WSOP $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better event goes to Filippi

It took just over an hour for Amnon Filippi to finish off Event #7: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better after play was halted early yesterday morning.

Upon resumption, he enjoyed a back-and-forth heads-up battle against Matt Vengrin before eventually securing victory.

He takes home $252,718 and his first WSOP bracelet.

Filippi told PokerNews he splits his time during the WSOP between Las Vegas and New York, where his wife and two children live. He said he was relieved to have finally achieved WSOP gold having first cashed at the Series in 2005.

"I'm just glad to get it out of the way," he said. "I come from a crew of guys - JC Tran, Quinn Do, Tommy Hang - they all have bracelets. Me and Nam Le were the last two of the Mohicans who don't have bracelets so now I'm on the list of having one, I've got to go for another."

The longtime poker pro spent several years in prison after federal marijuana legal troubles, a part of his life he says that he doesn't regret.

"Maybe I would have gotten a bracelet sooner! As a country, we're moving in a direction where cannabis and marijuana are becoming more legal in most states. And it was just a little bit before the times."

With a group of friends on the rail and joining him for winner's pictures, Filippi says that he is grateful for the support he has received.

"My phone is vibrating right now. They all know that I appreciate them. And for the most part I'm pretty kind to most of the guys and people who are texting me. It's just good feedback to know people are paying attention."

After play was halted in the early morning, the final two players returned to the Bally's Event Center to play down to a winner.

Filippi started out as chip leader, but Vengrin made a positive start after winning the first pot of the day, and eventually pulled ahead of his heads-up opponent.

Another surge saw him move further ahead as he looked to close out victory, however a flopped set for Filippi saw him regain the chip lead.

With the limits mounting, it only took a few hands more before all the chips went in, with Filippi coming out on top for his first WSOP bracelet.

Final Table Results
1 Amnon Filippi United States $252,718
2 Matt Vengrin United States $156,198
3 Paul Zappulla United States $111,501
4 Murilo Figueredo Brazil $80,671
5 Matt Glantz United States $59,166
6 David Funkhouser United States $43,997
7 Rami Boukai United States $33,178
8 Mel Judah Australia $25,377

(Article courtesy of World Series of Poker)