Michael Banducci, 23, Wins No Limit Hold'em Tourney At WSOP

Michael Banducci is the type player that World Series of Poker players love to see win. An amateur player with the dream of coming to Las Vegas and hitting it big in a WSOP tournament.

On Thursday, Banducci captured his first bracelet after winning Event #5, a No-Limit Hold'em tournament with a $1,000 buy in, plus rebuys. Banducci walked away with the championship and $636,736 after his winning hand of Ad Jc held up through the turn and the river.

The final two players on the table were both amateurs who played a lot of poker online. "The amount of time it takes to become a good player is reduced by playing(on the computer). We play so many hands. We talk to our friends. You learn fast," said Banducci.

His opponent was twenty one year old Jeff Williams. The final match up could be the youngest in the history of the WSOP, but according to Banducci, younger may be better these days. "I think younger players understand the fundamentals much better. Older players probably know about the real-life aspects of the game. But the future of poker depends on understanding the fundamentals," he said.

Banducci claims he grew up playing poker so he could win money to buy beer. After his WSOP win, he may just end up owning one of the bars he bought beer from. At the awards ceremony, he celebrated with friends, and was seen chugging a can of Milwaukee's Best Light.

June 6, 2008
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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