A grueling heads-up battle was needed before the Italian pro could capture his first WSOP bracelet
2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Event #61: $2,500 Stud/Omaha Eight or Better at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas attracted 507 entries, with 77 players taking a cut of the $1,128,075 prize pool. Twenty-one players sat down on the final day to battle for the $222,703 first-place prize and the coveted gold bracelet, but a long final heads-up battle would ensure before a winner was crowned.
Italian all-time money leader Dario Sammartino emerged as the winner, earning his first WSOP title and a $222,703 payday after battling heads-up for a bracelet on two previous occasions. “Oh, I feel so good,” said the champion, “and finally, after 12 years, I am so happy. It was a very tough field.”
Columbian Jose Ferro fell just short of the final table, picking up $12,713 for tenth place. Paul Zappulla came close to the chip lead several times on the final day but eventually lost to Jeff Madsen, finishing in ninth place for $16,159. Scott Blackman was the short stack at the final table and survived to finish in eighth place for $20,954.
Joey Couden’s run ended in seventh place for $27,709, and Matt Vengrin fell to Sammartino to finish sixth for $37,354. Federico Ottenio was sent to the rail in fifth place for $51,135, just ahead of four-time bracelet winner Jeff Madsen, who secured $71,810 for fourth place.
John Kyte was the chip leader among the final three, with Sammartino and David Williams nearly even. Williams fell to Sammartino in third place for $102,355, setting up the heads-up showdown.
Kyte initially extended his lead before Sammartino snatched a big Omaha pot. Kyte attempted to claw his way back, but his pair of kings fell to Sammartino’s straight on the final hand, earning him $148,462 as runner-up.
