California's Saechao Wins Employees No-Limit Event At WSOP

The World Series of poker always comes out of the gates flying, with gamblers itching to become the first winner at the annual event. This year, that distinction goes to Chiab Saechao, who won the Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em tournament.

Saechao took home $70,859 for his first place finish in a tournament that kicked off the 2012 WSOP. The event had 732 entrants, and came down to a battle between employees from Florida and California. Saechao was able to outlast Patricia Baker, from Little Torch Key in the Sunshine State.

The event was a $500 buy-in tournament, one of the more modest buy-ins at this year's WSOP. The tournaments have been growing in both size and entry fees, and this year there is even a $1 million buy-in event. The high roller tournament will only be played by a few dozen select participants.

While the employees event may have kick-started the WSOP, the series is not in full swing after just three days. Four tournaments are ongoing, and the $1,500 buy-in No-Limit tournament is the closet to being completed. Only two players remain, Brent Hanks from Las Vegas, and Jacob Bazely from Ludlow, Kentucky. Hanks has the chip lead as the players progress through heads-up, but the count is close. Hanks is holding 5,130,000 chips, and Bazely has just over 4.3 million chips.

The final eight players have advanced through the Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em/Pot-Limit Omaha tourney. One of the biggest names in the sport, Annette Obrestad, is in the running after having a disastrous first year at the WSOP in 2011.

Popular pros Mike Sexton, Todd Brunson, Robert Mizrachi,and Jeff Madsen are all among the leaders in Event #4, a Seven Card Stud Hi-Low 8 or Better event. Chris Bjorin is the chip leader with 145,000. Chris Tryba sits in second position with 124,000 chips.

May 31, 2012
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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