Things didn’t look so good for Sandeep Pulusani when he got heads-up against Niall Farrell in the $3,000 No-Limit Hold’em event at the 44th Annual World Series of Poker early Thursday morning. The experience was there for him, but the chips weren’t, and he started the duel at about a 7-to-1 disadvantage.
He didn’t go down without a fight, though. Pulusani survived all-in after all-in and dodged out after out en route to overcoming the monstrous deficit and sending Farrell to the rail. The victory awarded the 24-year-old music blogger from Huntsville, Ala. $592,684.
Event 44 was a $3,000 No-Limit Hold’em tournament that attracted 1,072 entrants. Those fortunate enough to finish among the top 117 earned a portion of the $2,926,560 prize pool.
Those who cashed outside the top nine include Lauren Kling (112th), Simon Charette (95th), Sorel Mizzi (90th), Chris Dombrowski (75th), Joe Kuether (34th), Barry Shulman (63rd) and Mark Radoja (49th).
One of the more notable eliminations came when two-time gold bracelet winner Jason Mercier unexpectedly exited the tournament short of the final table. Mercier held playing card: 9splaying card: 9h on a playing card: 9cplaying card: 7cplaying card: 3splaying card: 7h board and Michael Rocco moved all-in. Mercier called, tabling his full house, which was well ahead of Rocco’s pocket pair of aces. Lady luck reared her ugly head, bringing the playing card: Ad on the river and sending Mercier to the rail in 16th place. He earned $21,773 and Rocco took the chip lead to the final table.
Rocco was unable to parlay his chip lead into a gold bracelet victory, but finished third for $229,500.
Here’s a look at the final table results:
1st: Sandeep Pulusani – $592,684
2nd: Niall Farrell – $366,815
3rd: Michael Rocco – $229,500
4th: Martin Hanowski – $166,579
5th: Zohair Karim – $122,974
6th: Mark Teltscher – $92,816
7th: Nam Le – $70,120
8th: Pedro Rios – $54,053
9th: Philippe Vert – $42,230
