Lazrus wins 2021 WSOP $1,500 Millionaire Maker

The 2021 World Series of Poker crowned a new gold bracelet winner at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino on Wednesday in Event #17: $1,500 Millionaire Maker No-Limit Hold'em, a tournament that attracted 5,330 players and offered up a $3,428,280 prize pool.

The PokerGO live-streamed final table contained two former bracelet winners, despite the huge field. In the end, it was Daniel Lazrus collecting his second WSOP bracelet this year, claiming victory for $1,000,000.

Lazrus won his first bracelet a few months ago online in the WSOP Event #28 $3,200 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller Championship ONLINE. For the new two-time champ, winning a live event at the WSOP was even better.

"This one feels much more special," said Lazrus after the win. "It feels more legitimized than online did, just because it was a different atmosphere. This makes me happy with the decision I'm making of putting a lot of time into poker. The first was an achievement, this feels like THE achievement. I didn't realize it yet but this is a much greater feeling, I can't even begin to describe it."

Lazrus, 31, really only started taking poker seriously two years ago.

"I only started playing about four and half years ago, at first just recreationally," he said. "I started winning, met the right guy, who put me in touch with the other right guys, just learned. Starting like two years ago I started raising stakes and studying very very aggressively almost as a priority."

Lazrus gave to credit to his support system for all of his success.

"It's the greatest feeling in the world," said Lazrus. "I owe it all to some of the guys back there, friends that aren't here that I've been playing poker with and talking hands with for years. It couldn't be a better scenario. It would be nice if my wife could have come out but she is a teacher, so getting off wasn't really an option. But this was a great experience, it was amazing."

Others to cash on the final table were four-time bracelet winner Michael Gathy (4th for $288,715), Ignacio Moron (5th for $222,430), and Darryl Ronconi (2nd for $500,125).

At the start of the day, many eyes were on Gathy, looking for his fifth bracelet. But it was the other bracelet winner at the table Lazrus, who dominated the chip lead through much of the final day.

"Him (Gathy) and Ignacio are both really good players," he said. "I kind of just play my game and just take it with what it is. I tried to stay out of their way but I also know they are going to make the folds that they need to with the ICM considerations, and when it's right, I can take some of the spots."

Moron was the first one to fall when his ace-nine ran into the pocket kings of Lazrus. Next to go was Gathy, who was left short after a four-bet pot against Ronconi. He was eliminated shortly thereafter and exited in fourth. Jeffrey Gencarelli was the next to go when he shoved his ace-high on the turn into the top pair of Lazrus.

With a 3-1 chip lead going in, heads up became a shove fest. Ronconi managed to chop to survive on one all-in and spike the river to double on another. Lazrus kept his cool, however, and he managed to get it in good when Ronconi bluff-jammed ten-high into the ace-jack of Lazrus. The board came clean for Lazrus and he captured his second WSOP bracelet.

Final Table Results

1 Daniel Lazrus United States $1,000,000
2 Darryl Ronconi United States $500,125
3 Jeffrey Gencarelli United States $377,125
4 Michael Gathy Belgium $288,715
5 Ignacio Moron Spain $222,430
6 Kevin Palmer United States $172,455
7 Todd Saffron United States $124,570
8 Adam Sherman United States $105,690
9 Sertac Turker Turkey $83,545

(Article courtesy of World Series of Poker)