close but not making the eight-handed final table.

When the final eight sat down at one table to play down to a winner, the chip leader was the Belgian player Frederic Marechal, who was on 43m chips but would endure a rollercoaster session at the felt. Closest to Marechal was the Italian Luigi Pignatoro but a different Italian would come from nowhere to win on the night.

With eight left, the first to leave was the Swiss player Luc Ramos, who won $34,700 after moving all-in for seven big blinds with ace-eight of hearts. Called by Chinese player Xiaohua Yang with ace-king, a board of J-T-3-9-6, Ramos was unable to survive, as Yang leapt up the leaderboard and made his own play for the gold.

Krause Wont Be King

Seven players were left but not for long. The former second-in chips Pignatoro busted in seventh place for $42,100. Going from hero to zero, Pignatoro lost with pocket queens to the Greek player Dimitrios Anastasakis, who had pocket kings. Losing when a jack-high board of J-4-3-J-5 landed, Pignatoro’s exit gave Anastasakis a way back into proceedings.

Six players remained and it was the German Frederick Thiemer who busted next. All-in with ace-eight, he lost to Yang’s pocket jacks when a flop of J-T-7 gave the Chinese player a set but the chance of a gutshot straight saw Thiemer still dreaming of redemption from the deck. A five on the turn and a six on the river confirmed the German’s exit for $52,350 in sixth place.

Thiemer’s German compatriot Andreas Krause was the sole former WSOP final table player at the felt. An experienced player, Krause had once come second for a bracelet almost a quarter of a century earlier only to fall four places short on this occasion. All-in with pocket jacks, he lost a flip to Marechal’s king-queen to bust for $67,000 in fifth place.

Ying and Yang as Campisano Claims Victory

Out in fourth was the Chinese player Xiaohua Yang, who won $87,900 when he just missed out on the top three. Shoving with king-jack, he lost to the pocket aces of Campisano, although there was still a sweat from the Q-T-T flop. No further help came for Yang’s open-ended straight draw, however, and Yang departed.

Down to three, it was the unfortunate Dimitrios Anastasakis who busted next, losing for $118,300. Marechal shoved with ace-seven and held against Anastasakis’ king queen, sending the Greek player home just a couple of hands later when ace-jack held against Anastasakis’ queen-six.

Heads-up, Campisano led with 74.2 million to Marechal’s 54.4 million, but the Belgian player led after getting the better of the early exchanges. Experience looked like it might tell for the title when he took a huge 9:1 lead. Campisano doubled up twice with the best hand, however, to then put him into a 3:1 chip lead.

Moments later, Campisano’s shove with king-nine was called by Marechal’s ace-three and the Italian flopped a flush draw as it came Q-6-2 with two diamonds. A king on the turn meant Marechal was drawing to just three outs but no ace came on the river, which was also a diamond and completed Campisano’s flush.

The Champion is Almost Speechless

“I made a lot of hands today. When I made the first double-up, I said OK, it’s possible.”

Winning the first WSOP bracelet of his career, as well as the top prize of $240,000, Campisano, who made sure Marechal could only claim $162,650 in second spoke to PokerNews after the event as he celebrated a famous win.

“I don’t believe it!” he told them. “I feel very good. When I won ace-three against ace-queen, I said OK, maybe this is my tournament. I made a lot of hands today. When I made the first double-up, I said OK, it’s possible. Tonight, I will celebrate with my friends, they stay here… and I live here!”

As well as winning the biggest prize of his poker career to date, Campisano – along with all the other players who made the final 14 – won a WSOPE Main Event ticket worth €10,350 ($11,465).

“I play almost every day so next up will be the Main Event, and I already have a ticket!” he smiled. With his past as a poker dealer looking like it is very much in his rear-view mirror, the WSOP champion Campisano will undoubtedly be a threat.