World Series of Photos: Golden Beginnings

Throughout the summer, PokerGO will bring fans across the globe exclusive access to World Series of Poker final table streams and Poker Central will be following all the WSOP action. Each day, “World Series of Photos” will tell the daily stories from the Rio, so you don’t miss any of the sights of the WSOP.

Event #1 – Casino Employees

Each year, the first bracelet of the summer is awarded in the Casino Employees event. The poker industry takes pride in the entire WSOP but Event 1 is special, as the field is limited to casino employees from around the globe. This year, Bryan Hollis from Maryland claimed the gold and a $68,000 score. The next day, Hollis received his bracelet from WSOP Tournament Director Jack Effel in the first of many bracelet ceremonies.

Event #2 – $10,000 Tag Team Championship

Love won in the $10,000 Tag Team Championship, with Liv Boeree and Igor Kurganov, pictured top, claiming their first WSOP bracelets together. The win has been a long-time coming for the long-time couple and maybe even more impressive than their victory, is the fact that they agreed to donate 50% of their winnings to REG Charity at the start of the event.

Event #3 – $3,000 No Limit Hold’em Shootout

The third bracelet of the summer went to Upeshka De Silva but that wasn’t his first taste of WSOP gold. De Silva won the $3,000 No Limit Hold’em Shootout for $229,000, good for his second WSOP bracelet after he won a $1,500 No Limit Hold’em event in 2015. Two bracelets in three years likely means that the poker world will be seeing a lot more of De Silva’s green hoodie in the winner’s circle for years to come.

Event #4 – $1,500 Omaha Hi/Lo 

Another player that doubled down on their bracelet total last week was Ben Zamani. The reigning WPT Player of the Year won a $1,500 No Limit Hold’em event in 2015 and added another in the $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo event this past weekend. Primarily No Limit Hold’em players winning bracelets in other disciplines is nothing new but after watching Stein crush that O8 final table, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Zamani in the mixed game winner’s circle again. This is also the current front-runner for Best Winner’s Photo of the Summer. 

Follow all the WSOP action on Poker Central and watch exclusive WSOP live streams on PokerGO.