Erik Cajelais (27) has won the £2,500 pot-limit hold ‘em/pot-limit Omaha split event in London and in so doing captured his first WSOP bracelet and the £104,677 top prize.
The French Canadian had come close to WSOP glory in the past when in 2007 he finished 2nd at the Pot Limit Omaha Event #7 for $483,755 but is now delighted to have finally gone all the way in a WSOP tournament which over the years have provided him with four cashes worth $683,944. The disappointment of just missing out on a bracelet before acted as an incentive for him this time around and he said:
“It was extra motivation. I felt like I really, really, really wanted to win it. I had to do everything I could to win and today I played well and the cards came out my way,”
Cajelais had to outlast a small but tough field of 158 players to secure his victory, which included a final table showdown with Men Nguyen, Chris Bjorin (6th – £20,106), Howard Lederer (9th – £9,117) and Hoyt Corkins (7th – £15,302).
Day 3 started with just five players and was soon down to three having lost Richard Gryko in 5th for £26,619 and then Men Nguyen in 4th for £35,412 after he went all in pre-flop with As 8s and was called by Cajelais Js10s who hit a straight on the river.
Cajelais didn’t rest on his laurels for long as during the break he and Keston headed straight off to Event 3 to take their pre-registered seats in the competition already five hours old. It took only a few minutes before both players were out having attempted to recoup blinded away chips by doubling up quickly.
The action was equally swift on returning back to the Event 2 final table, when Keston re-raised all in with 2 2 but ran into Cajelais’s K K. Heads up the Quebec man now had an almost 6 – 1 chip lead over Mats Gavatin and this time was better placed to realise his dream of a WSOP bracelet.
Cajelais has now $1,592,026 in career tournament cashes and marks his second major win since taking down the 5th Annual Five Diamond World Poker Classic for $430,000 back in 2006.
