Imran Sabzali Wins Gold Ring One Year After Learning to Play Poker

The World Series of Poker Circuit Choctaw Durant $1,700 Main Event is just one of a dozen gold ring events at the stop.

For more than a week, a slew of side events has been playing out including Event #8: $400 NLH 8-Handed One-Day, a tournament that attracted 167 runners and created a $55,110 prize pool. Just one year after learning to play poker, 38-year-old cell phone repairman Imran Sabzali, originally from Pakistan but now residing in Karalhi, Texas, captured a gold ring and $14,129 top prize.

“I was looking for a way to make easy money,” Sabzali said after the win. Not only did he emerge victorious, he had to go through two-time ring winner Paul Sokoloff to do it. Sabzali had a 2:1 Chip lead and wasn’t afraid to move in preflop.

Eventually Sabzali shoved with king-three and Sokoloff woke up with pocket queens. Sabzali rivered three of a king and just like that Sokoloff was denied his third piece of WSOP Circuit hardware.

Event #8 Final Table Results

Place	Player	Hometown	Prize
1	Imran Sabzali	Carrollton, Texas	$14,129
2	Paul Sokoloff	London, England	$8,733
3	Shane Mullens	Austin, Texas	$6,083
4	Michael Delavergne	Runaway Bay, Texas	$4,333
5	James Stewart	Round Rock, Texas	$3,159
6	Darren Martin	Lexington, North Carolina	$2,358
7	Daniel Parshall	North Richland Hills, Texas	$1,803
8	James Price	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	$1,414
9	Kevin Vrba	Waco, Texas	$1,137