Many of the cash tournaments at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas have anted up, limped in, and otherwise taken down the pots over the last few weeks. Amateur players are making their names known in the event, while seasoned professionals recapture past glories with new wins.
The $50,000 Poker Players Championship recently wrapped up at the poker tables, with one of the tournament’s coveted gold bracelets up for grabs. John Hennigan is no stranger to the professional poker scene, and ultimately took down the pot, his third gold bracelet, and one of the largest cash prizes of his professional career.
Hennigan has experience at the WSOP, and sat at final tables against other professionals over the years. Some of the world’s most successful poker players like Daniel Negreanu and Gavin Smith have singled out Hennigan as one of the most challenging players they ever faced in a live tournament.
Hennigan began the final round as an underdog trailing then chip leader Brandon Shack-Harris, but the two men were the last players sitting after knocking off their remaining competitors. When it came down to heads up play, Hennigan not only narrowed the gap but surpassed his rival to take the lead down the stretch.
In the end Hennigan took down Shack-Harris and claimed his third WSOP gold bracelet of his career. He also netted a $1.5 million payout for taking down the pot, while Shack-Harris left the table with a comfortable consolation prize just under $1 million.
Hennigan is far from finished in Las Vegas, and will likely ante up for another match in the days ahead. The WSOP wraps up at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino on July 14, giving Hennigan and all other players another two weeks to make the most out of poker’s biggest games.