WSOP Makes another Millionaire - Adrian Buckley Wins the Bracelet

Adrian Buckley, a recreational poker player, has experienced a big breakthrough in his hobby after winning 2015 WSOP Millionaire Maker Event . 24-year old player from Dacono, Colorado, scooped up his first golden bracelet and the first place prize worth whooping $1,277,193.

This $1,500 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em event attracted 7,275 entrants generating the prize pool of $9,821,250. It was the sixth largest field in WSOP history, including the Colossus event completed last week and Buckley certainly made the most of his first-time opportunity, topping the huge field consisting of amateurs and professionals alike, all with their eyes set on the big prize.

The most interesting thing about the Millionaire Maker event and Colossus event is that both of these were won by players who have never cashed in a WSOP event before.

Adrian Buckley, graduate from the University of Colorado, who works as an electrical engineer, said for WSOP blog that he never had much money when he was a student. However, he worked hard and saved money so he could play some cash games. Young gun probably never even dared dream that he would find himself seating at a final table of a huge live event, battling for well over $1.2 million.

To make things even harder, the final table lineup included Mike Sexton and Olivier Busquet, two well known and respected players in the poker community. Mike Sexton, gold winner bracelet from 1989, has finished in ninth place and took home $115,890. Olivier Busquet made it all the way to third, winning $589,569 for his efforts and booking his 24th WSOP cash.

Buckley did not have to only have to face tough competition but the numbers were against him as well, as he was starting the day the with a stack of only 10 big blinds. However, we've seen it time and time again in poker that short stacks can represent a very serious threat and anyone who may have thought otherwise at the start of play probably lived to regret it.

Final table also included Justin Pechie, Erick Lindgren, DavidMiscikowski, Mohammad ‘Sheddy’ Siddiqui, Randy Pfeifer and Javier Zarco.

After it was all over, Buckley admitted that he was quite nervous due to his first appearance on the ESPN Main Stage. However, after a while he realized that it was just another poker game.

The final table dwindled down to two eventually, and Buckley found himself up against a Spanish player Javier Zarco. Decisive moment of the match came about when Adrian was down 2 to 1 in chips and moved in holding Ace-King. Zarco found A-3 and decided to look him up, and five cards later, two final players found themselves in reversed positions, with Buckley in the driver's seat.

The final hand of the tournament came about when Buckley's pocket Tens held against Javier’s pocket Sixes, crowning him the 2015 WSOP Millionaire Maker Champion. The newest millionaire explained that he expected to run deep but his dreams have come true when he won the tournament.

Although he is $1,277,193 richer, Buckley didn't quit his job but he revealed his plans to play more tournaments this summer. As for Zarco, he won't be too disappointed either, as the runner-up finish brought him $791,690.