Kevin "Specialk" Calenzo Wins WSOPC Caesars Palace Main Event
February 1, 2012 12:10 pmKevin Calenzo has won the WSOPC Caesars Palace Main Event, after defeating a field of 662 players over five days to lift the title, and collect the $197,451 first place prize.
The 28-year-old from New York has been playing poker professionally since 2003 and with his latest victory has now brought his live tournament earnings to $743,488. In addition, Calenzo, has earned an additional $388,909 online under the screen name “Specialk.”
In the past, the $1,600 Caesars Palace Main Event has enjoyed some illustrious winners which include Allen Cunningham, Justin Bonomo, and Andrew. At this years event, a whole host of top pros turned out hoping to follow in their footsteps. These included Gavin Smith, Eric Baldwin, Kathy Liebert, Tom Marchese, Scott Clements, David Williams, Steve Billirakis, Eli Elezra, Jeff Madsen, and Dutch Boyd.
By the time the final table had been reached, Kevin Calenzo was joined by eight other tough competitors, three of which were the WSOP bracelet winners Dutch Boyd, Sean Getzwiller, and Madsen.
Jeff Madsen then collected $23,271 in 8th after his A-Q ran into the pocket queens of Ian Mack, while Boyd (Kd-Qd) was eliminated in 6th ($38,365) by Getzwiller holding pocket twos.
Next, Kevin Calenzo (A-J) scored a double elimination against his opponent’s pocket kings and sixes, and after Ian Mack with A-8 then managed to outflop Getzwiller’s A-K (3rd for $89,617), the heads-up phase of the tournament got underway.
Despite enjoying a slight lead, Kevin Calenzo was soon down to a 3 to 1 disadvantage after flopping bottom two pair to Ian Mack’s top two pair. Nevertheless, Calenzo managed to rally and eventually dispatch Mack, whose Ah-4h faltered against Calenzo Kc-8d on an exciting Kh-2d-Qh-9d-9d board.
Ian Mack subsequently collected $122,183 for his runner-up finish, while the title and gold ring went to Kevin Calenzo.