Bojang wins $1,500 PLO event

Name: Ismael Bojang
Nationality: German
Birthplace: Hamburg, Germany
Current Residence: Hamburg
Age: 30
Profession: Financial Advisor
Number of WSOP Cashes: 65
Number of WSOP Final Table Appearances: 17
Number of WSOP Gold Bracelet Victories (with this tournament): 1
Best Previous WSOP Finish: 2nd
Total WSOP Earnings: $1,979,154

Ismael Bojang won his first World Series of Poker bracelet Wednesday night. He finished in first place in the $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha event, earning $298,507, the second largest cash of his WSOP career. Bojang, of Austria, has previously cashed in 72 WSOP events for a total of $1,573,490, but until now has never been able to come closer than a second-place finish last summer.

“I have never felt the pressure of winning," Bojang said after winning his first ever WSOP bracelet. “The money is nice and all that, but it is not something I have been thinking too much about."

The large field (1,216 entries) meant the schedule had to be slightly altered. The original plan was to play until there were six players remaining on Day 2. However, after the standard 10 hours of play, 21 players remained, and they would all return for Day 3 on Wednesday. Day 3 began at noon, and they reached the official final table of nine players just before 4 p.m.

The final table had a big audience throughout the night, and Bojang had a lot of support from his loud countrymen. “It was awesome,” Bojang said about his rail. It is always nice to have support from your friends and that they took the time to support me, I am really happy about that, and is something I really appreciate.” The winner admitted, however, it will be a relief not having to answer questions about his lack of a bracelet. “Everybody keeps asking me when I am going to win my first bracelet, I guess I can dodge those questions now,' Bojang added.

Bojang was the chip leader for the majority of the heads-up play, and had a 6 to 1 chip advantage in the final stage of the event. Wise with experience, as a runner-up finish in 2018, he did not get ahead of himself.

“I have been close to winning a lot of times so I just tried separating myself from those feelings, even when I had a 6-to-1 chip advantage I wasn't thinking about the possibility of winning, I was just focusing on playing my best poker.”

Bojang might not be playing any more WSOP events this summer, as he flies back to Hamburg tomorrow morning to spend time with his family. When asked about his celebration plans, he answered without hesitation, “I am flying home early tomorrow morning, but I don’t care. I am going to order every drink in Vegas tonight.”

The first twenty minutes at the final table saw two quick bustouts. Matthew Mueller exited in ninth place ($22,215), eliminated by Benjamin Zamani. He was soon followed by Glen Cressman in eighth place ($28,940). This was Cressman’s best career WSOP finish.

The next player to get sent to the rail was Richard Tuhrim, earning $38,189 for his seventh place finish. Romania’s Mihai Niste was eliminated in sixth place for $51,041. This was Niste’s second WSOP cash of the summer as he finished 5th in the $600 PLO Deepstack last week.

Denis Bagdasarov then busted out in fifth, earning $69,082. The fifth-place finish was Bagdasarov’s best WSOP performance and his fourth cash of the summer. The next player to bust was Johannes Toebbe. He was eliminated at about 9:00 p.m. This was the German-born player’s second WSOP cash, earning $94,669 for his fourth-place finish. Benjamin Zamani’s hunt for a third bracelet came to an end after over nine hours of play on Day 3. This was Zamani’s 50th WSOP cash earning $131,335 for the third-place finish.

The tournament started Tuesday, June 17, and attracted 1,216 players. The total prizepool was $1,641,600 and the top 183 players made the money.

Final table results:
1 – Ismael Bojang – $298,507
2 – James Little – $184,424
3 – Benjamin Zamani – $131,335
4 – Johannes Toebbe – $94,669
5 – Denis Bagdasarov – $69,082
6 – Mihai Niste – $51,041
7 – Richard Tuhrim – $38,189
8 – Glen Cressman – $28,940
9 – Matthew Mueller – $22,215

(Article courtesy of World Series of Poker)