Nick Pupillo captures his first WSOP bracelet

This year's iteration of Event #52: $2,500 Mixed Triple Draw at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas saw a total player tally of 353 create a prize pool of $785,425. That money was divided up between the final 53 players, of which 19 returned to the Horseshoe for Day 3.

At the end of it all, it was three-time WSOPC ring winner Nick Pupillo who took down his first WSOP bracelet for $181,978.

"It's pretty surreal; it feels good," the newly minted champion said with tears in his eyes," said Pupillo. "I love the mixed games; it really felt like my tournament. I late regged and ran really well."

The Illinois-born poker professional has amassed over $4,675,902 in lifetime earnings, with WSOP cashes dating back to 2014. Often in the conversation of best player without a bracelet, Pupillo recently final-tabled the $10,000 Limit Hold'em and finished in sixth place for $62,255.

"It's definitely a sense of relief, it feels good to win a bracelet, and I'll try to win more," said Pupillo.

Pupillo was supported by rail of Midwestern friends that included the likes of Sarah Stefan, Josh Reichard and Michael Perrone. "I'm thankful for everyone that supports me and roots for me. I've had ups and downs, but I'm just grateful." While the photos were being taken, Pupillo pulled up a picture of his family, his biggest supporters.

The day's early action saw the end of many a notable player's run. Matt Vengrin (19th - $6,948) became the first player to bust just before the final three-table redraw. Others who fell included Cary Katz(18th - $6,948), Robert Mizrachi (17th - $8,495), John Monnette (16th - $8,495), Joao Vieira (10th - $10,690), and Ray Henson (9th - $13,834).

The last player to fall before the final table was WSOP bracelet winner Andrew Brown who got in his final few chips in at 2-7. He held an eight-seven against Aaron Mermelstein's eight-five. Brown collected $13,834 for his eighth-place finish.

It did not take long for the final table to lose its first player. The only prior bracelet winner at the table was Anatolii Zyrin who came in as the shortest stack. He ended up staying pat during a 2-7 hand with a nine-six against Brant Hale, who drew an eight-seven on the end. The two-time bracelet winner collected $18,398 for his seventh-place finish, and the official final table was set.

Hale would be the next one out the door after a massive pot with Nick Pupillo would leave him with just a quarter of a small blind. He ended up being forced all in from the big blind in A-5 and made a nine-eight against Aaron Mermelstein six-five, and he exited the tournament in sixth place for $25,126.

Hye Park came into the final table as one of the shorter stacks, but his undoing came in multiple hands. The first saw a Badugi hand where he accidentally mucked the winner against Pupillo, the next was when Mermelstein caught a seven-six in 2-7, and the final hand saw him run into the wheel in 2-7 against Ryan Moriarty. The 2021 WSOP Main Event 6th place finisher wished his table well and collected $35,212 for his fifth-place finish.

Tomomitsu Ono saw a few coolers in Badugi end his chances of the bracelet. The final cooler saw him get in a blind versus blind confrontation with Pupillo when Ono was dealt a pat ten, and Pupillo was dealt a pat seven. All the chips went in on the second round of betting and Ono took home $50,608 for his fourth-place finish.

Mermelstein was the next to depart the field in third place. As the blinds progressed, many hands did not go his way, and as his chip stack got shorter, he found himself in a multiway pot in Badugi while Pupillo and Moriarty would play for a side. Pupillo made a perfect jack which bested Mermelstein's three-card ten, and Mermelstein collected $75,545 for his efforts, while Pupillo went into heads up with a massive lead.

Heads up did not last long as the players never left the round of 2-7 Triple Draw. The final hand saw Moriarty make a king-nine on the final draw, while Pupillo made a nine-seven which secured Pupillo his first bracelet and saw Moriarty take home a career-best score of $112,472 for his second-place finish.

Final table results:
Place Player Country Prize
1 Nick Pupillo United States $181,978
2 Ryan Moriarty United States $112,472
3 Aaron Mermelstein United States $74,545
4 Tomomitsu Ono Japan $50,608
5 Hye Park United States $35,212
6 Brant Hale United States $25,126