Takahiro Nakai bested a field of 2,497 players in event #57 - $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em to lay hands on his first gold bracelet and $399,039 in first prize money!
Nakai, a high-tech specialist from Osaka, is the second citizen of Japan to win a gold bracelet in the 46-year history of the World Series of Poker. He discovered poker online and has been playing for several years on his computer. However, this was his first time at the World Series... but for sure not the last one.
Final table results:
OTHER IN-THE-MONEY FINISHERS:
Former gold bracelet winning players who cashed included - Matt Waxman (27th), Leo Wolpert (44th), Chris Dombrowski (55th), Men "the Master: Nguyen (59th), Okeksii Kavalchuk (66th), Matthew Elsby (75th), Rep Porter (94th), Andre Akkari (100th), Martin Jacobson (111th), Calvin Anderson (156th), Konstantin Puchkov (184th), and Sean Getzwiller (244th).
Martin Jacobson, who finished 111th, is the defending world poker champion. This marked his second time to cash since winning last year's Main Event Championship.
Jennifer Shahade, the former two-time Ladies Chess Champion, cashed in this event.
Allen "Chainsaw" Kessler cashed in this event, which marks his seventh in-the-money finish at the 2015 series, so far.
Winner info:
Name: Takahiro Nakai
Birthplace: Osaka, Japan
Age: 36
Current Residence: Osaka, Japan
Marital Status: Single
Children: None
Profession: High-Tech Specialist
Number of WSOP Cashes: 2
Number of WSOP Final Table Appearances: 1
Number of WSOP Gold Bracelet Victories: 1
Best Previous WSOP Finish: 493rd (2015)
Total WSOP Earnings: $400,039