Garcia emerged victorious in Event #2: $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold’em of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2024 after an intense showdown against Richard Rothmeier and secured the prize money of $79,134. Richard Rothmeier finished as runner-up, earning $52,773 for his deep run.
The $500 buy-in Casino Employees No-Limit Hold’em tournament attracted a total of 1,189 players, generating a staggering $4.86 million prize pool The prize pool was later distributed among the top 179 players, with the final top 9 players taking a bigger payout.
The tournament was intense and cutthroat. The money bubble burst on Day 1, and only 179 players returned to Day 2. Popular poker pros including Richard Douglas (14th), Carolyn Adams (19th), Connor Richards (44th), Tyler Foran (50th), Chance Castro (61st), Nikki Limo (18th), and Michael Holtz (11th) exited before the final table.
2024 WSOP $500 Casino Employees NLH Final Table Recap and Standings
1 – Jose Garcia – $79,134
2 – Richard Rothmeier – $52,773
3 – Alexander Green – $37,264
4 – Lang Anderson – $26,698
5 – Barry Goldberg – $19,412
6 – Bradley Wolfe – $14,328
7 – Joshua Siverding – $10,737
8 – Christopher Keem – $8,171
9 – Lukas Robinson – $6,317
Gracia kicked off the final table as the chip leader. He continued his dominating play by sending out PokerNews’ ambassador Lukas Robinson at 9th place for $6,317.
Ten minutes after the first elimination, Christopher Keem went all-in with his 8-7 against Barry Goldberg’s A-J in a blind versus blind battle. Keem’s hand couldn’t improve, and he was eliminated in 8th place for $8,171.
Goldberg started taking a small chip lead and eliminated Joshua Siverding at 7th place for $10,737. Goldberg then eliminated the former chip leader Bradley Wolfe in 6th place for $14,328.
Goldberg’s domination was short-lived as he lost a substantial stack against Garcia’s A-K. He finally bowed out in 5th place after his K-J couldn’t withstand Rothmeier’s A-J. The board ran out of 6-8-8-7-A, giving Rothmeier a pair of aces. Goldberg was eliminated in 5th place with a payout of $19,412 for his impressive performance.
Lady luck was with Garcia. Garcia raised from the button with his 10-9 suited, and short-stacked Lang Anderson immediately called the bet going all in with A-J. The board ran out Q-K-Q-J-K, favorable to Anderson until the turn gave Garcia a king-high straight with the Q-K-J-10-9. Anderson was eliminated in 4th place for $26,698.
Alexander Green was eliminated in 3rd place, earning $37,264. He went all-in with J-10 suited against Rothmeier’s K-J. The board ran out A-9-5-7-K giving Rothmeier a pair of kings.
After an intense fourth and back heads-up play, Rothmeier went all in pre-flop with K-9, and Garcia called the bet with his K-Q suited. The board showed 8-4-Q-6-K, giving Garcia two pairs. Rothmeier finished as the runner-up taking $52,773 home.
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