button in SafariChess Master Michael Casella Flips the Board on Poker Legends to Win First Bracelet
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Michael Casella has spent much of his life playing chess at a high level, but he has become one of the many to transition to poker in recent years. However, with only four career WSOP cashes, dreams of World Series of Poker glory seemed out of reach, until today.
The 554-entry field in Event #8: $1,500 Badugi at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas was full of mixed-game legends, but after seizing the chip lead with four tables remaining on Saturday night, the Los Angeles native outlasted them all.
His path to the $141,963 top prize was anything but easy. To claim the title, Casella had to navigate a three-handed battle against poker titans Scott Seiver and Nick Schulman. Undeterred, he rode his wire-to-wire lead straight to the winner's circle to capture his very first WSOP gold bracelet.
Event #8: $1,500 Badugi Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Casella | United States | $141,963 |
| 2 | Nick Schulman | United States | $94,607 |
| 3 | Scott Seiver | United States | $62,920 |
| 4 | Gary Benson | Australia | $42,815 |
| 5 | Brant Hale | United States | $29,824 |
| 6 | Stephan Nussrallah | United States | $21,279 |
Winner's Reaction
Casella was keenly aware of the competition that awaited him on the final day, but his competitive side was looking forward to the challenge.
"I was planning on this last night," he explained, "Four way with me, [Scott] Seiver, Nick [Schulman], and Yuri [Dzivielevski], and that I would beat them all."
Dzivielevski fell short of the final table, but Casella's premonition came partially true after tussling with Seiver and Schulman three-handed.
Schulman is no stranger to extended heads-up matches, and today was no different as Casella battled with the Poker Hall of Famer for over three hours of action. Casella held the chip lead for all but one hand, and he had Schulman on the ropes several times.
"I'm relieved," the newly-minted bracelet winner elaborated, "[Schulman] was all-in so many times, and he's such a good player so anything can happen. Each time he won I felt like I could lose at any time."
Nonetheless, Casella kept his composure through the ups and downs, relying upon his chess experience.
"I've been competing my whole life in chess," he continued, "It's very demanding physically and emotionally, so I can handle heads-up poker better.
Although the majority of Casella's tournament cashes have come in No-Limit Hold'em, he plies his trade in mixed games in the Los Angeles casinos.
"In the mixed games they always have Badugi, and everybody loves Badugi."
Casella also gave a shoutout to his poker friends back home, specifically "the guys and girls at the Bike and Commerce who have been rooting me on."
Both Casella, and his fans, have much to celebrate after an incredible performance.
Day 3 Action
From the starting field of 554 hopefuls, just ten players would return for Day 3 this afternoon. It was a star-studded cast of crushers, all of whom had their eyes on the bracelet.
The field was quickly reduced from ten to the unofficial final table of seven.
Five-time bracelet winner Yuri Dzivielevski and long-time mixed game crusher Jon Turner were eliminated on the first few hands of the day after bricking their final draws, and Kyle Arora followed shortly thereafter after he made a ten Badugi against Seiver's nine.
Casella held the lead to begin the final table, but Seiver and Gary Benson were close behind.
Walter Chambers was the first casualty in seventh place. He became short-stacked and was drawing to a wheel against Stephan Nussrallah's jack Badugi. Chambers could not make his hand, and he hit the rail after another strong performance.
Stephan Nussrallah was then the next to fall. He lost the majority of his stack in a cooler against Casella, and shortly thereafter got the rest of his stack in with a six draw against the made queen of Seiver. Nussrallah didn't find any of his outs, and he exited in sixth place.
After surviving a few ladders, Brant Hale's run came to end in fifth place. He eventually became short-stacked and got the rest of his chips into the middle, at risk against Seiver. Both players had strong draws, but two bricks followed and Seiver's three-card five was best to score the elimination.
After losing a large pot to Casella, Australia's Gary Benson was the next to be eliminated. The bracelet winner found himself at risk and drawing against the made queen of Schulman. Benson could not connect, and he hit the exit in fourth place.
This set up an epic three-handed battle between Casella, Schulman, and Seiver as a large rail formed inside the Paris Ballroom to witness history.
After a few failed bluffs and coolers at the hands of Casella, Scott Seiver was eliminated in third place. He became short-stacked and was all-in with a five draw against the made eight of Schulman. The poker legend was drawing slim, and he didn't draw any of his outs. His shot at an eighth bracelet would have to wait another day.
Casella would begin the heads-up match against Schulman with a three-to-one lead, but the two would trade blows for hours as the limits continued to increase.
Schulman was able to capture the chip lead for a single hand at one point, but his momentum was short-lived.
Casella regained a commanding chip lead, and he had Schulman all-in and at risk on six different occasions, with the Hall of Famer surviving each and every time.
Cats may have nine lives, but it appears that Schulman only has seven. On the final hand, Casella put Schulman at risk before the final draw. Both players were drawing, with Casella holding the stronger three-card. Schulman peeled a brick, and Casella was able to celebrate an incredible accomplishment as the room gave a round of applause for both him and Schulman.
