Poker Veteran Chris Bell Wins WSOP Event #46: $5,000 PLO Eight or Better
June 29, 2010 7:02 amPoker veteran Chris Bell has won WSOP Event #46: $5,000 PLO Eight or Better, after defeating a field of 284 players over three days to pick up his first career WSOP bracelet, as well as the $327,040 first place prize.
Chris Bell has been cashing in at poker tournaments since 2003, but despite four WSOP final table appearances a gold winners bracelet had remained elusive for the Raleigh, North Carolina resident up until now.
With his latest victory at the $5,000 PLO Eight or Better event, Chris Bell has now realised a poker dream while pushing his career live tournament earnings up to an impressive $2,194,299. However, 2009 proved a difficult year for the poker pro, who only collected $63,039 over five tournaments and felt the pressure of bringing up a family while suffering a poker downswing.
At one stage things got so bad for the pro that Bell was seriously contemplating giving up the game, but was persuaded by close friend Erick Lindgren to stick with it. It proved to be very shrewd decision as throughout 2010 so far, Chris Bell has already won $648,872, including a 1st place finish at the 2010 Southern Poker Championship.
Commenting on his amazing comeback, Chris Bell said: “I want to thank Erick Lindgren. I would not be in Las Vegas right now if it weren’t for Erick. A lot of people had given up on me the last year or so. But Erick didn’t. He’s never told me ‘no.’ He will beg and borrow for his friends. I appreciate him giving me this opportunity. Without a friend like him, I would not be here right now.”
On his way to winning the tournament, Bell had to battle his way past a final table crammed with top players, such as Dan Shak, David Ulliott, Joe Ritzie, Erik Seidel, Leif Force, Rob Hollink, Perry Green and Jeremy Harkin.
Bell started off as one of the short stacks at the table but 11 hours of play later, he eventually triumphed over his last opponent Dan Shak, to earn his famous victory.