Michael Persky Wins WSOP Circuit Main Event At Graton Tour Stop

Securing victory in the World Series of Poker Circuit main event hosted at Graton Casino & Resort on August 21st, Michael Persky acquired his inaugural gold ring. The first-place triumph earned him a substantial reward of $175,595, propelling his total career earnings to nearly $250,000. Hailing from nearby Novato, California, Persky demonstrated his prowess throughout the tournament series, even clinching a runner-up position in event no. 3.

In the aftermath of his win, Persky expressed his sentiments to reporters, stating, “I had a successful series.” He further elaborated, “My challenge lies in my deep attachment to my family. Being separated from them to participate in major events is incredibly demanding for me. The Bay Area is a poker hub, offering numerous excellent venues for play.”

The no-limit hold’em tournament, featuring a buy-in of $1,500, attracted a robust field of 616 contestants across two initial flights. This surged the prize pool to a substantial $933,240, significantly surpassing the $500,000 guarantee. The top 93 players all secured at least $2,564 in prize money.

Every player who secured winnings reappeared for Day 2, although half of them were eliminated during the initial two levels of play. The final table was determined before 11 pm, with recognizable names such as Wendy Freedman (10th), Brandon Zuidema (15th), Darryll Fish (16th), and others making notable runs in the tournament.

As the final day of the competition commenced at 1:00 PM local time, Persky held the sixth-largest chip stack. His strategy involved a cautious approach during the initial stages of the final table, allowing eliminations to unfold around him. This proved to be a prudent choice, as Ben Ludlow was the first to exit in ninth place, followed by Avenes Rastomyan (8th), Kurt Watkins (7th), Zhengxiong Zouxu (6th), and Paul Vlahos (5th) in the opening hours of play.

Delivering a critical blow to the table, Persky ousted Ben Underwood in fourth place. Holding an A-J hand, Persky dominated Underwood’s A-2, maintaining his lead through the board. During three-handed play, Persky secured a pivotal double-up that bolstered his momentum.

Jasthi Kumar, a five-time gold ring victor, relinquished chips to Persky during this double-up, leaving him in a precarious position. A short time later, Kumar’s Q-4 prompted an all-in move, met by Persky’s A-K. With two additional kings on the board, Kumar exited in third place.

The heads-up showdown began with both finalists holding an even chip count. Despite intensifying competition, a congenial atmosphere developed between Persky and his opponent, Danny Sarasin. Reflecting on the situation, Persky noted, “I’ve known Danny for a long time, so playing against him was quite surreal.” He added, “He had the upper hand, but I managed to secure a straight, and that’s when the momentum shifted.”

The climactic hand unfolded as Sarasin committed all his chips preflop with K-9, only to be met by Persky’s A-Q. The flop revealed two aces, sealing the outcome and leading to Sarasin’s second-place exit ($100,528). Hailing from the nearby town of Petaluma, Sarasin secured his most substantial tournament cash to date.