The first open event of the 2015 World Series of Poker was won by Michael Wang of Livingston New Jersey on Friday night. Wang mounted a come from behind victory to defeat poker pro Bryn Kenney (ranked #9 on the Global Poker index) heads up and claim the $466,120 first place prize and his first World Series of Poker gold bracelet.
When heads-up play began, Wang was at a nine-to-one chip disadvantage to Kenney. But, on hand #166 Wang flopped the nut straight, and won a huge pot to take the lead. On the very next hand, Wang’s jack-high flush bested Kenney’s nine-high flush to seal the deal.
The final table included 2012 WSOP Main Event Champion Greg Merson who finished in fourth place, and 2013 WSOP Main Event third place finisher, Amir Lehavot, who finished in sixth. David “Doc” Sands (10th place) and Nam Le (13th place) just missed the final table in the $5000 buy-in event that had 422 total entries.
Event #3: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better
Event #3 of the World Series of Poker will continue Saturday at 2 PM local time with the final 49 players returning to crown a champion. Kelly Vandemheen, fittingly from Omaha Nebraska, sits atop the remaining field with 466,000 chips. Robert Mizrachi, Raymond Davis and John Monnette are among other notable players still alive in the event which attracted 918 entrants and a prize pool of over $1.2 million from which the first place finisher will receive $251,022.
Event #4: $3,000 No-Limit Hold’em Shootout
Famous actor and poker aficionado James Woods sits fourth in chips in the $3,000 No-Limit Hold’em Shootout. Woods knocked out Doug Polk in heads up play to set the final table. Former bracelet winners Brian Lemke, Loni Harwood and Leo Wolpert are still alive in the event which will play down to a winner tonight.
Event #5A: THE COLOSSUS $565 No-Limit Hold’em ($5,000,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool)
In what will be the largest live poker event of all time, The Colossus got started with its first two flights on Friday. Though no official numbers have been reported, it is estimated that approximately 10,000 people entered the $565 tournament.
Flight 1A played down to approximately 850 players that will report back on Sunday for Day 2, and Flight 1B played down to about 720 players. Two additional starting flights will take place on Saturday at 10 AM and 7 PM local time.
