WSOP 2013: Ben Volpe Wins $1,500 NLHE – Ante Only (Event #45)

Ben Volpe has won WSOP $1,500 NLHE – Ante Only (Event #45), after defeating a field of 678 players over two days to capture a gold bracelet, and collect the $201,399 first place prize. With his victory at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas the US pro, who cashed in at his first live tournament in 2009, now takes his career earnings to $403,339
WSOP Event #45 attracted a good mix of amateurs and pros alike to the tournament to create a prize pool worth $915,300. Amongst the notable names booking a cash for themselves was Neil Channing in 56th ($3,020), Barny Boatman in 46th ($3,569), Adam Levy in 22nd ($6,242), Allen Cunningham in 21st ($6,242), David Vamplew in 16th ($7,697), and Tommy Vedes in 10th ($12,054).
A short-stacked Samuel Panzica (A-J) was subsequently eliminated by Paul Lieu (A-Q) in 9th ($15,331), before Lieu was dealt pocket kings and did likewise to Horacio Cortes (A-Q) in 6th ($33,371). Paul Lieu continued his assault on the final table after dispatching Chris Moorman to the rail in 5th ($44,227), and his pocket queens was then good enough to bounce Blair Hinkle (A-3) from the tournament in 4th for $59,375.
Next, Ben Volpe joined the fray by taking care of Louis Bonnecaze in 3rd ($80,839) to take a slight chip lead into heads-up against Lieu. The defining hand then took place with both Volpe (6c-3c) and Lieu (A-4) all-in on a 2-8c-Ac flop, and after a Kc fell on the river, Ben Volpe was awarded the gold winner’s bracelet.
The final table payouts were as follows:
1st Ben Volpe – $201,399
2nd Paul Lieu – $124,352
3rd Louis Bonnecaze – $80,839
4th Blair Hinkle – $59,375
5th Chris Moorman – $44,227
6th Horacio Cortes – $33,371
7th Adam Stone – $25,472
8th Daniel Johnson – $19,660
9th Samuel Panzica – $15,331