Thursday April 23,2015 : YOUNG CALIFORNIA POKER GUN MAKES A MILLION
22-year-old takes down the World Poker Tour Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open.
22-year-old California poker pro Griffin Paul scored his biggest ever win this week, becoming an instant dollar millionaire after winning the $3,500 buy-in 2015 World Poker Tour Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open against some stiff opposition.
The tournament attracted a field of 1,476, lured by a guaranteed $5 million prize pool and the prospect of a first prize worth a million dollars.
Starting the final table as chip leader, Paul demolished his opponents until he came face to face with 2011 World Series of Poker bracelet winner Joe Ebanks, who held a 3 to 2 chip lead going into the heads up with Paul.
The two clashed in an exciting series of exchanges that ultimately saw Paul take the lead and extend it to 3.5 to 1 before dispatching Ebanks with a second placing take-home of $615,000.
Paul's big win (prior to this his career earnings stood at around $75,000) includes a $15,400 seat at the WPT World Championship which starts this weekend at Borgata.
Other final table pay-outs included:
Andre Crooks – $383,000
Shawn Nguyen – $323,500
Brian Green – $269,000
Ryan Rivers – $217,500