Personal trainer James Todd wins the World Series of Poker as a tribute to the Warriors event

The World Series of Poker She debuted at the $500 Hold’em Salute to Warriors event in 2019. The tournament benefits the United Services Organization (USO)USO) which was established more than 80 years ago to provide recreational and other services to active military personnel and their families. The 2022 event attracted a total of 3,209 entries to build a prize pool of over $1.4 million. James Todd came out victorious in the end, taking home his first bracelet and the grand prize of $161,256 for the win. While Todd earned a six-figure payday for his victory in the event, there was another major number awarded as a result of this event: $74,809 for the event. USO and other military charities.

“Hell will help a lot of people. I didn’t serve, but my father served in the army. I love the men and women who served us,” Todd said after winning.

Todd is a personal trainer from Wellington, Colorado. He’s been involved in poker for decades and recently invested in coaching to help take his game to the next level. Even with that win, he said he plans to keep his day job.

The strong turnout for the event meant that 482 people made a profit. These include bracelet winner Yueqi Zhu (ranked 194 – $1,277), two-time bracelet winner and card player Columnist Steve Zolotto ($141 – $1,460), three-time bracelet winner Barry Greenstein ($63 – $2691), two-time WSOP . World Series of Poker Circuit Episode winner Frank Marasco ($45 – 3,822).

The third and final day of the event started with 21 players remaining and Todd in the lead. By the time the field was combined at one table, Todd sat in a hypothetical tie with Brett Coltman. Todd then eliminated Ziad Kassem ($10 – 13059) to set up the official final table.

Maximo Martinez (ninth – $16,433) fell thanks to the precooler (Pocket Kings vs. Pocket Kings). The Elias Neto End Coin was then spelled (8th – $20,824), with six pocket cards failing to outpace Rigoberto Rodriguez’s A-10.

Todd won the next big showdown, as K-10 beat Todd Saffron’s A-2 ($7 – $26,574) to narrow the field for the six. Just ten minutes later, he scored a knockout again, outplaying the flop top pair of Nicholas Cena Hopkins ($6 – $34,146).

Todd held more than twice the number of chips compared to the next largest stack when the move started with five hands. Coltman quickly closed that gap in a big way by eliminating Rodriguez in fifth. The chips went preset with Coltman holding a pocket jacket, while Rodriguez had five pockets. Neither player improved and Rodriquez was sent to the railroad with $44,180 for his deep run.

Randy Levine got stabbed in some crucial chips after seeing Q84 flop. Pay with K.9only to receive a quick call from Coltman, who fumbled a pair with 84 And check out the small valance. Levine received no help on the subsequent streets and lost to fourth place ($57,554).

Patrick Pelko’s three bet pays over the open Todd button for 12 big blinds using the K.10. Todd called with a5 And flop a pair of fives. He avoided a king or ten in turn and river to take over 3.5:1 in the lead in singles play with Coltman. Pelco earned $75,486 for his third-place finish.

It only took Todd three hands to convert his lead to the title. On the last hand, Coltman moved everything for 18 big blinds with K.7 of the button. Todd called with a3 and8310s I carried him the pot and the title. Coltman earned $99,676 and runner-up.

Here is a look at the payments and rating points awarded in the final table:

image credit: WSOP . World Series of Poker / Hayley Hochstettler.

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