First WSOP bracelet won

LAS VEGAS -- It took an extra day, but Roland Reparejo won the first bracelet event of the 45th annual World Series of Poker on Thursday, prevailing in the $500 buy-in Casino Employees No-Limit Hold ’em tournament.

Reparejo, 55, who worked for three decades as a chef before becoming a poker dealer, needed only five minutes to defeat Corey Emery in their heads-up duel and took home an $82,835 payday.

The tournament extended into an unscheduled third day thanks to a wild final table that saw numerous double-ups. Emery, who finished 33rd in the 2010 WSOP Main Event, collected $51,037.

This tournament drew 876 entries and generated a prize pool of $394,200. The top 90 finishers made the money.

The $25,000 buy-in Mixed Max No-Limit Hold ’em event will resume today at 2 p.m. PDT as Jason Mo and Vanessa Selbst battle for the $871,148 first prize.

Selbst, a two-time bracelet winner, eliminated Al Decarolis in third place just before 11 p.m. J.C. Tran, who reached the final table of last year’s Main Event, finished fourth.

Chip count:

Mo 5.86 million

Selbst 3.96 million