Retired Firefighter and Panoramic Photographer Wins First Circuit Ring In Bounty Tournament
While PokerNews is here offering live updates from the High Roller and Main Event, we’d be remiss if we didn’t tell you about the full schedule of side events that have been playing out over the past week at the World Series of Poker Circuit Horseshoe Hammond.
In Event #4: $400 NLH Bounty, 233 runners created a $53,590 prize pool that was paid out to the top 35 players. Among those to cash but fall short of the official final table were Lloyd Crisp (10th- $868), Carter Meyers (15th - $724), Frank Maggio (20th - $1,067), Brad Sailor (23rd - $481), Matthew Levin (29th - $413) and John Sun (31st- $397).
In the end, it was Illinois native Brad LaPayne navigating the field to earn his first gold ring along with a $12,685 payday.
“I don’t really go out and play much poker,” LaPayne stated. “I normally just play on Monday nights with around 10 to 40 people, but I’ve only traveled to the series over the summer a few times.”
LaPayne’s lack of hitting the felt may have something to do with the 25 years he put into being a full-time firefighter, while working as a panoramic photographer on his days off for the past 15 years.
The non-stop work life for the past 15 years has been a blessing for the 65-year old retiree, as his hard work and dedication took him to the top stages of the sports world. LaPayne stated, “I rose to a level in the photography world that amazed even myself.”
Picking up his second job as a panoramic photographer lead to dream gigs, as he has shot 10 NFL Super Bowls, 12 NBA Finals, 8 MLB World Series and lots of college sport which you can find at lapayne.com.
LaPayne has took his hard work/dedication to the felt, achieving his largest victory in his first WSOPC final table, earning his first ring and he hopes to continue his success.
“My wife reluctantly lets me play,” LaPayne stated with a smile on his face.
“When you look at it from perspective, I haven’t made too much money playing but I’ll take the day off tomorrow to go home and give my wife some money... then I’ll be back out here.”
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brad LaPayne | Champaign, IL | $12,685 |
| 2 | Michael Pariso | Elmwood Park, IL | $7,839 |
| 3 | Marco Townsend | Detroit, MI | $5,556 |
| 4 | Adrian Macarie | Niles, IL | $4,014 |
| 5 | Alex Barill | Plymouth, MI | $2,956 |
| 6 | Daniel Piela | Wheaton, IL | $2,220 |
| 7 | Mark Prentice | Howell, MI | $1,702 |
| 8 | Kenneth Baime | Glenview, IL | $1,331 |
| 9 | Yousri Ali | Chicago, IL | $1,063 |