Stefan Clemens Wins WSOPC Graton Main Event for $151k and First Tournament Title
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Stefan Clemens didn't just set a new high score when he took down the World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) Graton Main Event for $151,543 on Monday. He won his first live poker tournament anywhere, and over 80% of his career cashes in one event.
The California poker player won life-changing money in his home state at Graton Casino & Resort, one of the top card rooms in NorCal. He beat a field of 520 runners for the lion's share of the $787,800 prize pool.
Dream Score for Clemens
Clemens wasn't the only big winner at Graton in the Main Event. Four players cashed for over $50,000, and two for six figures. Abishek Paliwaal was the final table's first elimination, finishing ninth place for $11,573.
Michael McQuaid was the next elimination in eighth place for $14,911. Tim Boerum would follow, taking seventh place for $19,607. Rineeth Raghu went out in sixth place for $26,305, and Vishnu Chada ran out of chips shortly after in fifth place, good for $35,990. Noel Rodriguez was the fourth-place finisher for $50,198. Norman Young earned a nice chunk of change — $71,351 — for third place.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stefan Clemens | $151,543 |
| 2 | Jonathan Warta | $103,315 |
| 3 | Norman Young | $71,351 |
| 4 | Noel Rodriguez | $50,198 |
| 5 | Vishnu Chada | $35,990 |
| 6 | Rineeth Raghu | $26,305 |
| 7 | Tim Boerum | $19,607 |
| 8 | Michael McQuaid | $14,911 |
| 9 | Abishek Paliwaal | $11,573 |
Clemens would go heads-up against Jonathan Warta, who hails from nearby Santa Rosa, California. The heads-up opponents entered play with a combined $35,000 in live tournament cashes.
Oddly enough, Clemens, who had approximately $32,000 in previous live tournament cashes, according to The Hendon Mob, was technically the more experienced tournament player. Neither opponent had ever cashed in a WSOPC event, although Clemens has six World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet event cashes.
The more experienced tournament player would go on to win the ring for $151,543. Warta received $103,315 as a consolation prize. Warta and Clemens combined to win $254,858 in the Graton Main Event, about seven times their prior combined cashes.
Both players won life-changing money and accomplished what many longtime grinders never have. And Clemens also earned himself a piece of jewelry that he can display for the rest of his life.
